How Will Minimum Wage Changes Impact Higher Ed?

According to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, 67% of Americans support raising the federal minimum hourly wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour, with 41% strongly supporting the increase. Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour has been the battle cry for many members of Congress, while others have opposed or expressed concern regarding, such a large increase. The federal minimum wage receives significant media focus, but many states and higher education institutions have established minimum wage rates that exceed or significantly exceed $7.25 per hour. To more clearly shape the perspective and understand the impact for higher education of a possible minimum wage increase, this brief includes a short history of federal minimum wage increases and the views of minimum wage increases through various lenses: (1) economic impact; (2) living wage; (3) the federal government; (4) state governments; and (5) higher education institutions.