Get the Daily Brief
Latest Higher Education News
WashU Olin launches three niche master’s — AI, sports and wealth management
Washington University in St. Louis’s Olin Business School announced three new specialized master’s degrees launching fall 2026—AI for Business, Sports Business, and Wealth Management—citing...
Education Department to Rewrite Accreditation Rules — Push to Ease New Accreditors
The U.S. Department of Education announced plans to overhaul federal accreditation regulations, proposing lower barriers for new accreditors and limits on diversity, equity and inclusion criteria....
Five lawsuits to watch — Trump administration’s court fights reshape campus rules
Courts are set to decide several major cases that could redefine federal leverage over universities, with five suits emerging as pivotal for admissions, research funding, and campus speech. Legal...
Twin Cities campuses pivot as ICE surge ignites protests and security plans
Universities in the Twin Cities shifted operations—moving some classes online, increasing campus escorts and security, and issuing guidance—after federal immigration enforcement and street...
Courts intervene in Minnesota enforcement — judges press ICE and federal officials
Federal courts in Minnesota kept up a stream of decisions and orders that constrained parts of the immigration enforcement surge and demanded accountability from federal officials. An appeals...
ETS explores sale of GRE and TOEFL — test industry crossroads
Educational Testing Service is seeking buyers or strategic investors for two of its flagship exams, the GRE and TOEFL, The Wall Street Journal reports. The move follows steep declines in GRE...
University autonomy under strain: Northwestern deal and presidents’ speech calculus
Northwestern’s settlement with the federal government and broader pressure on campus speech are forcing presidents to recalibrate public statements and institutional policies. Experts say the $75...
Mental‑health gap widens: students trust services but rarely use campus care
Surveys show students express trust in mental‑health services but underutilize on‑campus care; just 18% accessed services at their institutions in one recent study. The findings arrive as faculty...
State moves reshape enrollment and pricing — Idaho growth, Nevada tuition hikes
State policies are producing divergent enrollment and pricing outcomes: Idaho’s coordinated scholarships and retention efforts have driven multi‑year enrollment gains at public four‑year campuses,...
Business schools double down on AI degrees — new masters meet employer demand
Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School announced three new specialized master’s programs—AI for Business, Sports Business, and Wealth Management—aimed at producing one‑year,...
Research dollars under pressure: universities still absorb billions in indirect costs
A new study commissioned by major research university groups finds that universities shoulder sizable unreimbursed indirect costs—facilities, compliance, and administrative overhead—totaling...
Columbia picks UW–Madison chancellor — Mnookin to lead
Columbia University selected Jennifer Mnookin, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as its next president. Mnookin—who has led UW–Madison since 2022 and previously served as dean of...
Education Department proposes accreditation overhaul — new rules for accreditors
The U.S. Department of Education outlined a package of regulatory changes aimed at remaking how accreditors are recognized and supervised. A Federal Register notice and follow-up guidance propose...
Twin Cities campuses go remote — universities beef up security after ICE protests
Universities in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area shifted operations and tightened campus security after two fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents. Several institutions moved classes...
Judge: DHS targeted students for protected speech — visas not a speech leash
Newly unsealed court documents and a federal ruling show Department of Homeland Security personnel targeted international students and scholars on the basis of campus protest activity, including...
Courts and regs collide — big higher‑ed lawsuits and a rollback on corporate college rules
Legal pressure on higher education is mounting on multiple fronts. A new roundup identifies five major lawsuits to watch in 2026—many centering on the Trump administration’s actions on admissions,...
ETS explores sale of GRE and TOEFL — testing nonprofit seeks buyers
Educational Testing Service is pursuing buyers or strategic investors for two of its core exams, the GRE and TOEFL, according to The Wall Street Journal. ETS has fielded interest from...
Nevada board approves tuition hikes — up to 12% to cover staff costs
The Nevada System of Higher Education’s Board of Regents voted 8–5 to raise tuition up to 12% over three years starting in fall 2026. NSHE officials estimate the increase will generate funds to...
AI reshapes early‑career hiring — banks retrain while researchers warn of a talent gap
Employers are accelerating reskilling programs as artificial intelligence automates entry‑level tasks and reshapes workplace pipelines. Citigroup told employees that 175,000 staffers will receive...
WashU Olin adds three specialized master’s — AI, sports business and wealth management
Washington University in St. Louis’s Olin Business School announced three specialized master’s degrees launching in fall 2026: Master of AI for Business, Master in Sports Business, and a Master in...