Preston Cooper

Preston Cooper is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, focusing on the economics of higher education, particularly financial returns to college and the federal student loan program. With extensive experience in higher education economics, Preston has contributed over 200 articles to Forbes, receiving over 1 million views, and served as a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, advocating for market-based reforms to expand educational opportunity. As a PhD candidate at George Mason University, dissertation completed in October 2023, and previously engaged at the American Enterprise Institute and Manhattan Institute, Preston has consistently produced data-driven research and analysis in the field. Preston's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Swarthmore College.