Far fewer prospective college students submitted admissions test scores last year, report finds

Common App documented a sharp decline in SAT and ACT score submissions during the 2020-21 school year, especially among disadvantaged students.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 8, 2021

President Speaks: 2 college leaders talk supporting students — as they arrive on campus and after they leave

The two latest posts in our regular opinion series call for colleges to better serve transfer students and to improve women's financial literacy on campus.

Aug. 24, 2021

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Student Engagement

Colleges focus on retention with a variety of steps designed to keep students committed to staying in school and completing their education.

By Higher Ed Dive staff

Direct assessment competency-based education is the future of affordable adult higher education

 Capella University offers one of few competency-based academic programs that are revolutionizing affordable education.

Aug. 23, 2021

IBM software engineering apprentices can now receive 45 college credits

The American Council on Education recognized the company's yearlong program allowing apprentices to earn about three semesters' worth of credits.

By Natalie Schwartz • Aug. 19, 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

President Speaks: There's only upside for colleges to improve transfer policies

Mary Hawkins, president of Bellevue University, explains how schools can better serve students with prior credits.

By Mary Hawkins • Aug. 9, 2021

Biden's free community college plan won't succeed without robust transfer strategies

A senior program manager at the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program argues for strengthening pathways between two- and four-year schools.

By Gelsey Mehl • Aug. 5, 2021

Ed Dept expands Second Chance Pell program again

The initiative to pay for prison education programs will add college participants. It's the second major funding announcement from the agency in two days.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 30, 2021

Wisconsin lawmakers decline to expand free college program

A proposal would have let students from households earning $60,000 or less per year attend University of Wisconsin System campuses tuition free.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated July 28, 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

FAFSA completions down nearly 5%, report says

The National College Attainment Network said the data could indicate more enrollment declines for the coming academic year.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 19, 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

President Speaks: Colleges must do more to close the gender gap in financial fluency

The head of Barnard College at Columbia University explains how her institution is improving women's financial literacy on campus. 

By Sian Beilock • July 12, 2021

Drop standardized test scores from rankings, higher ed groups tell U.S. News

A dozen organizations and individuals say including the SAT and ACT in the publication's list methodology worsens inequalities.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 12, 2021

Senate bill would create national apprenticeship college consortium

The proposal arrived just months after a Trump administration overhaul to the nation's apprenticeship system was rescinded.

By Ryan Golden • July 6, 2021

Is online campus counseling here to stay?

College officials have come to see the advantage of remote services and expect to use a mix of teletherapy and in-person sessions going forward.

By Kelly Field • June 11, 2021

How the national test-optional experiment played out at US colleges

The pandemic accelerated the trend, upending conventions of postsecondary admissions going forward.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated June 9, 2021

Senate drops short-term Pell proposal from Innovation and Competition Act

The measure would have let students use the grants for programs as short as eight weeks.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated June 9, 2021

How can colleges support students with children?

An analysis of existing data plus new polling shows where they struggle and offers ideas for how to help.

By Hallie Busta • May 26, 2021

Rhode Island one step closer to permanent free college

The Rhode Island Promise guarantees up to two years of free tuition for some community college students.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • May 26, 2021

Report highlights ongoing inequities in college access

New data shows high shares of historically underrepresented students attending lower-spending and less-competitive schools.

By Hallie Busta • May 20, 2021

UNCF launches coaching program to bring back 4,000 stopped-out students

The initiative aims to help people who left one of nine historically or predominately Black colleges finish their credentials.

By Natalie Schwartz • Updated May 19, 2021

Guided pathways improvements lead San Antonio College to the Aspen Prize

The biennial awards program highlights community colleges whose practices improved student success and are replicable.

By Natalie Schwartz • May 18, 2021

New initiative enlists students to rethink higher ed's problems

Six public colleges are soliciting input from learners to help design and develop student success programs.

By Hallie Busta • May 17, 2021

Kentucky colleges are going beyond teaching students the soft skills employers want

Institutions are embedding these competencies into the curriculum and helping students learn how to talk about them.

By Aaron Thompson • May 14, 2021