Financial Aid
FAFSA’s Student Aid Index: What It Means for Your Aid
A low Student Aid Index (SAI) can mean greater eligibility for aid without telling a family what college will cost. What college will cost depends on…
Higher Education
Higher education is schooling after high school, including colleges, universities, community colleges, and career and technical schools. Students, families, schools, states, and the federal government all play a part. The subject covers how people get in, how they pay, what campuses must do, and how the public holds schools to account.
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October 9last updated
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Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Higher Education
Sexual Assault and Title IX
Why Title IX Interpretations Change Every Administration
When the Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled in January 2026 that it will likely uphold state laws banning transgender girls from competing on female sports teams,…
Sexual Assault and Title IX
Your School Gets Federal Funds. Here’s What Title IX Requires.
Schools across America are caught in a legal trap. More than 24,000 complaints are sitting in the federal Office for Civil Rights, waiting to be investigated.…
Department of Education
How Trump is Working to Shrink the Department of Education
The Trump Administration has managed a comprehensive effort in 2025 to dramatically reduce the size and influence of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Established by…
Topics in Higher Education
Getting in and paying
Students start with College Access and Admissions, then face College Affordability and Costs. Financial Aid covers grants, loans, and work programs that help close the gap.
College Access and Admissions
5 articles
- FERPA and Recommendation Letters: Navigating Consent and Access
- Requirements for a U.S. Student Visa
- Studying in the USA: A Guide for International Students
Schools and programs
Types of Colleges and Universities explains how public, private, and two-year schools differ. Academic Programs covers what students study, and Research and Innovation covers the work campuses do beyond teaching.
Campus life and rights
Student Life and Campus Services covers housing, health, and support. Student Conduct covers discipline and student rights, and Sexual Assault and Title IX covers how schools respond to sex-based harm.
Oversight and results
Student Outcomes and Accountability covers how schools are measured on graduation, debt, and jobs. Higher Education Policy and Reform covers how laws and agencies shape the whole system.
All Articles on Higher Education
How All 50 States Approach Education Policy
The United States has no single national education system. Instead, 50 distinct state systems operate with different priorities, funding mechanisms, and success measures. This…
About the F-1 Student Visa
The F-1 visa lets international students study full-time at accredited U.S. schools. It's a temporary visa designed for one purpose: completing an educational program.…
How the Federal Government Can Fine a University Like Harvard
In October 2025, President Donald Trump said his administration had reached a deal with Harvard University for a $500 million payment and the creation…
Federal Student Loans: A Guide to Borrowing Limits and Rules
The federal government sets limits on how much money students and parents can borrow for college. These borrowing caps shape how millions of Americans…
How Student Rights Change From High School to College
Student rights change at college: record privacy, disability support, speech, discipline and sex discrimination follow different rules and responsibilities.
The History of U.S. Federal Funding for Academic Research
The partnership between the federal government and American universities is one of the most transformative policy decisions of the 20th century. This strategic alliance,…
How Student Loan Wage Garnishment Works
For millions of Americans with federal student loans, falling behind on payments isn't just about damaged credit scores or collection calls. The U.S. government…
What Power Does the Government Have Over Higher Education?
Can Washington cut off your university's money? The funding conditions, the civil rights hearing it owes first, the accreditation gate, and what courts held.
A Guide to U.S. Military Service Academy Admissions
West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy aren't your typical colleges. These three institutions train the next generation of military officers who will…
ROTC: Your Guide to Military Scholarships and Officer Training
College costs keep rising. Student debt keeps growing. Meanwhile, there's a program that pays for your education and guarantees you a job after graduation—one…