Key federal education data collections under review in IES overhaul

An internal document recommended "six big shifts" for the Institute for Education Sciences, which was gutted by layoffs a year ago.

By Naaz Modan • March 10, 2026

Public comment period for Workforce Pell regulations opens

The U.S. Department of Education issued its proposed rule to govern the expansion of Pell Grants to programs as short as eight weeks. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 9, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial Intelligence

As AI continues its forward march in education and the workplace, colleges are grapplling with how best to incorporate the emerging technology into admissions, coursework and elsewhere.

By Higher Ed Dive staff

University of Wyoming must review programs and staffing for possible cuts

The public institution came out of a cut-hungry legislative session with its funding intact, but it now has a state mandate to look for reductions.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 9, 2026

Public colleges could face pressure amid state budget woes, Fitch says

Republican-led federal cuts and a shaky economy could set up competition for funds — and historically, higher education gets cut first in tough times.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 6, 2026

Indiana public colleges must soon accept this alternative to the SAT and ACT

The state's public colleges will be required to accept the Classic Learning Test, a conservative darling, in their admissions beginning in July.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 6, 2026

McMahon: Education Department shutdown is still the goal

Despite legal challenges to the agency’s layoffs, the secretary said she sees progress with several Trump administration priorities.

By Kara Arundel • March 6, 2026

Oregon lawmakers move to review public colleges, explore restructuring

They passed a bill that would mandate a study of the state’s institutions to recommend ways to put them on better financial footing. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 6, 2026

Lawmakers mull $15M in emergency funding for Southern Oregon University

The proposal comes as the public institution wrestles with dwindling cash reserves and a potentially dangerous shortfall by next year.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 5, 2026

Florida bill seeks further limit on out-of-state enrollment at top universities

The state’s House passed a measure that would cap nonresident students to no more than 5% of first-time, full-time fall enrollment at certain institutions. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 5, 2026

Education Department urged to broaden ‘professional’ student definition

Professional students will be able to borrow $100,000 more than other graduate students, but a proposed rule would exclude certain fields from the higher cap. 

By Ben Unglesbee • March 3, 2026

Indiana governor signs law to cut ‘low earning’ college degrees

Republican Gov. Mike Braun's signature on Thursday likely sets up further cuts to his state's higher education offerings.

By Laura Spitalniak • Updated March 6, 2026

‘We will hold institutions accountable,’ top US education official vows

At the American Council on Education’s annual conference, Under Secretary Nicholas Kent promised changes to accreditation and other policies.

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 27, 2026

UNC board approves contested academic freedom definition

Amid faculty protests, the public North Carolina system's governing board unanimously passed the policy change during its Thursday meeting.

By Laura Spitalniak • Feb. 26, 2026

California history professor wins injunction against DEI regulations

Officials are barred from enforcing the diversity, equity and inclusion rules against Daymon Johnson over his classroom instruction.

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 26, 2026

The Education Department’s 9 interagency agreements: What is going where

In moves to downsize, the department is sending some higher education and K-12 programming to other agencies. 

By Kara Arundel • Feb. 25, 2026

Louisiana governor urges Education Department to expand college DEI probe

Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, asked the federal agency to investigate each of the state’s colleges to root out any diversity, equity or inclusion efforts.

By Laura Spitalniak • Feb. 25, 2026

DOJ sues University of California over antisemitism allegations in latest salvo

A University of California, Los Angeles spokesperson said the institution has taken numerous steps to combat antisemitism and "we will vigorously defend our efforts."

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated Feb. 25, 2026

Congress green-lights education interagency agreements — with reservations

The U.S. Department of Education has nine such agreements with other agencies, including the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.

By Kara Arundel • Feb. 24, 2026

Lawmakers release $8.8M of Utah State University’s funding after audit

Legislators had withheld the money for months while waiting for the audit, which ultimately found spending and governance problems.

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 23, 2026

Week in review: UT System limits ‘controversial’ instruction

We’re rounding up recent stories, from a regional public university facing a $45 million deficit to other colleges facing budget or program cuts. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 23, 2026

Blueprint for state bills aims to tighten control over gen eds

New model legislation from conservative think tank Manhattan Institute would also weaken shared governance by limiting faculty bodies to advisory roles. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 23, 2026

Trump administration drops appeal over its $1.2B demand from UC system

The federal government agreed to no longer challenge an injunction that blocked its mass grant cancellations and hefty payment demand. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 20, 2026

University of Texas System adopts new teaching limits despite faculty concerns

The system’s governing board approved a policy that requires instructors to limit and balance their teaching about controversial subjects.

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 19, 2026

Education Department to nix race-based criteria for McNair program

Conservative groups and two students voluntarily ended their legal challenge against the program given the agency’s plans. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 19, 2026

Florida university system board chair questions medical school accreditor

In a new front in the state’s fight with traditional accreditors, Alan Levine asked why the group hadn’t spoken out against gender-affirming care for minors.

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 18, 2026