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Exploring what leads to opportunity.

What pathways create opportunity?

Examining assumptions. Following evidence.

We practice Decision Journalism: translating public evidence into tradeoffs families and students can compare. Not rankings. Not advocacy. Data-backed understanding with limits stated plainly.

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For students

Compare schools and programs by cost, debt, completion, and pay—plain evidence for your next decision.

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For families

Compare pathways by cost, debt, earnings, and completion so students can choose with evidence, not marketing.

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For schools & counselors

Data briefs and reports you can share with students: clear methodology, free to republish with attribution.

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For policymakers

Independent analysis of pathway ROI, workforce outcomes, and mobility, built from public data, not institutional narratives.

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FROM OUR RESEARCH

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MEDIAN EARNINGS SPREAD · UTAH PATHWAY TYPES

System averages hide which pathways actually pay off: by institution, program, cost, and earnings outcome.

Pathways & Outcomes analysis of Utah College Scorecard data finds median ten-year earnings at private institutions are roughly 2× those at for-profit certificate providers. System averages hide that spread. For-profits report similar working rates six years out, but private graduates are about twice as likely to earn above $25,000—while for-profit certificate schools finish more students at much lower typical pay. We compare pathways on net price, debt, completion, and earnings institution by institution.

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Latest reports & data briefs

The Utah Opportunity Chain: nine publications from K–12 preparation through workforce outcomes, now live.

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LAUNCH SERIES · UTAH

The Utah Opportunity Chain

Nine publications from K–12 achievement (SEDA) through postsecondary inputs, apprenticeship sponsors, and 51,243 federal participant records.

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RESEARCH AGENDA

Questions we're exploring

When society says everyone knows the answer, we investigate and share what the evidence suggests. These questions are on our agenda now.

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  • Which credentials produce the strongest wage growth?

  • How is AI affecting entry-level careers?

  • Which postsecondary pathways create the greatest mobility?

What we study

Postsecondary pathways compared by the outcomes that matter for opportunity.

ROI & cost Debt Earnings Technical college Workforce Mobility
STATE BUREAUS

Local research, national brand

Pathways and Outcomes publishes independent pathway research nationally. State bureaus provide localized analysis using public data, starting with Utah in Year 1.

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Independent & nonpartisan

Ethics, editorial independence, and funding rules published before we ask for support.

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Transparent methodology

Sources, methods, and limitations published with every report and data brief.

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Free to republish

Our work is available under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 for schools, newsrooms, and partners.

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