• April 2, 2026

The Blunt Instrument: How Federal Student Aid Reform Is Restructuring Inequality

Federal policies around financial aid will soon restrict borrowing limits. Judith Scott-Clayton told The EDU Ledger she sees these changes as a "blunt instrument” that will disproportionately impact first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color.

• March 12, 2026

Why Multilingual Community College Students Struggle—And What Schools Can Do

University Business covered findings from a CCRC report examining how policies and practices affect multilingual learners across City Colleges of Chicago's seven-campus system.

• March 5, 2026

Federal Work-Study Boosts Enrollment for Community College and Independent Students, Study Finds

The EDU Ledger reports on a new working paper by Veronica Minaya, Judith Scott-Clayton, and Adela Soliz that found that students in community colleges and independent students are more likely to enroll in college when offered Federal Work-Study aid.

• March 4, 2026

The Coming Dual-Enrollment Wars

Two- and four- year colleges are using dual enrollment as a recruitment strategy. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, John Fink said that well-designed courses with clear transfer routes will encourage students to persist after high-school graduation, making it a smart business move for colleges.

• February 28, 2026

Community College Enrollment Outpaced University Enrollment This School Year

Joshua Thomas spoke with The College Fix about possible reasons behind the growth of community college enrollment, including economic uncertainty and comparatively low tuition costs.

• February 27, 2026

First-Generation College Students Who Stop Out Rely on Family, Not Advisors, New Study Finds

A recent CCRC report examined first-generation students' reasons for stopping out and who they turned to for support. The findings paint a portrait of students navigating difficult decisions with minimal guidance from the institutions that enrolled them, The EDU Ledger reported.

• February 24, 2026

Community Colleges Face Widening Skills Gap in Green Economy Jobs, New Study Finds

The EDU Ledger covered findings from a recent CCRC brief on the alignment of the supply of community college credentials and demand for workers in advanced infrastructure, energy, and agriculture fields.

• February 23, 2026

One in 10 Undergrads Is in High School. Students Have Warnings and Advice.

In a Washington Post story about current and former dual enrollment students' experiences and their advice for would-be enrollees, John Fink spoke about current dual enrollment trends and possible benefits for students.

• February 17, 2026

‘It’s Just Convenient For Me’: New Hinds Community College Program Topples Barriers to Higher Education  

Maria Cormier spoke with Mississippi Today about ways community colleges are supporting students through wraparound services like childcare, financial support, and food and transportation assistance.

• February 11, 2026

Community Colleges Struggle to Serve Growing Population of Multilingual Students, New Study Finds

The EDU Ledger covered a CCRC report on multilingual learners and the significant barriers to persistence and completion they face, despite representing a substantial portion of the student body at institutions serving immigrant communities.