Yet alumni whose institution helped prepare them for their career are over twice as likely to say that their education was worth the cost. To give students a good return on their investment, institutions need to better equip learners for careers before they've left campus–an undertaking which requires defining student success, addressing equity gaps, and understanding how alumni themselves perceive ROI. 

Traditional measures of student success often focus on salary–a view of success that lacks nuance, especially for careers that don't lead to high salary positions. In fact, when we see how alumni talk about their motivation for obtaining a degree, financial gain is fourth on the list.

To give students a good return on investment, we have to understand how alumni perceive the ROI of their degree. However, that perception changes significantly when put in terms of the financial cost. While 82% reported being satisfied with their educational experience, only 44% agreed their degree was worth the student loan debt.