A PROJECT OF THE TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD

A Model to Determine What a Degree Should Cost

Lee Holcombe DirectorHigher Education Policy Institute

Texas Higher Education Policy Institute 2

Definition of Cost to Degree (CTD)

Total costs incurred by students of a cohort as they progress to (non-)completion over a six-year window

Disaggregate by completion status, field of study, type of institution, institution, and level of degree

Multiple cohorts Community college

2 4YR (students who start at 2YR, start at 4YR)

Masters Doctorate

Texas Higher Education Policy Institute 3

Data

Student level enrollment from fall 2004 through summer 2010 in any Texas public higher education institution

Annual cost study conducted to support the formula funding allocation Cost per SCH Level (Core, lower and upper level) Discipline Institution-year Includes all costs except auxiliary

Texas Higher Education Policy Institute 4

Conceptual Map

Changes in

COST TO DEGREE

DRIVERS

Changes in

NON-COMPLETION RATE

Changes in

SCHs TO DEGREE

Changes in

COST PER SCH

Changes in state/institutional policies (e.g. Cost Efficiency Report

recommendations)