Surge in pandemic debt forgiveness is about students reenrolling — and also colleges' bottom lines

Federal relief funding means institutions can target retention and receive a financial boost when forgiving student balances.

By Rick Seltzer • Aug. 11, 2021

Ed Department finds closed for-profits owe over $6M

The dollar amounts charged against two for-profits that closed in 2018 may be less important than the direction regulators are signaling, experts say.

By Rick Seltzer • Aug. 10, 2021

Morgan State stops using contract staff, striking at employee inequity

The historically Black institution is converting some of these workers to full-time status with benefits and is also raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 6, 2021

Digging out of the pandemic's economic turmoil, public colleges hike tuition

These institutions are looking to stabilize their budgets after a tough financial year, but more turbulence may be ahead.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 4, 2021

UT-Austin, U of Oklahoma accept SEC's membership invitation

The moves are officially planned after a week of positioning but still aren't scheduled to take place for several years.

By Natalie Schwartz • Updated July 30, 2021

Augustana College tests income insurance for transfer students

The program guarantees income for five years after graduation and gives the institution a new way to attract certain students.

By Rick Seltzer • July 21, 2021

Virginia higher ed funding is inequitable and needs reform, report says

One think tank is criticizing public colleges for taking big shares of state dollars without enrolling many low-income students.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 21, 2021

Pennsylvania system board votes to merge 6 institutions into 2

The plan intends to correct PASSHE's declining enrollment and unsteady finances, though it attracted bitter faculty and staff opposition.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 14, 2021

Inside Iowa Wesleyan University's plan to find better financial footing

The liberal arts school, which was on the brink of closure three years ago, is hoping better retention and a wider recruiting funnel will improve its prospects.

By Natalie Schwartz • July 13, 2021

Fitch raises higher ed outlook but sees growing gaps between colleges

Returns to in-person instruction drive the ratings agency to upgrade the sector to stable, but revenue pressures threaten colleges unevenly.

By Rick Seltzer • July 7, 2021

Mills College alumnae sue to halt possible merger

The two plaintiffs — one of whom currently sits on the college's governing board — allege the institution has withheld key financial information.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated July 7, 2021

Massachusetts bill to boost state higher ed funding gains backing

Dozens of legislators have signed onto the measure, which would send $500 million more annually to public institutions for five years.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 6, 2021

Colleges employed fewer hourly staff during the pandemic

Part-time workers saw the biggest decreases, according to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

By Hallie Busta • June 23, 2021

Small and mid-sized colleges underestimate their power to accelerate campus projects

New research finds post-pandemic optimism on stimulus funding, modernization and growth.

June 21, 2021

5 charts breaking down MacKenzie Scott's $1.5B in donations to colleges

The philanthropist's giving to the sector has had a heavy focus on minority-serving schools and those with relatively high shares of low-income students. 

By Natalie Schwartz • June 17, 2021

MacKenzie Scott announces more donations to colleges, higher ed groups

The gifts to more than two dozen institutions and other organizations are unrestricted, giving officials total control over how to use them.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 15, 2021

2 Philadelphia universities vote for merger plan

A deal between Saint Joseph's University and the University of the Sciences would have the private institutions combining next summer.

By Rick Seltzer • June 14, 2021

Feedback on PASSHE mergers highlights extent of opposition

Public responses to the Pennsylvania system’s proposal to turn six institutions into two has been largely negative.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 10, 2021

The evolution of higher ed business office cashiers leads to Student Account Advisor solution

As more higher ed students pay online and cashiers serve as student advisors, learn how universities can utilize Student Account Advisor to embrace this shift.

June 7, 2021

State support for higher ed ticked up 2.9% in fiscal 2020, report finds

Despite another annual increase, colleges had historically low levels of state funding heading into the pandemic.

By Natalie Schwartz • May 26, 2021

The pandemic slowed tuition growth at some colleges. Will it last?

Sticker prices at several dozen of the country's priciest colleges stalled during the pandemic, our analysis found. But several are raising rates again.

By Natalie Schwartz • May 25, 2021

Alaska Senate passes bill to give free tuition to essential and laid-off workers

The program is similar to one launched last year by Michigan, which gave frontline employees free tuition at community colleges. 

By Natalie Schwartz • May 20, 2021

Private college tuition discount rates hit new highs during the pandemic

A majority of responding institutions told NACUBO they expect a "significant" change in revenue from students as a result of the crisis.

By Hallie Busta • May 19, 2021

College student outcomes and state funding are intertwined, report finds

A State Higher Education Executive Officers Association analysis shows the impact of changes in public investment.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • May 19, 2021

California's $49B higher ed budget proposal prioritizes worker training

Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan also calls for turning an existing public university into a polytechnic school.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • May 17, 2021