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From academic cuts at Christian Brothers University to inflation slowing in the higher education sector, here are the top-line figures from some of our biggest stories this week.
By the numbers
28
The number of faculty positions Christian Brothers University plans to cut as part of a $4 million reduction to its operating budget. The Roman Catholic institution also plans to eliminate 12 academic programs and two degree concentrations.
4%
The amount colleges’ expenses increased during the 2023 fiscal year, according to Commonfund’s Higher Education Price Index, which measures inflation in the postsecondary ed sector. This is down from a 5.2% hike the year prior.
37
The number of lawmakers on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce who voted in favor of a bipartisan proposal to expand Pell Grants to programs as short as eight weeks. Eight lawmakers voted against the bill, which has drawn concerns about potentially extending federal financial aid to for-profit and other providers offering poor-quality credentials. The full House will now vote on the measure.
45%
The percentage of companies that plan to get rid of bachelor’s degree requirements for some positions in 2024, according to a recent poll from Intelligent.com. This year, 55% of companies removed degree requirements, particularly for entry- and mid-level positions.
579
The number of colleges who said they give an admissions advantage to applicants related to their alumni, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Education. The agency asked for data on legacy admissions for the first time this year.
