Closing the Skills Gap Starts with College Cost and Value Transparency 

For decades, students have been told that college is the path to career success and financial security. However, nearly half of graduates say they feel unprepared for entry-level roles, and the degrees students are pursuing don’t translate into the most in-demand careers. The disconnect between education and workforce readiness hurts students, employers, and the economy. The solution is greater transparency about the cost and value of college programs. 

The U.S. faces a growing skills shortage, with employers struggling to fill roles in critical sectors. Students need to know not only what jobs are in demand today, but which skills will best position them for the future. That means understanding which programs deliver strong returns on investment and align with future workforce needs. The best way for students and families to make these decisions is with clear, precise, and reliable data. 

While tools like the College Scorecard help, they fall short. The data excludes students who didn’t receive federal aid, omits short-term and certificate programs, and fails to distinguish between completers and non-completers. These gaps leave students guessing about the true value of their education. 

Policymakers can fix this. Here’s how:  

• Reporting: requiring reporting on all students, not just Title IV recipients, and expanding coverage to include short-term programs as well as Workforce Pell grant recipients.  

• Earnings: incorporating more earnings outcomes milestones and including job placement and unemployment rates for a realistic, comprehensive view of outcomes.  

• Privacy: strengthening data privacy safeguards while improving completeness and accuracy. 

The College Transparency Act of 2025 offers a bipartisan solution. CTA would create a student-level data network by connecting federal and institutional data to deliver timely, accurate insights on costs, completion rates, and earnings after graduation. This comprehensive approach empowers students to choose programs that align with their goals and helps employers access job-ready talent. 

This isn’t just a Chamber priority: Organizations that support CTA are urging passage of the legislation to strengthen postsecondary data systems, ensuring students and families have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Education is one of the most significant investments a student will make. Before committing to such an enduring decision, students and families should know the true cost, value, and projected outcomes of their investments. Congress has an opportunity to change this. By passing the CTA and strengthening the national data systems, lawmakers can empower students and families to make informed decisions, close the skills gap, and drive economic growth through a competitive, future-ready workforce.  

About the author

Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn

Stephanie Ferguson Melhorn is the Executive Director, Workforce and International Labor Policy. Her work on the labor shortage has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Associated Press.

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