Trends & Insights
As the higher education landscape changes, Optimal seeks to provide data-driven studies on important topics across our sites. Our studies use proprietary research and in-depth analysis.
Discover which colleges accept Running Start credits in this detailed guide. Explore the benefits of dual enrollment programs for high school students looking to earn college credits early, including how to qualify and a list of participating colleges in states like Illinois, Indiana, Hawaii, Montana, and Washington. Ideal for students and parents aiming to reduce college costs and time.
Discover how college endowments work and learn more about their role in the financial strategies of the largest U.S. universities. From historic growth patterns to ethical investment debates, gain a deeper understanding of these significant financial entities.
Discover the universities producing international business graduates that earn the most. Our study explores salary trends for bachelor's and master's degree holders, highlighting the top institutions, salary progression, and the impact online programs have on earnings to help you find an international business degree that can lead to financial success.
Discover which colleges produce the highest-earning nursing graduates in this report examining the impact of education level and geographic location on nursing salaries. Learn about the potential for salary growth from associate to master's degrees and see how colleges across the U.S. stack up in preparing nurses for lucrative careers.
Annual tuition is more expensive in almost every state - but not all! In this data study, explore the changes in tuition across the U.S. and discover where tuition has gone up the most, changed very little, or actually gone down.
Explore the top U.S. colleges producing the highest-earning graduates in cybersecurity, based on analysis of bachelor's and master's degree alumni earnings at one and four years post-graduation. Whether you're considering a career in this fast-growing field or looking to maximize your educational investment, find out which colleges offer the best return on your tuition dollars.
Only about 21% of computer science graduates are women, a significant gender gap in a critical STEM field. Discover the 29 schools that have achieved gender parity or better in their computer science programs.
Explore our in-depth data study examining the evolution of college tuition across the U.S. over the most recent five years of College Scorecard data. Discover key trends, regional comparisons, and insights into where college tuition is - and isn't - on the rise.
A look at 10 primarily white institutions (PWIs) where Black alumni are likely to see higher median salaries than other Black graduates in their state for 2024.
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