Growth in fintech sector spurs specialty college programs

Worcester Polytechnic Institute recently launched both a fintech undergraduate and graduate degree program. The university is far from the first.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Sept. 7, 2023

Brown University to review legacy, early decision and test-optional admissions

Colleges are reconsidering which applicants get priority following the Supreme Court's ban on race-conscious policies.

By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 7, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Community Colleges

The nation’s community colleges look to innovative programs and funding models as they work to boost enrollment and stay financially afloat in the changing higher education world.

By Higher Ed Dive staff

Legacy admissions under fire: Carleton abandons, Georgetown students petition, Pa. senator proposes ban

Criticisms against legacy preferences have escalated since the Supreme Court decision striking down race-conscious admissions.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Sept. 1, 2023

Indiana is the latest state to offer a direct college admissions program

Almost 40 public and private institutions in the state are participating, along with 327 high schools.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 25, 2023

Over half of students rank college applications as their most stressful academic experience, survey finds

Results from a NACAC poll also show young adults support diverse campus bodies.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 25, 2023

Here’s the latest findings from Common App’s direct admissions experiment

The organization began piloting the model in 2021, with the latest iteration sending 33,000 automatic admissions offers to students at 13 colleges.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 22, 2023

SUNY Potsdam plans to phase out 4 academic programs amid $9M deficit

The leader of the university’s faculty senate recently told colleagues to prepare for cuts “of an order beyond anything we have seen.”

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 18, 2023

Lawmakers urge Education Department to help end legacy and donor admissions

A trio of prominent senators called on Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to take steps like aggressively pursuing complaints against the practice.

By Natalie Schwartz • Aug. 16, 2023

How Georgia’s university system plans to add 11K in-state students

The University System of Georgia’s governing board this week approved a new strategic plan, which involves boosting enrollment and student outcomes.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Aug. 9, 2023

The new secret to boosting college enrollment

Construction education has become increasingly important for community college enrollment.

By Jonathan Arnholz, NCCER Digital Communications Manager • Aug. 7, 2023

More than 408K unauthorized immigrants are enrolled in US colleges

A joint report from two advocacy groups found that number shrunk due to the pandemic and challenges to DACA.

By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 4, 2023

$10K for a leave of absence? Middlebury offers deal to free up dorm space

The Vermont college is expecting a higher number of returning students than usual, in part due to pandemic-related delays in education.

By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 2, 2023

Persistence rate in fall 2022 returned to pre-pandemic normal

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found improvements in persistence and retention disproportionately benefited some institutions.

By Laura Spitalniak • July 27, 2023

Over 1,900 colleges not requiring SAT, ACT scores for fall 2024 admissions

The updated count from FairTest shows continued proliferation of test-optional and test-free policies.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 26, 2023

Here’s the share of college students who took financial aid in 2019-20

Newly available federal data also shows how much average aid that undergraduates and graduate students accepted.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 26, 2023

Here are 3 admissions practices that favor wealthy students at top-ranked colleges

Rich students are twice as likely to get into prestigious private institutions than lower-income peers with similar test scores, a new study says.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 24, 2023

Unity Environmental University explores campus sale amid online pivot

The nonprofit college has seen enrollment skyrocket since focusing more on low-residency and online programs. 

By Natalie Schwartz • July 24, 2023

Association of private New York colleges drops opposition to legacy admissions ban

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities said the public views these policies as “expanding privilege instead of opportunity.”

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 21, 2023

Should colleges use AI in admissions?

Companies are eager to help colleges use AI to streamline admissions, but the practice raises ethical concerns. 

By Lilah Burke • July 18, 2023

WVU will review about half of its academic programs amid budget crunch. Some will be discontinued.

West Virginia University is staring down a roughly $45 million deficit and will trim its degree offerings as a result. Layoffs are almost assured.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • July 11, 2023

Wisconsin lawmakers pitch guaranteed college admissions for top 5% of high school students

The policy is meant to stem the tide of students leaving the state to attend college, according to a memo. 

By Natalie Schwartz • June 29, 2023

Here’s how University of Nebraska system plans to fix its $58M shortfall

In addition to a long-term plan, the system will freeze nonfaculty hiring and temporarily reduce department budgets starting July 1.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 23, 2023

West Virginia University to merge two colleges in the face of deep budget deficit

The state public flagship will fuse its colleges of creative arts and media as it braces for continued enrollment declines.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 15, 2023

George Washington University pressing forward with armed police plan, despite pushback

Institution officials want feedback on the safety proposal, which would require a 56-hour firearm course and virtual reality training for officers.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 12, 2023

These 5 charts break down spring enrollment trends

Although the newest figures suggest enrollment losses are stabilizing, a deeper look reveals a more complicated picture.

By Natalie Schwartz • June 5, 2023