National News
What the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ will change for students, schools and colleges
NPR -
The new law brings sweeping changes, including national school vouchers, revised Medicaid and food assistance policies, and major overhauls to federal student loans and college funding.
Civil rights work is slowing as Trump dismantles the Education Department, agency data shows
AP News -
The Education Department’s civil rights branch lost nearly half its staff amid mass layoffs in March, raising questions about its ability to address a deep backlog of complaints from students alleging discrimination based on disability, sex or race.
5 Advantages of an online bachelor’s degree
UB Staff -
As the demand for flexible education grows, more students are turning to online bachelor’s programs to earn degrees on their own terms. Online programs allow students to move at their own pace and travel while continuing their studies, for example.
‘Varsity Blues’ admissions scheme mastermind can advise college hopefuls again, judge rules
NBC News -
Rick Singer, 62, pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering, money laundering and other charges in connection with the college admissions cheating scandal. A federal judge recently ruled that Singer can work as a college consultant again so long as he discloses his criminal record to new clients.
University students feel ‘anxious, confused and distrustful’ about AI in the classroom and among their peers
The advent of generative AI has elicited waves of frustration and worry across academia for all the reasons one might expect: Early studies are showing that artificial intelligence tools can dilute critical thinking and undermine problem-solving skills.
Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ caps student loans. Here’s what it means for borrowers
CNBC -
President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending package will cap how much money people can borrow from the federal government to pay for college and graduate school. For the first time, borrowers will have a total lifetime borrowing limit of $257,500 for all federal student loans.
8 Colleges With Four-Year On-Campus-Living Policies
Many colleges require freshmen to live on campus for community and convenience, but a few—like the eight private schools below—mandate on-campus housing all four years.
‘Panicking’: Why recent college grads are struggling to find jobs
NPR -
"The labor market for recent college grads in 2025, so far, is among the most challenging in the last decade, apart from the pandemic period" says Jaison Abel, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In addition to job cuts by federal government, tech companies and consulting firms are also scaling back after a period of rapid growth.
Harvard grad schools rebrand diversity offices as university wipes DEI messaging
Several Harvard graduate schools shuttered their diversity, equity and inclusion offices over the past two weeks, continuing their effort to replace DEI programs that the Trump administration has broadly painted as illegal.
Most teens—and girls especially—see college as key to jobs and life skills, AP-NORC poll says
WDHN -
A new AP-NORC poll finds that most American teens—especially girls—say graduating from college is very important to achieving their life goals. Despite rising tuition costs and student debt, teens remain more optimistic about college than adults, with about 6 in 10 calling it a top priority compared to 4 in 10 adults.
More college students now learn entirely online than completely in-person
NPR -
For the first time, more U.S. college students are learning entirely online than attending fully in person, yet most online programs cost just as much or more than traditional ones. Despite the lack of campus expenses, universities cite technology, staffing and support services as reasons for the high price.
Trump targets university accreditation—a non-governmental designation
Axios -
President Trump is targeting university accreditors he claims support unlawful diversity initiatives, intensifying political battles over how colleges are evaluated. His actions, including an executive order and federal scrutiny of Harvard’s accreditor, challenge the traditionally non-governmental accreditation system.
‘Academic freedom is under assault’: Indiana educators fear degree cuts will redefine higher ed
IndyStar -
Indiana public universities plan to cut or merge about 400 degree programs under a new law requiring minimum graduate numbers. While state leaders say the goal is to meet workforce needs, faculty argue it threatens academic freedom and the value of a liberal arts education.
Credit for life experience? More colleges woo students with path to degrees
Nearly 38 million working-age Americans have attended college without earning a degree, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. As the number of high school graduates declines, bringing these learners back has become a growing priority for colleges.
Here’s what the endowment tax in Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ may mean for your college tuition
CNBC -
Instead of the existing flat 1.4% tax rate, there is now a new multi-tiered rate of up to 8%, with larger endowments subject to the highest rate. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates this endowment tax will bring in $761 million over 10 years.
Education Department dismisses thousands of civil rights complaints at an ‘unheard of’ pace
The Education Department dismissed civil rights complaints at such a rapid clip this year that former officials and advocates are concerned about a core agency function amid plans to make deep staffing cuts.
More Northeast students are heading to LSU
Axios -
More Northeastern teens are heading to the South for large state schools, with LSU seeing a nearly 500% increase in attendance from students in the Northeast between 2014 and 2023, an Axios data analysis shows.
NJ restores $20 million to community college funding for 2026
NJ.com -
New Jersey lawmakers have reversed some proposed funding cuts to community colleges, ensuring operating aid remains consistent with the past two years. However, financial aid programs—including the Community College Opportunity Grant—will still face reductions under the new budget.
Facing declining enrollment and financial headwinds, Burlington’s Champlain College reshapes its academic programs
VTDigger -
The move is part of a broader strategy by the Burlington-based school to design a new “career-focused” curriculum for the fall of 2026 “that is focused on and driven by employer needs and student interests,” according to a fact sheet provided to VTDigger by the college.
Hundreds of degree programs axed at IU, Purdue and other public colleges
Axios -
More than 400 programs are slated for elimination, culling nearly 20% of the degrees previously offered by the state's public higher education institutions.
Columbia to pay $9 million to settle lawsuit over US News college ranking
Reuters -
Proposed class action by students claimed the university submitted false data to boost its position in U.S. News & World Report's influential college rankings.
UVA ouster shows Trump higher ed fight ready to go beyond Ivy Leagues
The Hill -
University President James Ryan announced Friday he would be leaving after an apparent pressure campaign from the Trump administration that went largely unreported until it reached its boiling point.
Why the traditional college major may be holding students back in a rapidly changing job market
Colleges face financial pressure from declining enrollment and rising costs, while students increasingly prioritize career-ready, flexible degrees. Experts suggest rethinking the traditional major in favor of customizable, modular programs that better align with workforce demands.
Indiana public colleges cut or merge a fifth of degree programs, more could come
IndyStar -
Indiana’s public colleges are cutting or consolidating about 400 of the state’s 2,200 degree programs ahead of a new law taking effect July 1. The move, aimed at steering students toward high-demand fields, is part of Gov. Mike Braun’s agenda to align higher education with workforce needs.
Kentucky’s new anti-DEI law is now in effect. How colleges, universities are complying
The new law bans colleges and universities from spending money on DEI initiatives, requiring schools to eliminate all DEI offices and positions and prohibiting them from requiring students or staff to attend DEI training sessions.
Harvard and University of Toronto make contingency plan for international students
Reuters -
In response to potential U.S. visa challenges, students at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government who are unable to return to the United States will have the option to continue their studies through a visiting student program at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Texas A&M, university systems in other red states will create their own agency to review schools’ quality standards
Officials with Texas A&M, State University System of Florida, University System of Georgia, University of Tennessee System, University of North Carolina System and University of South Carolina System will create a new agency to accredit them. They are calling the new body the Commission for Public Higher Education.
Unemployment among young college graduates outpaces overall U.S. joblessness rate
AP News -
Young people graduating from college this spring and summer are facing one of the toughest job markets in more than a decade. The unemployment rate for degree holders ages 22 to 27 has reached its highest level in a dozen years.
Over a dozen Oklahoma colleges and universities request tuition hikes
Over half of Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities asked a state governing board to approve increases in what students must pay in tuition and fees for the upcoming school year.
Colleges nervously await Trump-Harvard deal
Colleges are waiting with bated breath after President Trump announced an upcoming deal with Harvard University, fearing concessions that could become a blueprint for what the administration demands of other schools.
The top private and public colleges for financial aid—5 offer average scholarships of more than $50,000
CNBC -
The federal student loan system is facing a massive overhaul, which could result in less college aid. But higher education is only getting more expensive.To bridge the gap, some schools are offering substantial financial aid packages.
These LA community college students are getting paid to go to school. Here’s how
A pilot program by the Los Angeles Community College District pays $1,200 a month to students pursuing health fields. By helping with living expenses, the district hopes the guaranteed income will help more students complete their health care workforce development programs.
Students can soon earn automatic admission to state’s universities, hoping to keep more in Illinois
WGLT -
High school and community college students in Illinois will soon be able to earn automatic admission to most state public universities based on their GPA—without even having to apply.
It’s not just Harvard. Public universities are also hurting from Trump’s cuts to science
GBH -
If Congress signs off on that plan, campuses like UMass—which are already hurting from terminated grants—could lose more than half their federal research support.
Community college professors—and leaders—want higher pay for instructors
WBUR -
Community college professors in Massachusetts are often forced to work multiple jobs due to low pay, sparking calls from both faculty and leadership for salary increases. As enrollment rises, advocates say better compensation is essential to recruit and retain instructors and support diverse student needs.
