Higher Education Accountability and Oversight

Cuts to Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid Will Leave Students and Borrowers Worse Off

The Department of Education’s latest workforce cuts, coupled with the executive order calling for the closure of the department, undermine its ability to meet legal obligations and effectively serve students and borrowers.

Department of Education Staff Cuts Will Harm America’s Children and Schools

The recent decision to slash the U.S. Department of Education’s workforce nearly in half will leave it unable to carry out its responsibilities and statutory requirements under the law.

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.

Proposed Legislation Threatens To Raise Costs for Student Borrowers and Dismantle Consumer Protections

As the 119th Congress takes shape, several proposed higher education policies would roll back key consumer protection regulations and make damaging changes to the financial aid system, hurting students, taxpayers, and colleges.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Project 2025 Would Increase Costs, Block Debt Cancellation for Student Loan Borrowers

The radical Project 2025 policy agenda for student loan repayment would multiply costs for borrowers, increase defaults, and end existing programs that allow borrowers to earn cancellation.

Making State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements in Higher Education Work for Students

Distance education agreements should align with the needs of students, states, and institutions—in that order.

2024 Summit on Education: Reset. Reframe. Reform.

Summit on Education: Reset. Reframe. Reform.

Transforming Accreditation by Centering Students

Negotiators coming together to revise the regulations that govern college accreditation should take a student-centered approach.

Opinion: Policymakers must strengthen — not dismantle — the college accreditation system

Madison Weiss writes in Higher Ed Dive about the need to strengthen the accreditation process for higher education institutions.

CAP Comment Urges the U.S. Secretary of Education To Protect Student Interests Amid Potential Online Program Manager Concerns

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Secretary of Education highlighting concerns about the online program manager industry.

CAP Comment Urges NACIQI To Increase Transparency and Accountability in the Accreditation Space

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter emphasizing the need for the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity’s continued review of and recommendations on accreditation agencies.

A Conversation With Catherine E. Lhamon, Assistant Secretary for the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education

Please join the Center for American Progress to explore the importance of nondiscrimination in education, especially in America’s colleges and universities.

The Tortured Path of the Gainful Employment Rule

As the U.S. Department of Education prepares to publish its final gainful employment rule, learn more about the history of this key consumer safeguard meant to eliminate the worst actors before multitudes of students fall prey to poor practices.

3 Ways the Biden Administration Protected Students and Borrowers in 2022

The U.S. Department of Education’s final rules on borrower defense to repayment, closed school discharge, and false certification will help protect students and taxpayers from predatory institutions.

CAP’s Comment on the Borrower Defense and Closed School Discharge Regulations

Madison Weiss and Loren Welles submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education on the borrower defense and closed school discharge regulations.

How the US Department of Education Can Fix Damaging Accreditation Regulations

The Biden administration must work to limit the harm of accreditation regulations rolled out under former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity: Overview and Resources

This page contains facts and resources about the role the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity plays within the accreditation system.

Holding Higher Education Accountable in Federal-State Partnerships

Colorado’s experiment with performance contracts in the College Opportunity Fund offers insights into how performance contracts could be used for accountability in federal-state partnership proposals for higher education.

The Trump Administration Has Set Up Students To Be Harmed by Unscrupulous Colleges During This Recession

Too many institutions took advantage of students in the last recession—and as another downturn deepens, accountability is in shreds.