HEADLINES: Top Higher Education News for the Week

August 26, 2026

Inside Higher Ed highlights a significant drop in the number of student visas issued in 2025 under the Trump administration. . .The Washington Post covers a report from MIT on how AI’s rapid advances are impacting campuses and student experiences. . .The Los Angeles Times reports on the impacts of the Trump administration’s termination of grants to Hispanic-serving institutions. . . 

New Student Visas Dropped 23% in 2025​

Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | ​August 26, 2026​​​

AI Can Now Credibly Complete Most Undergraduate Assignments, MIT Warns​
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | August 25, 2026​​​​​

Trump Cut Grants for Hispanic-Serving Colleges. Now California Campuses are Losing Programs​
Los Angeles Times (sub. req.) | August 25, 2026​​​​​

August 25, 2026

​​​​Politico reports on how the Trump administration’s new H1-B visa fee will not apply to colleges and nonprofit hospitals. . .Inside Higher Ed covers the proposed regulations at the Education Department and the National Science Foundation that would align their grants process with the proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance. . .The New York Times highlights changes in college admissions policies that reflect universities’ concerns about issues like AI and politics. . .

Colleges Dodge Trump’s $103K H-1B Visa Fee​

Politico (sub. req.) | ​August 24, 2026​​​

Agencies Move to Implement OMB’s Proposed Takeover of Grant Making​
Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | August 24, 2026​​​​​

College Applications Are Changing Again, Thanks to A.I. and Politics​​
The New York Times (sub. req.) | August 24, 2026​​​​​

August 24, 2026

The Associated Press reports on the rise in popularity of 3-year degree programs. . .Inside Higher Ed covers testimony submitted by 15 colleges and universities in a lawsuit explaining how the rule ending duration of status is impacting their campuses as the academic year starts. . .The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is recommending removing the American Bar Association’s a​bility to accredit law schools. . .

3-Year College Degrees Grow More Popular in the US, Saving Time and Cash. But Critics Aren’t Sold​

The Associated Press | ​August 20, 2026​​​

How New Visa Limits Are Already Affecting Colleges​​
Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | August 20, 2026​​​​​

Trump Administration Attacks Bar Association’s Power to Accredit Law Schools​​
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | August 19, 2026​​​​​

August 21, 2026

The Washington Post covers a report from the Common App that demonstrates a 6% increase in the number of students who used the platform to apply to colleges and universities. . .Inside Higher Ed highlights the decline in international applications to U.S. institutions according to the Common App report. . .The New York Times reports on how the Trump administration’s changes to federal student loan repayments are negatively impacting some borrowers. . .

College Applications Are Up, Despite Questions About Higher Education​​

The Washington Post (sub. req.) | ​August 20, 2026​​​

International Applications Dropped 10% This Year​
Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | August 20, 2026​​​​​

They Were Paying Their Student Loans. Then the Rules Changed.​
The New York Times (sub. req.) | August 19, 2026​​​​​​

August 20, 2026

The Wall Street Journal covers trends in admissions and acceptance rates and explores how demographic changes could impact schools. . .Higher Ed Dive reports on the Education Department’s proposed rule to align the accreditation system with the Trump administration’s policy agenda. . .The Hill highlights that some universities are letting students make tuition payments using mobile payment apps. . .

America’s Colleges Are Hurtling Toward an Enrollment Cliff​​

The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | ​August 20, 2026​​​

Education Department Proposes Accreditation Overhaul​
Higher Ed Dive | August 19, 2026​​​​​

Universities Opening Tuition Payments to PayPal, Venmo​​
The Hill | August 19, 2026​​​​​

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