higher ed in massachusetts report card

massachusetts gets As in four categories: preparation (how well students are prepared for college), participation (how many people are able to go to college), completion (how many students who enter college complete their degree) and benefits (how well do colleges contribute to the state). it scores an F in affordability.

some hedges are in order about the A's: when income and race are factored in, there are some concerning trends. the report card notes that the gap in participation between majority and minority students is widening, and that low-income students perform exceptionally poorly on math tests, compared to their peers in other states. it also notes that fewer students are completing high school on schedule, which is no doubt income- and race-stratified, thanks to the MCAS test.

a more detailed report can be read here. studies with more of a focus on the accessibility of higher education to underrepresented minorities can be found here.