From an uptick in undergraduate enrollment in fall 2023 to a lawsuit moving forward accusing Colorado Technical University of defrauding the federal government, here are the top-line figures from some of our biggest stories of the week.
By the numbers
1.2%
The increase in the number of undergraduate students who were enrolled in fall 2023 compared to the year before, according to a final tally from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Meanwhile, graduate student enrollment ticked up by only 0.6% year over year.
$350M+
The amount of Title IV federal student aid that Colorado Technical University, a for-profit institution, received during the 2021 fiscal year. A federal judge recently greenlit a lawsuit that alleges the institution defrauded the government by intentionally not providing students with the number of learning hours required to receive federal financial aid.
$54M
The amount Pennsylvania State University is proposing to cut from its 20 commonwealth campuses in fiscal year 2026, according to a budget plan unveiled this week. The flagship is planning to cut $11 million at its primary University Park campus, as well as $29 million from administrative and student support units.
$70M
The deficit the University of Connecticut expects in fiscal year 2025. To make up for the shortfall, UConn plans to ask the state for additional funding and cut operating support budgets by 15% over the next five years.
$1.8B
The amount of additional federal aid college students may qualify for this application cycle now that the U.S. Department of Education is making a fix to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid formula. The agency said it is adjusting key metrics for inflation, though higher ed groups question whether the change will further compress college timelines for offering financial aid packages.
