Students

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    1 in 3 ACT test-takers retook the exam — and raised their scores

    Some 1.46 million graduating high school students took the test at least once between 10th and 12th grade, the ACT company said Wednesday.

    By Naaz Modan • Oct. 14, 2026
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    NACAC '26

    3 admissions experts on why they require — or nixed — supplemental essays

    University leaders discussed application essay strategies in the AI era at the National Association for College Admission Counseling's annual conference.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • Student Success Explore the Trendline➔
    Trendline

    Student Success

    Explore how universities are working to boost student outcomes by integrating remedial education, providing mental health tools and making education more accessible. 

    By Higher Ed Dive staff
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    More students are ruling out colleges based on politics, poll finds

    Art & Science Group found that the share of students who decided against a college based entirely on its home state’s politics rose to 34% this summer.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
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    NACAC '26

    How 3 universities are approaching international student recruitment

    Leaders shared tips on attracting foreign students and weathering policy tumult at the National Association for College Admission Counseling conference.

    By • Oct. 12, 2026
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    Permission granted by Elon Univeristy/Grant Halverson
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    Sponsored by Elon University

    More PAs is only part of the answer to the healthcare workforce shortage

    Elon University's Charlotte campus offers a model for connecting PA education and community health.

    By Veronica Marciano, DMSc, PA-C • Oct. 12, 2026
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    Illustration: Cathryn Virginia for Industry Dive

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    Can 3-year degrees boost the teacher pipeline?

    Arizona State University is offering a shorter teacher pathway this fall with a goal of removing financial barriers for students aspiring to enter the profession.

    By Anna Merod • Oct. 8, 2026
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    DHS proposes $70K fee for initial OPT participation and $30K for extensions

    Colleges would be on the hook for up to $100,000 in fees for each international student seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training. 

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
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    Should elite colleges share academic cutoffs for admissions?

    Experts say minimum academic requirements can help applicants know what’s expected, but many top-ranked institutions don’t share such information.

    By Danielle McLean • Oct. 5, 2026
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    SAT scores are up across the board for high school class of 2026

    All student demographic groups saw score increases, but participation overall was down compared to the previous year, according to the College Board.

    By Kara Arundel • Sept. 30, 2026
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    Major public universities report hits to international enrollment

    Several higher ed systems have reported significant foreign student declines in fall 2026 amid increased federal scrutiny.

    By • Sept. 25, 2026
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    College athletics rack up millions in deficits as Senate eyes oversight bill

    The congressional chamber could vote this week on the Protect College Sports Act, a proposal intended to stabilize the shifting collegiate landscape.

    By • Sept. 22, 2026
  • A line of students in red gowns stand on a football field, those on the right beginning to climb stairs to a stage.
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    College enrollment rate among recent high school graduates ticks up

    The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found improvement across both high- and low-poverty high schools.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
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    4-year visa cap for international students halted by federal judge

    U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor paused the highly contested rule just a day before it would have taken effect.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
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    How Dartmouth’s push for more dialogue improved campus debate and its reputation

    Efforts by the Ivy League institution to foster open conversations have helped raise its score with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

    By Danielle McLean • Updated Sept. 15, 2026
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    Deep Dive

    ‘Utter paralysis’: Legacy admissions ban faces tough road in Congress

    The fate of bipartisan bills is in doubt at the congressional level, while state-level proposals have stalled in the legislatures. 

    By Danielle McLean • Sept. 9, 2026
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    Humanities degrees hit their lowest numbers in decades

    Last year, colleges awarded fewer bachelor's degrees in the humanities than any time since 1991, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences found.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026
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    Florida bans undocumented students from selective public universities

    By approving the policy Thursday, the State University System of Florida’s board effectively shut undocumented students out of its 12 institutions.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
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    High schoolers say school counselors emphasize college pathways, not CTE

    Among survyed middle-income high school students, 66% said educators heavily emphasized four-year college when talking about future pathways.

    By Naaz Modan • Sept. 4, 2026
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    Tennessee’s free community college program ‘pays for itself,’ working paper finds

    The Tennessee Promise program — the first of its kind in the country — successfully boosted college enrollment and attainment, analysis showed.

    By Jamaal Abdul-Alim • Sept. 1, 2026
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    Judge rules Trump policies deporting foreign students based on speech unconstitutional

    “In the United States, freedom of speech belongs to the people,” U.S. District Judge Noël Wise said in her decision. “It is not the government’s to take.”

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
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    Texas governor pushes for 3-year degree pathways

    Greg Abbott directed the state’s higher education board to convene a working group to provide recommendations on accelerated programs by year’s end.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026
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    The image by Gotanero is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    20 Michigan colleges join new direct admissions program

    Through MI College Match, students will be able to get automatic acceptance offers by uploading their transcripts to a free online portal.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
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    Cornell, MIT and others can appeal class action status in antitrust case

    Former students accused the colleges of colluding to fix tuition prices and lower financial aid offers.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
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    International applicant numbers tumble on Common App

    The number of first-time international applicants on the popular application platform declined 10% in the 2025-26 cycle, a new report found. 

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
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    University of Houston slashes 40% of courses from its core curriculum

    The Texas institution cut about 100 classes, including in women’s and LGBT studies, to comply with a state law mandating general education reviews.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026