ICYMI: Earlier this week was the anniversary of the Pell Grant. Pell supports more than 7M students each year, and evidence shows that need-based grant aid increases enrollment and completion among low- and moderate-income students. buff.ly/lfr4tni

With major changes to the federal student loan repayment system taking effect on July 1, our resource page explains what's changing, key deadlines borrowers should know, and answers to frequently asked questions: buff.ly/mndr6bH

Policy shapes how people access college and what it takes to stay there. We want to hear from students and borrowers navigating that firsthand. buff.ly/yZ5iqF8

Reconnecting the Rural Way: TICAS Rural Reconnect Initiative by Valerie Crespín-Trujillo, PhD, MPP via @ticas-org.bsky.social ticas.org/college-comp...

Reconnecting the Rural Way: TICAS Rural Reconnect Initiative via @ticas-org.bsky.social ticas.org/college-comp...

Happy anniversary to the #PellGrant! Our new fact sheet explains how Congress can strengthen #Pell to make college more affordable for millions of Americans. Read more about the fact sheet: buff.ly/lfr4tni

TICAS' Michele Zampini spoke with The New York Times about the Department of Education lowering student loan rates for borrowers enrolled in autopay, saying it doesn't make unaffordable payments more affordable for borrowers or help prevent delinquency or default. More here: buff.ly/8YVFOd4

Your experience with higher ed can help shape a better system. Share your story here: buff.ly/yZ5iqF8

Want to stay up to date with the latest #HigherEd developments? Join our mailing list for federal policy alerts, state policy news, and more. Sign up here: buff.ly/oldoo4m

1/3 The third round of The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers’ #AffordableNYCNow project is out today! This portion focuses on how the City can use government itself as a tool for make life more affordable for New Yorkers.

1/2 Across the country, 43M learners have stopped out of college before earning a #PostSec degree of value. Our Rural Reconnect Initiative will translate findings into tangible resources for institutions & policymakers, targeting rural returning students in the southern & southwestern U.S.

1/3 Our new edition of our State Policy Digest highlights state and federal efforts to increase affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education.

ICYMI: CUNY's programs aren’t just improving outcomes—they're transforming trajectories, particularly for low-income students, first-generation, or those who come from historically marginalized high schools and communities. Read our latest blog: buff.ly/Cs2LSeX

1/2 While the federal government is set to roll out Workforce Pell at the beginning of July, California is preparing to build out the infrastructure needed to support the program.

TICAS' Michele Zampini spoke to U.S. News & World Report about the student loan debt the average college student carries. Zampini says many students continue to face the gap between the financial aid students receive & the remaining cost of college. buff.ly/HGqirHg

1/3 An everchanging federal policy landscape means that many students pursuing a postsecondary degree need targeted support to cross the finish line. The City University of New York (CUNY) has been doing just that for 60+ years.

1/3 Last night, the House Approps Committee advanced its FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill. We support the bill’s proposed investments in the Pell Grant program and programs that help students cross the finish line to obtain a degree.

There's a lot of talk about college affordability. But what does that actually feel like when you’re inside the system? buff.ly/eQsjOHF

The House Approps Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, & Ed (LHHS) FY27 proposed spending bill would permanently eliminate interest subsidies on federal undergrad student loans. TICAS' Michele Zampini says it could have another adverse effect. buff.ly/IJgtRIP

1/2 Yesterday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) released its spending bill for FY27, which would eliminate interest subsidies on undergraduate federal student loans to address the looming Pell shortfall.

Policy shapes how people access college and what it takes to stay there. We want to hear from students and borrowers navigating that firsthand. buff.ly/yZ5iqF8

You've been wanting to stay plugged in with all things #HigherEd, and we have a mailing list for federal policy updates, state policy news, and more. Sign up here to stay connected: buff.ly/oldoo4m

1/2 We are excited to welcome Dr. TeAsia Jordan to TICAS as our Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy in Michigan! TeAsia joins us as a seasoned educational leader, qualitative researcher, and scholar-practitioner.

1/2 Last week, Gov Hochul & the New York Legislature finalized the FY 26-27 State Budget. We commend the continued investments in college access, affordability, & student success for New Yorkers, but there is still more to be done with SNAP awareness, strengthening TAP, & borrower protections.

1/2 May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, but supporting student mental health is a year-round priority for academic success & retention. A recent blog from @newamerica.org & The Jed Foundation explores how building a sense of belonging is critical for parenting students.

Cal Grant B is an access award that helps cover non-tuition costs for California students, such as housing, food, books, and transportation. Today, this award is worth less than 1/5 of its original value and only covers 5% of annual non-tuition costs, which can be upwards of $33,000. buff.ly/CstHxkg

There's a lot of talk about college affordability. But what does that actually feel like when you’re inside the system? buff.ly/eQsjOHF

1/2 With the Pell Grant program facing a funding shortfall, students could face eligibility or funding cuts for the first time in more than a decade.

1/2 We submitted public comment in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking AHEAD.

1/2 TICAS came together with 18 student-focused organizations in a comment submitted for the U.S. Department of Education's notice of proposed rulemaking, Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD).

ICYMI: Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom released his budget revision for the upcoming fiscal year. According to our Higher Ed expert Manny Rodriguez, with this year's tax revenues better than expected, policymakers need to choose to invest in our future workforce today.

1/2 Our partner EdTrust-West just released its 2026 Equity 8: its top picks for educational equity bills and budget items. We’re glad to stand alongside them on SB 1006, a bill that would help students living in poverty afford basic needs.

Your experience with higher ed can help shape a better system. Share your experience here: buff.ly/yZ5iqF8

Is the higher ed budget crunch going to get worse? The Chronicle asked TICAS' Tanya I. Garcia about it. She says it's been made more perilous by the decline in state higher ed funding per full-time student & recent legislation impacting state-federal relations. More here: buff.ly/tGOrK7D

A degree doesn’t just change one life, it ripples across families and communities. That’s the power of completion. #CollegeCompletionDay 🎓

1/2 Today, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his budget revision for the 2026–27 fiscal year. For #HigherEd, the revised budget proposes total funding of $50B to support public segments as well as the California Student Aid Commission.

Join the #HigherEd community as we celebrate #CollegeCompletionDay tomorrow and see why finishing college matters! It’s not just a moment. It’s a movement.

A new #HigherEd brief from @childtrends.bsky.social and @rand.org finds that financial aid and public benefits participation strongly predict degree completion. Learn about their recommendations to ensure basic needs programs support students pursuing education beyond high school:

"All signs are pointing toward worse default rates than ever." ICYMI: TICAS' Michele Zampini spoke with @pbsnews.org last week about the looming default crisis as the SAVE plan disappears, leaving borrowers in the lurch. buff.ly/ENXZTkf

Your experience with higher ed can help shape a better system. Share your story here: buff.ly/yZ5iqF8

NEW | Federal cuts to key student success programs are threatening colleges serving low-income, first-gen, and rural students. Cuts to TRIO mean fewer staff, fewer services, and less support for students. Funding stability must remain a priority. buff.ly/UjB84mZ

🚨NEW PRESIDENT ALERT🚨 We’re thrilled to announce higher ed expert and seasoned executive Jen Mishory as the next leader of TICAS. Jen brings a strong record of building and leading high-impact teams and advocating fiercely on behalf of students. Welcome, Jen! Meet Jen and learn more: buff.ly/mHp8nmo

TICAS’ Michele Zampini spoke with PBS News about the increase in people defaulting on their student loans, saying, “All signs are pointing toward worse default rates than ever.” Read more from PBS News here: buff.ly/ENXZTkf

1/2 Last week, the MI House and Senate shared proposals for the 2026–27 state budget, with both plans aligned on critical investments for #HigherEd across the state. In response, TICAS Sr. VP Jessica Thompson shared the following:

1/2 As AI-driven FAFSA fraud rises, under-resourced #FinAid offices face a difficult balancing act: protecting taxpayer dollars without creating additional barriers for the students that #FinAid is meant to help.

ICYMI: TICAS’ Anti-Poverty & Basic Needs expert Erika Roberson released a blog last week highlighting why investing in #BasicNeeds resources for parenting students means investing in a stronger economy. Read her insights ⬇️

NEXT WEEK | Join TICAS and fellow #HigherEd experts from EdTrust-West, uAspire, and UC Merced’s HERE Lab this Monday to discuss solutions to strengthen affordability and better target need-based aid in California. Register here: buff.ly/yyBXjOC

Did you know that more than four in ten borrowers are making tradeoffs between student loan payments and covering their basic needs? Our survey from last year shows that student loan borrowers are struggling to keep up. Read more here from CNBC:

1/2 For parenting students, non-tuition costs are often a major barrier, forcing them to take on more work while leaving less time for school. More than half of parenting students leave college without earning a degree or credential.

Join TICAS and fellow #HigherEd experts from EdTrust-West, uAspire, and UC Merced’s HERE Lab on April 20 to hear about efforts to strengthen college affordability statewide, with a focus on investments in need-based financial aid for non-tuition costs such as housing and food. buff.ly/yyBXjOC