Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.
The Trump administration’s sweeping plan to reshape how accreditors oversee colleges and universities was released for public comment last week, prompting a flurry of consternation about the future of the accreditation system.
Many policy experts and accreditation executives fear that the proposal will permanently politicize the long-standing evaluation mechanism designed to create uniform standards for American colleges and universities, regardless of which party is in office. Meanwhile, proponents argue that it will clarify and reinforce existing statutes, reduce bureaucracy, and improve quality assurance in higher education.
Interest in career and technical education is growing, as many high school students investigate how to start a well-paying career and possibly reduce or avoid the cost of a college degree. Several for-profit education companies that already run traditional high schools online are taking note and expanding their career-oriented offerings.
Yet delivering career training online to high schoolers can be challenging. Moreover, state regulations for and oversight of these programs vary widely, as do their results. Some students leave the programs with little career prep to show for their time enrolled. Others may thrive.
North Carolina Wesleyan University is a small, private school in Rocky Mount. More than 40 percent of students identify as Black, making NC Wesleyan one of the state's few federally classified predominately Black institutions. It also serves a large population of first-generation, international, and adult learners, as well as students from "economically distressed" areas of central and eastern North Carolina.
Evan Duff started as the university's president in 2019. In this interview, he discusses his goal to shift the public conversation from "is college worth it" to "which pathway fits this specific young person's goals, maturity, and circumstances right now."
When it comes to deciding on which college to attend, the choice typically takes into account much more than academics. For many prospective students, the decision is based on one key factor: cost.
College affordability is a growing challenge for today's students and families. That challenge has become even more pronounced following the collapse of the Biden-era loan forgiveness programs. Now more than ever, America needs a fresh approach to college affordability, says Kevin Carey, director of New America’s education policy program. Carey explains his plan in Washington Monthly's 2026 College Guide.
At least one Colorado university plans to ignore a Trump administration questionnaire sent to colleges and universities earlier this month that federal officials contend will build trust with the American people. Leaders at other institutions in the state, including Colorado’s two largest public university systems, say they haven’t decided if they will respond to the questions—which ask officials about their approach to free speech, research, admissions, campus protests, and more.
Nationwide, schools in North Carolina and Florida have decided to answer McMahon’s call. And other universities, such as those in Iowa, have faced pressure from lawmakers to respond. Others haven’t revealed what their intentions are.
Massachusetts has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in private college closures: twenty-seven—including Wheelock, Mount Ida College, Newbury College, Hampshire College, and Anna Maria College—have closed or announced plans to close since 2014.
Now, fewer prospective students, rising costs, fierce competition from larger universities, and mounting financial pressures are forcing more colleges to confront a painful, existential question: What’s worth saving?
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