Questions we're exploring
We start with questions, not conclusions. When society says "everyone knows," we ask: How do we know? This page tracks the investigations underway and the publications that answer them.
Our habit
Examining assumptions. Following evidence.
We do not prove popular beliefs or turn questions into certainty. We investigate widely held assumptions and publish what the data suggest: findings backed by evidence and stated limits, not verdicts.
From popular belief to research question
Headlines and dinner-table opinions rarely survive careful analysis. We turn assumptions into research questions, then examine what the evidence suggests about earnings, debt, completion, region, and time horizon.
Popular belief
"Trades are better than college."
We ask
- Which trades?
- Compared to which majors?
- Over what time period?
- In which regions?
Popular belief
"Degrees no longer matter."
We ask
- Which degrees?
- For which occupations?
- Compared to what alternatives?
Popular belief
"AI will eliminate jobs."
We ask
- Which jobs?
- Which skills remain valuable?
- What does the evidence suggest?
Active questions
Status updates as briefs, dives, and reports publish. Vote on the ballot or suggest a question.
Published · Utah Opportunity Chain
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Part 1
How does concurrent enrollment connect Utah students to degree completion?
Concurrent Enrollment to Degree → -
Part 2
How do technical college outcomes compare to four-year pathways in Utah?
Technical & Certificate Pathways → -
Part 3
Which Utah pathway types produce the strongest early-career earnings?
Early-Career Earnings by Pathway → -
Parts 5 & 8
What is the real cost and ROI of a Utah degree by institution and program?
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Part 9
Which Utah pathways create the greatest mobility when compared side by side?
Pathway comparison report → -
Series
Full Utah story: inputs → throughput → outputs → mobility
All nine parts + whitepaper →
Exploring · National agenda
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Exploring
Are certificates replacing degrees? For whom, and where?
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Exploring
Which credentials produce the strongest wage growth?
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Exploring
How is AI affecting entry-level careers?
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Exploring
Do apprenticeships outperform college in certain industries?
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Exploring
Which skills appear most resilient to automation?
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Exploring
How do outcomes differ across regions and state bureaus?
Not our job
People will try to place us in a camp: pro-college, anti-college, pro-trades, pro-business, pro-labor. Our job is simpler:
Ask good questions, analyze the evidence, and publish the findings.
See also our editorial policy and methodology.