College graduates earn a hefty premium over non-completers, according to a one-of-its-kind study examining debt-adjusted earnings.

As seismic change continues to rock higher education, here are a few threads college leaders should begin preparing for.

In 2026, the federal government will curb access to billions of dollars in student loans, reconfigure how borrowers repay their debt and provide new grant money for short-term career training programs.

Lawmakers are pressing the Education Department to include nursing in programs eligible for higher federal loan caps. They warn the current proposal would make advanced nursing degrees harder to afford.