A federal investigation is making it harder for colleges to track and improve student voting efforts on campus. College leaders say the warning is creating funding fears ahead of a major election year.
Colleges often use merit aid to compete for students who appear able to pay full tuition, but limited data has made it hard to show how often that happens. This report examines how widespread the practice has become across different types of institutions.
The Board of Regents says this is the fourth tuition increase in the past 10 years. Tuition will rise 1% for in-state undergraduate students beginning in fall 2026.
According to a recent survey, 53.1% of private institutions and 57.6% of public institutions reported increases in new funds committed, while 55% of private institutions and 63.7% of public institutions saw gains in funds they received.
Anna Maria College's financial uncertainty underscores the growing vulnerability of small, tuition-dependent schools as enrollment declines and demographic pressures reshape higher education.
