Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP)

10/26/2026

"𝗖𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 couples about $𝟭.𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻, or 23% of the cost of the American Dream in 2026." That's a direct quote from a new report by Investopedia.

Hmm, so let's see if we've got this right. When you drive a car off the lot it immediately loses value, right? And cars cost consumers half a million bucks over the course of a lifetime, or $1.2 million for a couple.

On the other hand, a college education increases in value over time with an average that beats the stock market, and a is worth at least an 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 in wages over the course of a lifetime. Oh yeah, and the entire modern economy is underpinned by the products forged by university research, creating 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 with technology like the Internet, smartphones, and thousands of medical miracles.

But college is the problem, right? Time to cut back on all that useless education, right? Who needs college, right? Wrong. Sorry, but this was too good not to turn into a .

Sources:
👇
, "The American Dream Costs $5.3 Million—and Cars Are a Surprisingly High Part of It," Sarina Trangle, October 16, 2026.
https://www.investopedia.com/the-american-dream-costs-usd5-3-million-and-cars-are-usd1-2-million-of-it-12177950

The Brookings Institution on college ROI increasing in value progressively after graduation:
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-college-affordability-debates-get-wrong-on-the-returns-to-college/

Graph detail from report on ROI: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSamANjEviP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&psln=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Opinion video w/car costs ("Why are They Lying About Student Debt?")
https://youtu.be/AfJOykESS7c?si=qzpCmWvwE2NssZ74

Federal Reserve on the ROI of a college degree:
https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2025/04/is-college-still-worth-it/

The Atlantic: College costs have dropped in the last decade and most people don't pay the full price of tuition:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/college-cheaper-sticker-price/681742/

💡AICUP value dashboard:
https://aicup.org/communications/dashboard/

10/26/2026

"The Bad Idea Gaining Traction in Higher Ed : Three-year degrees risk leaving students less prepared for a rapidly changing workforce," by President Christina Clark of La Roche University, new at Inside Higher Ed. 🎓 👇

Three-year degrees risk leaving students less prepared for a rapidly changing workforce.

10/21/2026

New from Gallup: 𝟴 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲, whether or not the role requires one. This study also illuminates the value of a even with advances in , stating that, quote: "nearly half of employers (48%) 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 over the next five years."
👇
https://news.gallup.com/poll/715601/employers-confidence-higher-education-undaunted.aspx

10/20/2026

3 weeks 'til the AICUP 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺. Have you registered yet? This year, we're focusing on "high performance for higher education," with the largest gathering of leaders in . This annual event is your opportunity to hear insights on today's hot topics in campus management and cost-cutting collaborations, learn with peers at educational workshops, and meet AICUP-vetted vendors serving a full range of campus services.

The Campus Leaders Forum will be held Tuesday, 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬 in Bethlehem, PA, and we welcome all AICUP member administrators, faculty, and specialized leaders in , , management, human resources, , marketing, and communications.

Find out more and register here at the AICUP website:
👇
https://aicup.org/collaboration/campus-leaders-forum/

10/13/2026

Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer spotlighted the ways schools are helping alleviate the shortage. 🩺👇
https://www.inquirer.com/health/nursing-shortage-accelerated-programs-philadelphia-loan-repayment-20261011.html

Quote: "'I think we’re on a good course,' said Tom Foley, president of the Association of Independent and of , regarding the shortage. 'The work will continue because the need will continue.'"

Learn more at the website:
https://aicup.org/in-the-news/solving-the-nursing-shortage-together/

10/06/2026

Day on PennLive.com!
https://www.pennlive.com/education/2026/09/capitol-in-harrisburg-hosts-mascot-day-for-colleges-across-the-state.html
🐯 🦅 🐻 ⚾ 🏈 🏀 🥇 🏆 🙌
🎓 Check out the AICUP Dashboard to learn more about the value of independent nonprofit and in :
https://aicup.org/communications/dashboard/

10/06/2026

Day on abc27 News!
https://www.abc27.com/local-news/harrisburg/mascots-descend-on-state-capitol-to-highlight-new-aicup-dashboard/
🐯 🦅 🐻 ⚾ 🏈 🏀 🥇 🏆 🙌
🎓 Check out the AICUP Dashboard to learn more about the value of independent nonprofit and in :
https://aicup.org/communications/dashboard/

10/06/2026

Day on WGAL News Channel 8 Susquehanna Valley, Pa.!
https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-mascots-visit-state-capitol/74037299
🐯 🦅 🐻 ⚾ 🏈 🏀 🥇 🏆 🙌
🎓 Check out the AICUP Dashboard to learn more about the value of independent nonprofit and in :
https://aicup.org/communications/dashboard/

09/29/2026

Today is Day! 🤸‍♂️ Mascots from across travelled to the State Capitol in to meet their legislators and to advocate for independent nonprofit and — the largest sector of higher ed in PA! Learn more about AICUP at the dashboard and check out the AICUP member map! 🐯 🦅 🐻 ⚾ 🏈 🏀 🥇 🏆 🙌

🌎 Map: https://aicup.org/about-us/members/
🎓 Dashboard: https://aicup.org/communications/dashboard/

09/24/2026

Congratulations Jayla Clark from Moore College of Art & Design, winner of the AICUP Commonwealth Good Citizen Scholarship. 🎓 Here's what Jayla had to say: "This scholarship will help me finish the final, and most pivotal, year of my college career. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show my work to the public and deepen my relationship with my community through art."

"Thanks to the community leaders who helped AICUP raise $200,000 for these scholarships through the AICUP Good Citizen Golf Outing held each June," said AICUP President Tom Foley.

Interested in applying or know someone who might be? applications are available at AICUP schools' financial aid offices. To learn if your school is a member of AICUP, check the map here to see all 80+ independent nonprofit and in :

🌎 https://aicup.org/about-us/members/