EDUCATION

Graduates of the University of Alabama's class of 2011. The economic downturn has hit recent college grads hard. New data show only half of those who graduated from 2006 to 2011 are working full time.

College Grads Struggle To Gain Financial Footing

A new Rutgers University survey finds just half of those who graduated from college between 2006 and 2011 are working full time. Burdened by student loan debt, and with wages depressed even for those with jobs, many say they no longer believe that education and hard work will necessarily lead to success.

EDUCATION

How Colleges Fight For Top Students

Colleges use money to woo top students. It's an effective tactic, but it drives up tuition for everyone else.

Why So Many Ph.D.s Are On Food Stamps

It's no secret more Americans are relying on food stamps, but host Michel Martin looks at why those applying for government aid with master's and Ph.D degrees have more than doubled in recent years. Martin speaks with Stacey Patton, a reporter with The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Tony Yang, who is unemployed and holds a doctorate degree.

Paying for College: More Tough Decisions

Families struggle to help children with college while providing elderly relatives with health care.

Third Grade A Pivotal Time In Students' Lives

In a growing number of states a single reading test determines which third-grade students advance to fourth grade. Proponents of the rule say that kids learn to read until third grade, and then read to learn. But critics argue that holding students back does more harm than good in the long run.

Budget Woes Could Close Philly's Problem Schools

Philadelphia's school district plans to close a quarter of its school buildings in coming years to eliminate a huge budget hole. But parents and activists don't trust decision-makers. Many of them suspect the plan is a ruse to force charter schools and privatization on the district.

In L.A. Pregnancy 'Hot Spot,' An On-Campus Clinic

The Planned Parenthood-funded clinic has foes, but its nurse says "abstinence doesn't happen."

Education Is Priceless But The Pricetag Is Hefty

The cost of college has been going up between 5 and 7 percent per year for about the last 15 years.

Fla. Court To Rule: Can A Lawyer Be Undocumented?

The Florida Board Bar of Examiners requires all applicants to have valid citizenship or immigration papers. Jose Godinez-Samperio, who has no such papers, was granted a waiver to sit for the bar exam in 2011. He passed, but now the bar says it will admit him only with approval from the state Supreme Court. - READ MORE

Students To Congress: Don't Let Interest Rate Double

If lawmakers can't come to an agreement, the federal Stafford loan interest rate will jump from 3.4 to 6.8 percent on July 1, adding an average of $1,000 to the cost of a year of college. Students from across the country visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to ask Congress to keep that from happening. - READ MORE

Tornado Recovery Offers Joplin Students New Lessons

It's been nearly a year since a tornado tore through Joplin, Mo., destroying several school buildings. As the city rebuilds, some students have been attending a makeshift facility at the mall. Students, teachers and administrators reflect on a tumultuous year that has brought healing and hope. - READ MORE

Hazing Hard To Prosecute In Fla. Despite Tough Laws

The culture of hazing is back in the national spotlight after charges were filed against 13 people in connection with the hazing death of a Florida A&M University student. Florida has one of the toughest anti-hazing laws in the country, but legal experts say prosecuting the crime is tricky. - READ MORE

13 Charged In Florida A&M Hazing Case

Prosecutors have filed charges against 13 people allegedly involved in the hazing death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion. The band was suspended immediately after Champion's death in November. - READ MORE

For College Seniors, One Last Lap Before Graduation

Requiring students to pass a swimming test to graduate was once a widespread tradition. Today, only a handful of colleges still require the exams. Some schools are trying to persuade procrastinators to put the test behind them long before their last college semester. - READ MORE

Top Universities Expand Free Online Classes

Harvard and MIT are moving ambitiously into online education, jointly offering free classes to anyone in the world who wants to take them. The courses will include video lessons, quizzes and instant feedback. Online instruction has had a mixed track record, but the universities hope evolving technology will make it a powerful new tool to expand educational opportunities worldwide. - READ MORE

Cal State Faculty On Strike Amid A 'Scary Future'

The nation's largest four-year, public university system is in trouble. Wednesday, professors authorized a strike over working conditions and pay, and students began a hunger strike demanding a tuition freeze. Higher education in California has been pushed to the breaking point. - READ MORE

Explosion In Free Online Classes May Change Course Of Higher Education

It's become much cheaper and easier to put college courses online, and new technologies have only made these classes more valuable. Following the lead of other top universities, Harvard and MIT announced a new venture Wednesday to provide online classes for free. - READ MORE

The Best Ways To Integrate Special Needs Students

Budget cuts in many school districts have some parents and teachers questioning whether they have the resources to support their students. NPR education correspondent Claudio Sanchez and Thomas Hehir of Harvard University talk about how to integrate special needs students into mainstream classrooms. - READ MORE