Postsecondary Education

Every year, millions of people decide to pursue postsecondary education to improve their economic well-being. But far too many fail to apply, matriculate, persist, or graduate as planned. In fact, 41% of students at 4-year institutions and 71% at 2-year community colleges do not graduate despite their intention to earn a degree. These gaps are even larger for first-generation students and students of color, deepening historical inequality.

Over the past decade, we’ve used behavioral science to research, design, and test solutions that have helped thousands of students achieve their postsecondary goals.

Too often, seemingly small, mundane challenges — paperwork, information gaps, and hassle factors — act as barriers that force students off track. But using our unique behavioral design methodology, we are able to examine programs from the student perspective in order to spot and remove these small yet powerful behavioral barriers. Together with colleges, universities, college success non-profits, and foundations, ideas42 helps more students effectively complete postsecondary education programs and successfully accomplish their goals.

Learn more about the way we work at pse.ideas42.org

Explore our project work across each stage of the student journey:

Our People

Rachel Taylor
Managing Director

Cassie Taylor
Associate Managing Director

Katherine Flaschen
Principal Behavioral Designer

Maddie Kau
Principal Behavioral Designer

Tom Tasche
Associate Managing Director

Yashna Gungadurdoss
Senior Behavioral Designer

Amanda Kaplan

Dan Rosica
Senior Behavioral Designer

Cecilia Shang
Senior Behavioral Designer

Arshele Tyus
Senior Behavioral Designer

Doyoung Jeong
Associate Behavioral Designer

Grace Roebuck
Associate Behavioral Designer

Nikolas Silva
Associate Behavioral Designer

Our Other Areas of Focus