On April 12th, Congressman John Tierney – a senior member of the House subcommittee on Higher Education – will join leaders representing colleges, student loan lenders, and private organizations aiding college-bound families at a MassINC forum examining current and future efforts to make the higher education marketplace more consumer friendly.  The event will be held at Suffolk University Law School on April 12 at 8:30 am. 

“The complex issues facing families in planning and paying for college require additional scrutiny, if not significant reform,” said Greg Torres, President of MassINC and Publisher of CommonWealth magazine. “We hope this public discussion, framed by one of the nation’s premier higher education policymakers, will help forge a path to better support for families making one of the most important investment decisions of their lives.”

The forum builds on the recent report, Planning for College, released in February, which outlines the difficulties families face in planning, choosing and paying for college, given the complicated and inadequate information regarding price, quality, and financing options.

The Planning for College report, and event, are components of the MassINC Family Financial Skills Initiative, which explores new pathways to help families navigate the complex financial decisions increasingly tied to major milestones of American life. This project is made possible with generous support from the Highland Street Foundation, the State Street Foundation, and the Cabot Family Charitable Trust.