In 2026, the high-school aged population in the United States will peak at about 3.5 million students and then decline by 15% in the following 18 years. This is the
The effect of technical glitches in overhauling the student financial-aid form known as FAFSA is still being felt. Issues stemming from a redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid have left families scrambling to secure loans, grants and scholarships before sending their kids off to college in the fall. A Minnesota nonprofit reminded college students tuition aid is still available and its new digital tool can help with the process. .
When students return to a North Dakota college this fall, some will be in a new nursing program. Leaders say not only will it help with workforce shortages, the approach could set easier career pathways. The University of Jamestown has announced a new degree offering focused on getting more bedside nurses out into regional hospitals and clinics. .
A Minnesota community college serving rural students is getting a lift as it works to bring more innovation to its campus. The school was selected as part of a national effort to ensure smaller institutions have the tools to thrive. Riverland Community College, with locations in greater southeastern Minnesota, was chosen for support from the Accelerating Equitable Outcomes initiative. .
Virginia advocates believe more can be done to make higher education accessible to incarcerated people. Only a handful of community colleges partner with less than half of the state s correctional facilities to help people obtain associate s degrees. In 2023, incarcerated people became eligible for federal Pell Grants, supporting tuition costs for low-income individuals. .