The Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence, which includes a high‑profile pitch to freeze tuition for at least five years, has prompted an array of responses from colleges and universities. Administrators weighing the compact say tuition freezes appeal politically but raise complex financial trade‑offs for institutions that rely on tuition to fund operations. Some public systems already use freezes or caps; private colleges have largely declined the compact, citing governance autonomy and fiscal constraints. University leaders have warned freezes can produce unintended consequences for staffing, program support and long‑term sustainability. Meanwhile, a growing list of institutions and higher‑ed associations have publicly declined to sign or are studying the compact’s implications. Campus leaders argue any federal pledge tied to preferential funding should respect institutional autonomy and existing governance models. Clarification: a tuition freeze is a policy that prevents institutions from raising sticker price for a defined period; it is distinct from fixed‑tuition guarantees that lock rates for enrolled cohorts.