After the Trump administration blocked Harvard from enrolling international students, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology offered them unconditional admission, signaling rising global competition for top students and financial risks for Harvard.

Facing rising college costs, more Gen Z students like Penelope Masotti are choosing skilled trades for financial stability. Masotti plans to study cosmetology after graduation, joining a growing shift away from traditional four-year degrees.

Tribal colleges and universities have endured decades of chronic underfunding, relying heavily on federal support to stay afloat. Now, the Trump administration's broad cuts to federal programs are hitting Indian Country hard, posing a serious threat to the future of these vital institutions.