Accountability, Affordability, and the Future of Trust in Higher Ed | Ben Cecil, Third Way

Looking for more insights? Check us out on Substack! In this episode, we sit down with higher education policy expert Ben Cecil from Third Way to unpack the many-layered challenges (and urgent opportunities)facing America’s colleges and universities today. From Title IV funding and student debt to public trust and institutional transparency, we explore what it will take to rebuild confidence in the value of a degree.

Ben brings policy insight grounded in his frontline experience working with students during COVID-19. He offers a candid view on how higher education can shift from prestige-chasing to purpose-driven outcomes. We discuss the dangers of “some college, no degree,” the limits of the current accountability framework, and what real equity looks like when institutions truly center student success.