The U.S. Department of Education has issued proposed rules to launch the new Workforce Pell Grant program, allowing students to use federal grant funds for short-term workforce training programs as brief as eight weeks beginning July 2026 — a historic expansion of Pell eligibility under President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
China achieves historic milestone with five universities in global top 40, up from three in 2025. Tsinghua (12th) and Peking (13th) rose from 47th and 42nd decade ago. Zhejiang jumps to 39th, Shanghai Jiao Tong to 40th, both cracking elite tier. China places 35 in top 500, scores perfectly on research income, patents, industry links. TIME analysis shows China "catching up in innovation" while 62 US universities decline.
Clemson University confirms measles case as South Carolina outbreak explodes to 558 cases, worst in US. Nearly 98% of students vaccinated, but case emerges from Spartanburg County epidemic that doubled in one week. Contact tracing underway, 531 in quarantine statewide. Health officials warn outbreak will worsen before improving.
Manchester University became the first college in Indiana to win approval to offer reduced-credit bachelor's degrees, marking a significant shift in American higher education. Students can now earn bachelor's degrees with about 90 credits instead of the traditional 120—cutting a full year off their education and potentially saving 25% on tuition costs.
Duke University cut $299 million through staff buyouts, faculty retirements, and building closures in response to Trump administration federal funding threats and demands.
63% of Americans say four-year college degrees aren't worth the debt. Explore the skills revolution reshaping education as students turn to microcredentials, bootcamps, and alternative pathways over traditional degrees.
Trump suspended the diversity visa lottery after Brown University and MIT shootings. 131,000 winners affected. What this means for international students and universities.
Columbia University extends presidential search past January 1 deadline, seeking fourth leader in three years. The position is considered one of toughest jobs in higher education.
University of Oklahoma removed two instructors: TA William "Mel" Curth for giving Christian student zero on biblical essay, and professor Kelli Alvarez for viewpoint discrimination.
SEC universities saw a 91% increase in northeastern students between 2014-2023, driven by sunshine, football culture, and Greek life. The University of South Carolina alone jumped 90%.
The University of New Haven has received Saudi government approval to open a new international campus in Riyadh, marking a historic first for any U.S. university operating in the Kingdom.
Seven universities including MIT, Penn, USC, Dartmouth, Brown, UVA, and Arizona rejected Trump's White House compact offering priority funding in exchange for banning DEI admissions, capping international students at 15%, freezing tuition, and monitoring faculty ideology through mandatory polls.
Leading U.S. universities are preparing for substantial budget cuts as a looming increase in the endowment excise tax threatens to offset investment returns and tighten spending.
