The Department of Education implores these universities to return to standardized testing, limit international students and freeze tuition for five years.
Young adults ages 18 to 28 are turning to hands-on careers such as electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians. Many cite financial stability without student debt, while others find purpose beyond the paycheck.
Stacker, using Niche’s 2026 rankings, compiled a list of the nation’s best public colleges based on academics, admissions, cost and student life. Topping the list were the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, the University of California–Los Angeles and the University of Virginia.
Utah trails only Hawaii in carrying the nation’s lowest student debt, ranking 50th on WalletHub’s list, as lawmakers push accelerated degree programs to drive costs down even further.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” will let colleges cap federal student loans in certain majors starting in July 2026. Supporters say it will help students in lower-paying fields avoid unmanageable debt and protect schools from high default rates.
While FAFSA filing rates are rising, many lower-income students are attending college without tapping into the full array of financial aid resources available to them.
Student loan borrowers in the SAVE forbearance are no longer shielded from accumulating interest after a policy change by the Trump administration. While payments remain paused, experts warn that debt will grow and recommend switching to another repayment plan.
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.
As of August 2024, 39% of first-time bachelor's degree-seeking students were not completing their program within eight years. The reason: students don't see a clear path to completion.
