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Education

Higher Education Policy

The Higher Education team works toward building an affordable and high-quality higher education system that promotes economic mobility, racial equity, and a strong democracy.

A student at Rutgers University attends the 250th anniversary commencement ceremony on May 15, 2016, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Getty/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

What We're Doing

Ensuring quality and protecting students and taxpayers

We advocate for a system where all colleges and programs offer a path to economic security and make sure their students reach the finish line. We also seek to hold education providers, accreditors, loan servicers, and other actors accountable for their service to students and borrowers.

Ensuring college is affordable for all students

We call for changes to make college affordable for current and future students and their families. We also work to lift the burden of student debt and fix a troubled student loan repayment system for current and future borrowers.

Improving equity

Our team explores how to reform a higher education system that is failing to adequately serve all students, including adults, student parents, students of color, part-time students, veterans, and other overlooked populations.

The Higher Education team works toward building an affordable and high-quality higher education system that promotes economic mobility, racial equity, and a strong democracy.

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Trump’s “Compact” With Colleges Will Put University Presidents in Legal Jeopardy Article
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a meeting.

Trump’s “Compact” With Colleges Will Put University Presidents in Legal Jeopardy

The White House’s proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is unconstitutional, unlawful, and will put universities and their administrators at direct risk from a politicized Justice Department.

Ben Olinsky, Viviann Anguiano, Devon Ombres, 2 More Sara Partridge, Hayley Durudogan

The State of Online Higher Education in 2025 Past Event

The State of Online Higher Education in 2025

Join the Center for American Progress to discuss the current challenges in monitoring and regulating online higher education.

Online

State Fact Sheets: How the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Are Increasing Costs for American Families Fact Sheet
The Capitol dome reflected in water on pavement

State Fact Sheets: How the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Are Increasing Costs for American Families

This series of fact sheets provides insights into how the OBBBA and the administration’s policies will increase the costs of health care, food, energy, and borrowing in each state in the near future.

Amina Khalique, Kennedy Andara, Natalie Baker, 2 More Sara Partridge, Kyle Ross

The Full Cost of Attendance: Addressing Housing, Food, and Other Barriers to Community College Student Success Report
Students walk past the library at East Los Angeles College on September 27, 2022, Los Angeles, California.

The Full Cost of Attendance: Addressing Housing, Food, and Other Barriers to Community College Student Success

Although community colleges offer low tuition, students still face steep costs for essentials such as housing, food, transportation, child care, and supplies—barriers that policymakers must address to make college truly affordable.

Veronica Goodman, Madison Weiss, Sara Partridge

10 Egregious Things You May Not Know About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Article
Members of the House walk up the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

10 Egregious Things You May Not Know About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Congressional Republicans’ radical budget and tax bill includes several less-known provisions that will increase costs, fuel the Trump administration’s overreach, and waste taxpayer dollars.

Colin Seeberger, Andrea Ducas, Natasha Murphy, 9 More Kierra B. Jones, Andrés Argüello, Lily Roberts, Kyle Ross, Michael Sozan, Silva Mathema, Sara Partridge, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Corey Husak

5 Ways Community Colleges Drive Workforce Development Report
A student stands in the shade at East Los Angeles College.

5 Ways Community Colleges Drive Workforce Development

Community colleges play a vital role in workforce development by offering accessible education, aligning programs with industry needs, providing upskilling opportunities, fostering local partnerships, and supporting lifelong learning for diverse populations.

Madison Weiss

Congressional Republicans’ Proposed Budget Reconciliation Bill Imperils 4.4 Million Pell Grant Recipients Article
Students are seen walking across a college campus.

Congressional Republicans’ Proposed Budget Reconciliation Bill Imperils 4.4 Million Pell Grant Recipients

Proposed changes to Pell Grant eligibility could mean nearly two out of three recipients could lose some or all their federal grant aid and incur up to an additional total of $7,400 for a bachelor’s degree and $3,700 for an associate degree.

Sara Partridge

What Will Happen to Your Student Loans if Trump Closes the Department of Education? In the News

What Will Happen to Your Student Loans if Trump Closes the Department of Education?

In an op-ed published by Teen Vogue, Stephanie Hall outlines what student loan borrowers can expect if the Trump administration successfully shutters the U.S. Department of Education.

Teen Vogue

Stephanie Hall

Reorienting Colleges Toward Student-Centered Practices Report
A student sits in a college lecture hall at the University of Texas at Austin, February 22, 2024.

Reorienting Colleges Toward Student-Centered Practices

Colleges, universities, and policymakers can draw lessons from the evolution of patient-centered care in the health care system to create a more responsive and inclusive higher education system.

Stephanie Hall, Madison Weiss

Letter to Under Secretary James Kvaal Regarding the Incentive Compensation Ban Article

Letter to Under Secretary James Kvaal Regarding the Incentive Compensation Ban

Along with other student, consumer, and labor advocates, the Center for American Progress sent a letter calling on the Department of Education to close a loophole in the federal ban on incentive compensation.

A Progressive Vision for Education in the 21st Century Report
A student in graduation robes walks across a stage where an American flag flies.

A Progressive Vision for Education in the 21st Century

This report encompasses key recommendations for strengthening the American education system across early childhood education, K-12 education, higher education, and workforce development.

Jared C. Bass

Veterans face hidden dangers in online learning In the News

Veterans face hidden dangers in online learning

In an op-ed published by Stars and Stripes, Stephanie Hall and co-author William Hubbard explain how the third-party contractors who manage virtual higher education programs take advantage of prospective students and can even undermine their GI Bill of Rights benefits.

Stars and Stripes

Stephanie Hall, William Hubbard

New Student Debt Relief Policies Fix Broken Promises and Benefit Borrowers Most in Need Article
A graduating student celebrates during the University of Massachusetts Boston commencement ceremony.

New Student Debt Relief Policies Fix Broken Promises and Benefit Borrowers Most in Need

The Biden-Harris administration proposed new regulations that would bring the share of student loan borrowers across the country who receive full or partial relief to about 3 in 4, targeting those who are the most likely to struggle repaying their debt.

Sara Partridge, Madison Weiss, Brendan Duke

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