The order requires major athletic departments to preserve scholarships for women's and Olympic sports, while aiming to curb the explosive growth of name, image and likeness deals—known as NIL—that have dramatically transformed athlete compensation in recent years.

The number of high school senior applicants with at least one parent lacking legal status has nearly rebounded to the 2023 number after the revised financial aid form last year kept them from being able to apply without parental Social Security numbers for several months.

Trump has pushed to dismantle the Education Department, but his new spending law gives it major new responsibilities, including expanded Pell Grants and loan repayment plans. The move ironically strengthens the agency he wanted to shut down.

New Chancellor Daniel Pullin has co-authored a 10-year strategic plan to steer Texas Christian University's growth alongside its increasingly prominent city, Fort Worth.