Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.
Eiziah Lieblein still recalls his eagerness the day his mother called to let him know he had some mail from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The panther on the envelope was the university’s mascot, peering over the cellophane address window.
In many ways, Lieblein’s excitement mirrors scenes unfolding in homes and schools throughout this Rust Belt city. That’s thanks to Direct Admit Wisconsin, the state’s nearly two-year-old direct admission program, and its slightly older local companion, Milwaukee Direct Admit. Both programs—part of a growing national trend—aim to make the college admission process shorter, smoother, and less stressful for students.
Affordability concerns have left many college students struggling to cover not only tuition but also rising food prices, housing costs, and other everyday expenses. As those financial pressures grow, colleges are rethinking what student support looks like—and what role they should play in addressing students’ basic needs.
At Stony Brook University, that shift has meant transforming its traditional campus food pantry, Seawolves Pantry, into a much broader hub for basic needs support. The move reflects a reality many students know all too well: Groceries are only one part of the rising cost of living. The pantry is designed to address a range of basic living needs that university leaders say can influence students’ ability to stay focused on their education.
For Tré Willingham, pursuing a doctorate degree at UC Irvine has felt isolating at times. Often the only Black student in his science classes, he recalls that he was the last one chosen when activities required a lab partner. He also has never had a Black professor.
For Willingham and students like him, the state-funded Cal-Bridge program is helping them pursue their dreams of landing a doctorate in the sciences and joining the next generation of STEM professors. The program provides financial support, research opportunities, and diverse mentors of similar backgrounds.
As artificial intelligence transforms the job market and rising living costs squeeze family budgets, the University of California system is making the case that its degrees remain valuable investments.
In a new report, the university highlights higher-than-average earnings, accelerated social mobility, and declining student debt for its graduates. The report also indicates that a majority of graduates who received Pell Grants—federal need-based financial aid—earned more than their parents within three years of graduation.
Immigration advocates in Florida are calling out what they say is a “cruel and harmful” new rule by education officials aligned with Republican governor Ron DeSantis to ban undocumented students from state colleges and universities. The Florida Board of Education last week barred access to its 28 state-funded institutions to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or “lawfully present” in the country. It follows Florida’s move in 2025 to strip discounted in-state tuition rates for certain immigrant students.
Opponents immediately condemned the new directive, which some analysts estimate could cost Florida up to $15 million annually in lost tuition and other fees. They also question if it is legal, given that it was approved by DeSantis’s hand-picked board of seven instead of the elected state legislature.
By now, millions of Americans know that the federal student loan system changed on July 1. News stories have focused on new repayment plans, borrowing limits, and the end of several familiar programs. But if you're a student, a parent, or someone already paying off loans, the question you probably have is much simpler: "What should I do now?"
The good news is that not everyone will be affected in the same way. The bad news is that the wrong decision today could cost borrowers thousands of dollars over the life of their loans. Here's what borrowers need to know—and the mistakes they should avoid.
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