<p>What is driving an increase in college completion rates? It's not student characteristics or higher student enrollments, says Jeff Denning, an associate professor at Brigham Young University. Denning, an economist noticed the increasing trend started in the 1990s, and upon looking deeper discovered grade inflation is driving numbers up. In this episode, Denning explains this change and what it might mean for higher education. </p>

What is driving an increase in college completion rates? It's not student characteristics or higher student enrollments, says Jeff Denning, an associate professor at Brigham Young University. Denning, an economist noticed the increasing trend started in the 1990s, and upon looking deeper discovered grade inflation is driving numbers up. In this episode, Denning explains this change and what it might mean for higher education.

<p>What is driving an increase in college completion rates? It's not student characteristics or higher student enrollments, says Jeff Denning, an associate professor at Brigham Young University. Denning, an economist noticed the increasing trend started in the 1990s, and upon looking deeper discovered grade inflation is driving numbers up. In this episode, Denning explains this change and what it might mean for higher education.&nbsp;</p>

Why Have College Completion Rates Increased

In the complex world of education, the Harvard EdCast keeps the focus simple: what makes a difference for learners, educators, parents, and our communities. The EdCast is a weekly podcast about the ideas that shape education, from early learning through college and career. We talk to teachers, researchers, policymakers, and leaders of schools and systems in the US and around the world — looking for positive approaches to the challenges and inequities in education. Through authentic conversation, we work to lower the barriers of education’s complexities so that everyone can understand.

The Harvard EdCast is produced by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and hosted by Jill Anderson. The opinions expressed are those of the guest alone, and not the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Society & Culture

Education

In the complex world of education, the Harvard EdCast keeps the focus simple: what makes a difference for learners, educators, parents, and our communities. The EdCast is a weekly podcast about the ideas that shape education, from early learning through college and career. We talk to teachers, researchers, policymakers, and leaders of schools and systems in the US and around the world — looking for positive approaches to the challenges and inequities in education. Through authentic conversation, we work to lower the barriers of education’s complexities so that everyone can understand. The Harvard EdCast is produced by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and hosted by Jill Anderson. The opinions expressed are those of the guest alone, and not the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Share Why Have College Completion Rates Increased

Sign up to save your podcasts

Why Have College Completion Rates Increased

Why Have College Completion Rates Increased

More shows like The Harvard EdCast

NBC Meet the Press

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti | Podcast

Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society: Audio Fishbowl

Fareed Zakaria GPS

The HBR Channel

HBR IdeaCast

PolicyCast

Aspen Ideas to Go

Teaching in Higher Ed

The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast

Women and Public Policy Program Seminar Series

Hidden Brain

Have You Heard

The Davis Center at Harvard University

Harvard Center for International Development

The Daily

Harvard Art Museums

Convergence

Post Reports

Throughline

The Anxious Achiever

Consider This from NPR

The Ezra Klein Show

ReThinking