Total fall 2024 enrollment rose across multiple factors—including sector, selectivity, and urban-rural classification—bringing it closer to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Service. Compared to fall 2019, overall enrollment increased by 0.4 percent, and compared to fall 2023, it grew by 4.5 percent.
Author: Laurie Arnston
The Growing Gender Divide in STEM Education
A recent Brookings Institution article, “The Hidden STEM Gender Gap: Why Progress at Top Universities Masks a Growing Crisis,” paints a complex picture of the state of gender equity in STEM higher education. While top universities have made notable progress in narrowing the gender gap in physics, engineering, and computer science (PECS) majors, institutions serving students with lower math achievement are falling further behind.
Building and Sustaining an AI-informed Institution
As a response to the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, the Department of Education’s new brief, Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Postsecondary Education, provides recommendations for leaders at higher education institutions. The brief is divided into two main parts: one with policy recommendations and one reviewing literature and research.
New Might Not Always Mean Improved: The Benefits and Drawbacks of the New FAFSA
A recent uAspire survey of 274 students, parents, counselors, and financial aid administrators found the changes to the FAFSA entailed a number of “chutes,” or drawbacks, and several “ladders” that allowed for a more streamlined financial aid filing process.
Dear President-elect Trump: Higher Education Builds America
ACE President Ted Mitchell urges the incoming administration to recognize the critical role America’s colleges and universities can play in tackling the nation’s most pressing challenges.
Recommendations for States to Address Postsecondary Affordability
An October 2024 report, Beyond Sticker Prices: How States Can Make Postsecondary Education More Affordable, reviews data to evaluate affordability of postsecondary education across nine states, including Alabama, California, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
From Pause to Progress: Predictors of Success and Hurdles for Returning Students
UPCEA and StraighterLine carried out a survey to examine the driving factors, obstacles, preparedness, and viewpoints of individuals who started but did not finish a degree, certificate, technical, or vocational program.
State Funding for Short-Term Credentials Ramps Up
Short-term and non-degree credentials are becoming an increasingly central piece of the education landscape in the United States. HCM Strategists conducted an in-depth examination of all 50 states to establish the first comprehensive classification system of state funding for short-term credential programs.
The Power of Personal Storytelling in Higher Education Leadership
In a time of increasing skepticism and political division, higher education leaders must find new ways to connect with their communities. Devorah Lieberman, president emerita of the University of La Verne, writes about how to harness the power of personal storytelling to bridge divides and strengthen your institution.
Good News About the FAFSA
The Department of Education has launched the 2025-26 FAFSA ahead of schedule, a major win after last year’s debacle. ACE President Ted Mitchell says this milestone, paired with the bipartisan FAFSA Deadline Act, is a crucial step toward expanding college access for low-income students.
For Adult Learners, College Means More Than Just Jobs and Wages
When adults decide to go back to college, some people assume their motivations are purely economic—to get a better job, make more money, or move up the corporate ladder. However, a new study by Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, Stanford Pathways Network, and Strada Education Foundation challenges this narrow view.
Supporting Students Formerly in Foster Care
Youth formerly in foster care (YFFC) face complex and heightened demands with regard to postsecondary education. In a new brief from Trellis Strategies, the author discusses the distinct needs of YFFC who pursue higher education.