The Education Finance Conference, held on May 13–14, 2025, specialized in academic research surrounding the financing of higher education. The purpose was to provide a platform for experts from various backgrounds to share their insights on the latest research in the field. Topics covered included student loans, financial aid, and university financing. In addition, the conference offered a forum for discussion on recent research, innovative practices in education finance, and current policy proposals, such as the Biden administration’s debt forgiveness plan, which was recently blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Scholars, policymakers, and practitioners came together to share their knowledge and experiences, making the conference an excellent opportunity to explore cutting-edge research, engage with others in the field, and spark new ideas and perspectives. By convening experts from diverse backgrounds, the conference helped foster a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education financing today.
PHOTO GALLERY
Agenda
Coffee and Refreshments
6th Floor Lounge
College Financial Aid Policies
Presenter: Emily Cook, Texas A&M University
Discussant: Juanna Schrøter Joensen, University of Chicago
The Large Implicit Tax on Income from College Financial Aid in the US
Presenter: Nick Gebbia, Stanford University
Discussant: George Bulman, University of California, Santa Cruz
Lunch
1st Floor Dining Room
Labor, Loans and Leisure: The Impact of the Student Loan Payment Pause
Presenter: Sarah Turner, University of Virginia
Discussant: Zachary Bleemer, Princeton University
Student Loan Forgiveness
Presenter: Dmitri Koustas, University of Chicago
Discussant: Michael Boutros, University of Toronto
Break
Keynote Session
Caroline Hoxby, Stanford University
Conference Dinner
By invitation only.
Breakfast
6th Floor Lounge
New Data to Understand Differences in Student Loan Borrower Outcomes
Presenter: Jordan Matsudaira, American University
Discussant: Dubravka Ritter, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Break
Student Loans and Labor Supply Incentives
Presenter: Gustavo Manso, University of California, Berkeley
Discussant: Michael Dinerstein, Duke University
Break
Grab lunch in 6th Floor Lounge.
Working Lunch with Keynote Session: Insurance, Redistribution, and Frictions in the Student Loan Market
Lance Lochner, University of Western Ontario