Lyss Welding
Expertise
- National higher education data
- Survey reporting
- Student financial aid
- Student loan debt
- Cost of college
- Higher education research
Education
- BA Linguistics, University of Chicago
Other Publications
Lyss Welding specializes in interpreting national data on student issues and finding data that matters to students.
Lyss began her career assisting research at the University of Chicago for a longitudinal language development study. From there, Lyss joined the Office of Learning and Evaluation at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to help evaluate the outcomes of children and youth participants in YMCA programs.
Lyss joined BestColleges in 2021, initially reporting on educational pathways in the skilled trades. In 2023, she became the lead editor and analyst overseeing BestColleges’ Data Center.
Through the Data Center, Lyss designs and reports on student and school administrator surveys, tracks trends in higher education, and helps inform the ranking methodology for BestColleges’ college ranking lists.
Lyss has presented on best practices in data use and collection at conferences such as Data Science for Social Good and Illinois Continuous Quality Improvement.
WGN Radio interviewed Lyss Welding on colleges with the best return on investment. NTV News interviewed Lyss on the why behind the University of Nebraska system budget shortfall. NPR referenced Lyss’s research on the college enrollment decline. Forbes cited Lyss’s research on college students’ political beliefs and voting. Investopedia cited Lyss’s research on student loan debt. Council on Foreign Relations cited Lyss’s research on student loan debt.
Lyss holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Chicago.
Lyss is a former editor for BestColleges.
Read Lyss Welding's Latest Articles
Tracking College Closures and Mergers
Over 80 private nonprofit colleges closed or merged between 2020 and 2025. Find historical data about college closures and a list of closed colleges and mergers.
April 16, 2026
How to Become an Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic controllers can make six figures, but they train hard to get there. Learn how to become an air traffic controller in our step-by-step guide.
April 14, 2026
Average Pell Grant and 2026 Maximum Amount
The government gives Pell Grants to over 6 million students yearly. But fewer students are receiving these grants every year.
January 7, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Apply to College?
As tuition increases, even applying to college comes at a cost. How much are college applications? Find out in our report.
November 7, 2025
How Much Does Law School Cost?
Average law school tuition is around $90,000-$170,000. Prestigious schools can cost far more. Explore information behind law school costs in our report.
November 5, 2025
