A college degree has long been touted as a key component for a successful and prosperous life. But a more critical look reveals that coming in prepared and graduating is often the biggest challenge, especially for disadvantaged students.

Senior fellows Isabel Sawhill and Ron Haskins discuss the findings from in the latest issue of The Future of Children journal which is devoted to post secondary education preparation as well as a new Center on Children and Families brief that examines the college return-on-investment. Isabel Sawhill explains how shocking it is that the U.S. spends $100 billion subsidizing college grant programs and student loans with no clear evidence that these expenditures actually increase college graduation rates.

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