HEADLINES: Top Higher Education News for the Week

September 11, 2026

Inside Higher Ed highlights the new ACE Pulse Point survey which dives into higher ed leaders’ concerns about their institutions and the sector amid significant policy changes. . .The Washington Post reports on the challenges that borrowers may face under the Trump administration if they don’t exit the SAVE repayment plan. . .Inside Higher Ed reports on wins that colleges and universities are experiencing as the new academic year kicks off, such as local partnerships and enrollment increases. . .

Senior College Leaders Experiencing ‘Heightened Uncertainty’

Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | ​September 11, ​2026​​​

Student Loan Payments Will Soar if Borrowers Don’t Act Soon, But Glitches Abound
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | September 11, 2026​​​​​

The Enrollment Wins of 2026​
Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | September 11, 2026​​​​​

September 10, 2026

Inside Higher Ed reports that the institutions that the Department of Defense requested audit their partnerships with foreign entities responded to the request. . . The Washington Post covers how the Trump administration’s targeting of medical schools' admissions processes may hurt underserved communities. . .The Chicago Tribune reports that fall enrollment set records at several public university campuses throughout Illinois. . .

How Some Colleges Responded to DOD’s Foreign Partnerships Order

Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | ​September 10, ​2026​​​​

How Trump Administration Threats Could Affect Medical School Admissions
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | September 9, 2026​​​​​

University of Illinois Chicago Sees Record Enrollment Two Years in a Row​
Chicago Tribune (sub. req.) | September 9, 2026​​​​​​

September 9, 2026

The Chronicle of Higher Education covers how competency-based education may be a unique opportunity for colleges and universities to reach new students. . .Higher Ed Dive highlights recent data that shows higher ed institutions have improved their use of space on campuses since the pandemic. . .Inside Higher Ed reports that two new bills that have passed the California Assembly would make it possible for certain two-year institutions to offer bachelor’s degrees. . .

Can Higher Ed Finally Figure Out How to Serve Nontraditional Students?

The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | ​September 9, ​2026​​​

Colleges Improve on Utilization of Classroom, Office Space​​
Higher Ed Dive  | September 9, 2026​​​​​

Calif. Community College Bachelor’s Bills Pass Despite Objections​
Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | September 9, 2026​​​​​​​

September 8, 2026

Inside Higher Ed covers new data which highlights a surge in students taking online courses since the pandemic. . .A letter to the editor in The Wall Street Journal by ACE president Ted Mitchell highlights the higher ed community’s concerns about the disclosure of individual foreign donor names. . .Politico reports on fears that the loan caps the Trump administration placed on federal student loans won’t lead to lower tuition and will instead force students to turn to private lenders. . .

Post-Pandemic, Online Ed Has ‘Staying Power’

Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | ​September 8, ​2026​​​

Letter to the Editor | The Debate Over Foreign Money in Higher Education​​
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | September 7, 2026​​​​​

An Unconventional Solution to Trump’s Student Loan Caps
Politico | September 5, 2026​​​​​​

September 4, 2026

​The Washington Post reports on how federal student loan disbursements were delayed this summer following the rollout of the One Big Beautiful Bill’s loan changes. . .Inside Higher Ed highlights Rep. Mike Lawler’s efforts to expand the list of graduate programs considered professional that received higher student loan caps. . .The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post both cover the Trump administration’s new proposed rule at the IRS that could be used to strip schools of their tax-exempt status if they implement DEI policies. . .

College Loans Were Late Due to New Federal Rules. Students Are Paying the Price.

The Washington Post (sub. req.) | ​September 4, ​2026​​​

The House Republican Trying to Redefine Graduate Student Loan Caps​​
Inside Higher Ed (sub. req.) | September 4, 2026​​​​​

IRS Proposes Rules to Strip Tax Exemptions From Colleges Using Race in Policies
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | September 3, 2026​​​​​

Trump Administration Aims to Strip Schools’ Tax Exemption if They Consider Race​
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | September 3, 2026​​​​​

​​​

ACE Op-Eds

Letters to the Editor