Judith E. Scott-Clayton

Judith E. Scott-Clayton is a Professor of Economics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, affiliated with the Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis (EPSA) and serving as a Senior Research Scholar at the Community College Research Center (CCRC). She previously held a one-year appointment as Senior Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers (2022-2023). Her research bridges labor economics and higher education policy, focusing on financial aid systems, community college outcomes, remedial education, and student loan debt, with publications spanning economics, education, and policy journals.

Her work has been widely recognized in national media, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, PBS, NPR, and CNN. She has testified before the U.S. Senate multiple times, including in 2020, and contributes to the Brookings Institution's Evidence Speaks series. Scott-Clayton holds a B.A. in Sociology from Wellesley College and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Recent research highlights trends in postsecondary labor market returns, the impacts of financial aid performance standards, and structural reforms in student support systems. Her policy briefs address disparities in student loan default rates, Pell Grant modernization, and the role of Federal Work-Study programs. Key collaborations include the Center for Analysis of Postsecondary Education and Employment (CAPSEE) and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

Judith Scott-Clayton’s contributions to financial aid policy, community college reform, and labor market analysis have earned her national prominence. She has received fellowships from the Brookings Institution and NBER, and her testimony has shaped federal and state-level education legislation, including Pell Grant and FAFSA reforms.