3 big takeaways from CIC’s Presidents Institute

Higher education experts offered insight on topics ranging from how colleges can tackle societal challenges to how they should approach diversity work. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 12, 2026

Connecticut Democrats pitch plan for state-level graduate loan program

The proposal aims to fill a $90 million hole left by the Grad PLUS federal lending system, which will end for new borrowers this summer.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 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

How many graduate borrowers will be impacted by the looming lending limits?

A new analysis finds that roughly 28% of graduate borrowers in recent years have borrowed above the new caps taking effect in July.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 9, 2026

3 major policy changes college leaders should keep tabs on

During the Council of Independent Colleges’ annual conference, higher education experts discussed new laws and regulations coming down the pike.

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 9, 2026

NIH cap on indirect research costs struck down on appeal

The agency announced a 15% across-the-board limit on overhead reimbursement in February, which judges so far have concluded was illegal.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 6, 2026

Trump can order employers to pay extra H-1B fee, court holds

President Donald Trump can impose the $100,000 fine under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s “exceedingly broad language,” a judge ruled.

By Laurel Kalser • Jan. 6, 2026

What’s in NIH’s settlement over delayed research funding?

Over 5,000 grants from across the country are covered by the settlement, according to the Massachusetts attorney general’s office.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 5, 2026

DOJ, Virginia AG target in-state tuition for undocumented students

Jason Miyares, who ends his term as state attorney general next week, filed a joint motion with the federal agency after it sued to overturn Virginia’s law.

By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 5, 2026

What 3 credit ratings agencies forecast for higher ed in 2026

Fitch Ratings, S&P Global and Moody's Ratings all predicted a tough year ahead, pointing to deteriorating financial conditions and heightened uncertainty.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 5, 2026

Will higher education researchers leave for opportunities abroad?

As the Trump administration cuts funding to wide swaths of research, foreign countries are ramping up their efforts to recruit top U.S. talent. 

By Danielle McLean • Jan. 5, 2026

Cancellation of mental health grants ruled unlawful

A federal judge required the Education Department to reinstate the grants in 16 states and barred the agency from issuing new priorities for the programs. 

By Kara Arundel • Dec. 23, 2025

DOJ: Education Department’s race-based grants are unconstitutional

A legal memo said many of the agency’s grants for minority-serving institutions and students from underrepresented backgrounds are unlawful. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 22, 2025

UNC to require faculty to publicly post syllabi in 2026-27

The 16-campus system has faced conservative-led public records requests this year focused on diversity- and race-related instruction.

By Laura Spitalniak • Dec. 22, 2025

Trump administration appeals ruling in Harvard University case

The federal government seeks to overturn a decision against its previous roughly $2.2 billion freeze on Harvard University's research funding.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 19, 2025

Lawmakers say advanced nursing should count as a ‘professional degree’

A group of lawmakers is pushing back on proposed regulatory language that would limit federal student loans for graduate nursing programs to $100,000.

By Sydney Halleman • Dec. 18, 2025

Trump expands travel bans and restrictions to 39 countries

Individuals in Nigeria — one of the countries sending the most foreign students to the U.S. — will not be able to receive student visas beginning Jan. 1.

By Laura Spitalniak • Dec. 17, 2025

Alabama faculty and students file appeal to block anti-DEI law

They contend the 2024 statute violates their First Amendment rights and is impermissibly vague about what speech it prohibits.

By Laura Spitalniak • Dec. 17, 2025

Education Department recognizes Grand Canyon University as a nonprofit

The move ends a six-year spat over the institution’s deep financial and operational ties to Grand Canyon Education, a for-profit services provider.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 15, 2025

What’s at stake as the Trump administration targets Harvard’s patents?

Legal experts are watching whether the federal government will take the unprecedented step of seizing patents from federally funded research. 

By David Weisenfeld • Dec. 15, 2025

Federal judge denies request for 18-month delay in landmark borrower defense settlement

The U.S. Department of Education wanted more time to decide cases for borrowers promised decisions or automatic relief by the end of January.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 12, 2025

DeSantis wants to give USF’s Sarasota campus to New College of Florida

The Florida governor's budget proposal would expand the liberal arts college, which he has sought to make a conservative blueprint for higher education.

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 12, 2025

Pell Grant program faces up to $11B annual budget shortfall

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that expanding eligibility for the grants to short-term programs will add major new costs. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 10, 2025

Wisconsin public universities could start shedding programs more rapidly

A committee developed a new metric based on enrollment that could increase the number of degrees that get flagged for review. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 10, 2025

Education Department adds ‘lower earnings’ warning to FAFSA

The agency will warn students when they’ve indicated interest in a college whose graduates have relatively low incomes.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 8, 2025

Education Department outlines potential Workforce Pell regulations

A draft of regulatory language shares how programs as short as eight weeks could begin qualifying and remain eligible for Pell Grants.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 5, 2025