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.
Author: Laurie Arnston
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.
Troubled FAFSA Rollout Linked to Sharp Decline in First-Year College Enrollment
The problems with the new FAFSA rollout caused delays and fewer students filing, which experts at the National Student Clearinghouse and the Brookings Institution say could lead to a drop in new college enrollments, based on early data and analysis.
Prioritizing Mental Health Support in Community Colleges: Key Data from 2023
The 2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) and Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) gathered essential data to guide community colleges in supporting student mental health and well-being.
Unpacking the Transition to College
Each year, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports on the transition from high school to college. The latest report finds that as we move further away from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, policy and practice are reverting to “normalcy,” though there are still lasting inequities in student outcomes.
Families Use a Variety of Options to Keep Pace with Increasing College Tuition
A new analysis from the Brookings Institution examines the different funding sources that families use to pay for four-year nonprofit colleges and how these differ depending on family income.
AI Adoption Slow Despite Growing Digital Transformation Efforts, CTOs Report
Inside Higher Ed, partnering with Hanover Research, recently released its third annual Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers. This comprehensive report explores how colleges and universities are dealing with rapid changes in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, offering insights into their challenges and opportunities.
New Report Sheds Light on College Faculty and Staff Mental Health
The Healthy Minds Study’s Faculty/Staff Survey, since it piloted in 2021, has helped institutions understand their employees’ mental health and perceived ability to help students with mental health concerns. The 2023-24 survey results are based on nearly 10,000 survey respondents from 30 colleges and universities.
OECD on U.S. Higher Ed: High Spending, Varied Outcomes, and Persistent Equity Gaps
The OECD’s Education at a Glance 2024 report provides a global analysis of education systems, with country-specific reports, including one on the U.S., highlighting equity issues and performance indicators such as student achievement and the impact of education on earnings and employment.
Leveraging AI to Support Student Mental Health and Well-Being
Artificial intelligence is transforming how colleges approach student mental health, offering innovative ways to manage stress, connect students with resources, and detect warning signs early. Armando Montero explores how campuses are using AI to bolster traditional support systems, as well as the challenges of privacy, bias, and the growing demand for mental health services.
Graduate Degrees Offer High Rewards and Rising Risks
For generations, graduate degrees have been seen as a reliable pathway to career advancement and financial stability. However, a new report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce raises serious concerns about the financial risks and unequal benefits of these programs.