Higher Education

Higher education policy sits at the crossroads of civil rights, immigration, military service, tax law, and consumer protection, with federal, state, and local governments each playing a distinct role in how colleges and universities operate. From questions about what power the government has over higher education to the evolving rules around campus sexual assault under Title IX requirements for federally funded schools and why those protections shift from administration to administration, this category explains how public policy shapes life on campus.

Paying for College and Managing Debt

Federal aid programs are central to making college affordable, including grants like Pell Grants, federal student loans, work-based support through Federal Work-Study, and long-term savings tools like 529 college savings plans.

Once you borrow, federal rules govern how you change repayment plans, use loan consolidation, seek loan cancellation, or climb out of default.

When borrowers fall seriously behind, the government can use powerful tools like wage garnishment and still offers tax relief via Form 1098-E student loan interest deductions.