The featured take
Key takeaway
Education Secretary Linda McMahon says 25% of students applying to a college flagged for low earnings on the FAFSA took it off their list. The flag carries no penalty, and it already shapes where students apply. New HEA Group data shows how much the earnings premium over high school graduates varies, from 76% nationally to 28% in Alaska. Colleges that track outcomes for every graduate by program can show applicants more than one federal number.
Also in this issue
ED finalized its accreditation overhaul, and colleges have until July 1, 2027 to comply
47 states are writing Workforce Pell rules, but only 30 programs have federal approval so far
Master's enrollment fell 3.7% this fall, and computer science majors dropped 12.4%
Michigan's 15 public universities lost 5,223 students, their lowest total in a decade
Bot applications pushed one college's applicant count up 74% while enrollment rose 7.6%
A first-year career exploration course raised students' intent to persist by 15 points
Six community colleges give every student a career plan, one at about 800 students per advisor
The U.S. needs about 189,000 new nurses a year, but student interest in nursing is flat
Job applications doubled in two years, and AI agents may apply for 1 in 4 candidates by 2029
An audit of AI in education studies found impossible statistics and made-up references
Sent November 1, 2026 with the subject line “1 in 4 Walked Away Over Low Earnings”. Links point to the original sources.