How much is a college worth? Phrased another way, for every dollar society puts into a school — either through direct government funding or by granting tax-exempt status — how much public benefit is realized? It is a deceptively simple question that has defied an easy answer. But as tuitions rise and the economy drags, there is a newly keen desire, especially in a college town like Boston, to measure higher education’s overall return on investment. Two new reports give the task a try. The first looks at the input side of the equation, using Northeastern University as a case study. It shows that in fiscal year 2011 the school received at least $181.7 million in public support. Northeastern has said it provides at least twice that in community benefits each year. The second report, focusing on the University of Massachusetts system, finds that for every dollar invested, the community — in this case, the state — ultimately gets about two back in the form of job creation, facilities for public use, and other benefits.
http://articles.boston.com/2012-07-07/news/32579542_1_higher-education-universities-colleges
