William Doyle

Media Appearances

• Have Americans Actually Lost Faith in Higher Education?

  Although his reasons were slightly different from Brickman’s, William Doyle, a professor of higher education and public policy at Vanderbilt University, agreed that “there’s every reason to be concerned about the decline in confidence in higher education.” He noted that the decline in enrollment has been greater than what might be expected strictly as a result of the shrinking population of traditional-aged students.

  September 24th, 2024

• College Uncovered: Half Off Full Price

  As they struggle to fill seats, universities on average dole out more than half of the revenue they collect from tuition in the form of discounts and financial aid. If a private company discounted its products by more than half, it would be out of business. It’s an incredibly self-destructive model, but no one seems willing to be the first to stop doing it.

  April 18th, 2024

• As enrollment falls and public skepticism grows, some colleges are cutting their prices

  “There was a time when colleges and universities could price with impunity, when there was always sufficient demand that they could raise what they charged and be sure that people were going to find a way to pay,” said Will Doyle, a professor of higher education and chair of the Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. “But that time appears to be over.”

  November 25th, 2022

• States Contributing More For Public Colleges—But Will It Last?

  States spent 4.5% more money per student on higher education (after adjusting for inflation) in fiscal 2021 than they did the year prior—pouring $113.2 billion into the sector, according to the report. The uptick in spending stands in stark contrast to past recessions, when public funding for colleges is typically the first thing to go while states balance their budgets. “[During a recession] you would normally have tuition and fees go up at the exact time when students and families can least afford to pay for that,” said Will Doyle, a professor of public policy and higher education at Vanderbilt University.

  June 14th, 2022

• Public’s Impression of Higher Education Improves (Somewhat)

  Will Doyle, a professor of public policy and higher education at Vanderbilt University, has tracked public polling on higher education for nearly 25 years. The data reinforced for him “the overall level of stability in the way the public views higher education,” Doyle said.

  March 13th, 2022

• Study finds tuition cost increases this year did not keep up with inflation

  And usually, during a recession, government spending on schools drops. But according to Vanderbilt education professor Will Doyle, that didn’t happen either. “One of the big reasons for public institutions that the tuition didn’t go up as much as is because the states were able to maintain their support,” he said.

  October 28th, 2021

• Reshaping the Federal Role in Higher Ed

  This week’s episode dissects Congressional legislation that would eliminate tuition at community colleges and alter the relationship between the federal and state governments.

  September 17th, 2021

• Higher Education’s Nightmare Scenario

  Public colleges face two crises: the impact of Covid-19 on their operations and a downturn in state funding brought on by the current recession. And based on what state budget offices are saying, the funding problem for higher education is about to get a lot worse. Without action by the federal government, higher education in most states will be facing severe cuts, very likely larger than those incurred during the recession of 2008-9. There has already been a large contraction in our industry’s work force, and state systems are feeling the pain: In Pennsylvania, for instance, a plan to lay off approximately 350 faculty members has reportedly been expedited. All of that may merely be prelude to a looming, historic decline in the sector. There is time to act, but the window is closing. Academic leaders are planning now for unprecedented cuts.

  October 12th, 2020

• 40 years later, landmark Emory gift remains call to public service

  “It’s really dramatically unequal,” said Will Doyle, a Vanderbilt University higher education professor who’s done research on the topic. “The places that have the most money get the most money.”

  February 22nd, 2020

• ‘Tennessee Promise’ offers free community college or technical school education

  NBC News’ Anne Thompson reports on a lottery-funded program in Tennessee that offers free community college or technical school tuition to students, regardless of income.

  May 23rd, 2019