States can offer targeted grants and zero- or low-interest loans to keep grad school pathways open after the end of Grad PLUS.

2025 may be remembered as a turning point in American higher education, not because of any one policy shift, but because of a broader federal campaign to rein in the autonomy of colleges and universities, including the nation's most elite institutions.

Graduate degrees, in particular, have more than tripled in price since 2000, far outpacing the cost of housing, food, or healthcare.

Under the Department of Education’s proposed rule, borrowers could be disqualified if their employer is deemed to have a "substantial illegal purpose."

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are producing a disproportionate share of America’s Black doctors, judges, and engineers—yet they remain chronically underfunded and politically undervalued.

Elite institutions dominate headlines, policy debates, rankings, and even pop culture. But here’s the reality: less than 5% of U.S. college students attend Ivy League or similarly elite private universities.

Historically, Ph.D.s were seen as a pipeline to the professoriate. But that narrative is changing. Nearly half (48%) of all Ph.D. recipients now pursue careers in industry, while just 33% remain in academia.

The Big Beautiful Bill carries serious risks for talent development—cutting financial aid and limiting loan access just as companies struggle to recruit skilled, diverse professionals.

MBA programs claim to reward drive, discipline, and merit. But in practice, they often reward access—disguising privilege as potential.

What once felt like science fiction is now everyday reality: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics are rapidly transforming our world.

As demand for master’s and doctoral degrees surges, too few programs exist to support the students most often excluded—despite their potential.

Graduate students hold nearly half of all federal student loan debt—but receive the least attention in education policy. It’s time for a shared solution.

The end of affirmative action marked a turning point—but the deeper erosion of racial equity in higher education is just beginning.