Last week, Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee participated in an extraordinary plenary session at Student Success US 2025, addressing one of the most urgent—and too often overlooked—truths in American higher education:

College affordability is about far more than tuition.

During the discussion, Dr. Brownlee emphasized that for many learners—especially those from low-income backgrounds—the real barriers to access and completion are the non-tuition costs that are rarely acknowledged with transparency. These include the essential expenses that shape everyday life and academic success:

Housing
Food and basic needs
Transportation
Childcare
Technology and digital access
Mental wellness supports
The opportunity cost of time

As Dr. Brownlee underscored, these hidden and underestimated costs determine who enrolls, who persists, who completes a credential of value, and who ultimately attains economic mobility.

The panel brought together national leaders who are advancing transparency and equity around the true cost of attendance:

Nicole Siegel, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Catherine Brown, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, National College Attainment Network
Mark Huelsman, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Hope Center for Student Basic Needs
Anika Van Eaton, Vice President of Policy, uAspire

Dr. Brownlee expressed deep appreciation to Colleen Flaherty of Inside Higher Ed for extending the invitation to participate in this critical conversation. He also thanked Sara Custer of Inside Higher Ed for powerfully capturing his insights and reflections in her recent piece:
🔗 “ROI Starts on Day One” → https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/columns/editors-note/2025/11/20/roi-starts-day-one

During the panel, Dr. Brownlee shared a compelling message:

“If we want to close equity gaps in this country, we must be honest about the total cost of being a college student—and then design systems that meet real students’ real lives.”

He went on to remind the audience that:

Transparency builds trust.
Trust builds belonging.
Belonging drives completion.
Completion fuels mobility.

Last week, Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee participated in an extraordinary plenary session at Student Success US 2025, addressing one of the most urgent—and too often overlooked—truths in American higher education:

College affordability is about far more than tuition.

Housing

Food and basic needs

Transportation

Childcare

Technology and digital access

Mental wellness supports

The opportunity cost of time

As Dr. Brownlee underscored, these hidden and underestimated costs determine who enrolls, who persists, who completes a credential of value, and who ultimately attains economic mobility.

The panel brought together national leaders who are advancing transparency and equity around the true cost of attendance:

Nicole Siegel, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Catherine Brown, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, National College Attainment Network

Mark Huelsman, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Hope Center for Student Basic Needs

Anika Van Eaton, Vice President of Policy, uAspire

During the panel, Dr. Brownlee shared a compelling message:

“If we want to close equity gaps in this country, we must be honest about the total cost of being a college student—and then design systems that meet real students’ real lives.”

He went on to remind the audience that:

Transparency builds trust.

Trust builds belonging.

Belonging drives completion.

Completion fuels mobility.

This is the essential work ahead for higher education—and, as Dr. Brownlee noted, “It matters.”