2025-26 FAFSA to Launch in October – For the First Time in Three Years
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced that this year’s Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be released on October 1st. In a Monday announcement, the DOE detailed the alterations to this year’s form, which include immediate verification for students who apply with a social security number. Prior iterations of the FAFSA, on the other hand, required a 1-3 day waiting period for verification. Additionally, the process for applicants to invite contributors, such as a parent or spouse, to the form will be streamlined – unlike in the past when contributors needed a unique code to access the form, applicants will now only need to add an email address to give that person contributor access. A beta testing period will open to a select group of school districts and college-access organizations beginning in August.
Takeaways:
October 1st is, historically, the standard release date for the FAFSA each year; however, its launch was delayed for the 2023-24 (January 2024) and 2024-2025 (late November 2024) forms due to problems overhauling the FAFSA platform. The 2023-24 form was plagued with major issues, including technical glitches, months-long delays for some applicants, and a $1.8 billion dollar DOE miscalculation in aid, which was ultimately corrected, but only because of public pressure put on the Department. In the end, roughly 14 percent fewer students applied for the FAFSA in 2023-24 versus 2022-23 – approximately 300,000 individuals. Last year’s form, minus the delayed rollout, saw a much smoother implementation. One hopes that the October 1st launch date this year speaks to a Better FAFSA that has moved beyond its initial difficulties.
FAFSA to Launch Oct. 1 With Minor Changes (Inside Higher Ed)
Harvard Kennedy School’s Backup Plan for Students in Visa Limbo
Harvard University introduced policy changes this week that would provide a contingency plan for students affected by the Trump Administration travel bans and student visa crackdowns. As more than half of those enrolled at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government are international students, the University is focused on implementing creative solutions to aid those who may be affected. If students are prevented from entering the U.S., they will be permitted to complete coursework online while earning additional credits at “in-person convenings” taught by Kennedy School faculty “in cities across the world.” Some Kennedy School students will also have the option to complete their degrees in-person at the University of Toronto, if they are barred from returning to the United States.
Takeaways:
The Harvard Business School, additionally, is actively seeking alternate means of supporting students who could be affected by evolving federal regulations. According to Dean Srikant Datar, it will be imperative that HBS “draw(s) on the creativity of our community…to reimagine an M.B.A. program that both embraces and overcomes a geographically dispersed class.” Many of the Trump administration’s attempts to exert control over higher education have been slowed by litigation, but if the White House is successful in its court cases, Harvard’s proposed contingency plans could become a blueprint for international student policy for other high-profile schools.
Harvard Announces a Contingency Plan for Some of Its International Students (NY Times) – 6/27/25
UVA President Resigns Under Threats From Trump Administration
On Friday, James Ryan, president of the University of Virginia since 2018, resigned his post. Mr. Ryan had been under fire from the Trump White House for allegedly failing to follow federal dictates aimed at ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Critics had claimed that the university had violated the law by choosing to “rename, repackage, and redeploy” rather than terminating DEI initiatives. Mr. Ryan had planned to exit his post at the end of the 2026-27 academic year but instead decided to step down this week, choosing not to “fight the federal government.” It appears that Mr. Ryan was given direct and explicit orders to resign by the end of the week or have UVA’s federal funding cut. An interim president has yet to be announced.
Takeaways:
Prior to his stint at the University of Virginia, Mr. Ryan was the dean of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University where he was credited with prioritizing building a diverse community. Mr. Ryan exits UVA with the support of the school board and much of the greater university community. Robert D. Hardie, the head of UVA’s governing board praised Ryan, contending that the university had “forever been changed for the better as a result of Jim’s exceptional leadership.” Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), on the other hand, saluted the move, celebrating the fact that “DEI is done at the University of Virginia.” UVA has an endowment of over $10 billion dollars, one of the largest among public U.S. universities. This endowment did not exempt them from the pressure exerted by an administration dead-set on escalating a culture war. “This is a dark day for the University of Virginia,” noted Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, “a dark day for higher education, and it promises more of the same.”
University of Virginia president, pressured over DEI, resigns rather than ‘fight federal government’ (AP) – 6/27/25
AP Exam Scoring Now Underway
Over 6 million AP exams were completed in the 2025 administration, and those exams are currently being scored. This massive process is being undertaken by roughly 30,000 individuals, including high school AP teachers and college professors from all 50 states. AP readers can complete this process either from home or at one of four in-person reading sites in Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Cleveland. Students will be able to access scores for this year’s AP exams starting Monday, July 7th.
Takeaways:
As approximately 3.8 million of the administered AP exams were done so digitally, new and experienced readers alike will need to adjust to non-handwritten responses. In addition to the fully digital tests, 2 million AP exams were hybrid digital. The College Board is confident that there will be no issues for readers adjusting to the new testing format as “readers are mentored by teams of experienced AP Reading leaders to apply scores accurately and consistently to responses by using official AP rubrics.” The AP reading process is a positive one for educators, according to an internal College Board poll, with 99 percent of respondents who have participated in more than one Reading reporting that the program has had a “positive impact on their teaching.” During the reading process, nearly 25,000,000 responses will be scored.
AP Reading 2025 Is Under Way (College Board Newsroom) – 6/17/25
Breaking: ACT Registration Live for 2025-2026 School Year
Last week, the ACT opened registration for its flagship test for all dates through July 2026. These dates are the first when all students will have access to the Enhanced ACT. During the registration process, U.S.-based students have the option for a paper-based or a computer-based test; those who opt for the digital format can either use a test center computer or to bring their own device. The latter option had not been available for students testing for the April/July Enhanced ACT pilot tests. Both Apple and PC computers are compatible with the “ACT Gateway” platform, which is already available for download. Currently Chromebook users will need admin assistance to set up the platform on their devices. iPads and other tablets do not yet support the software needed to test.
Takeaways:
The College Board opened 2025-2026 registration for the SAT in May, so the pressure has been on the ACT to follow suit. Several initial observations on Day One:
- Paper-based seats are already limited. Seats at 5 of the 10 sites that offer paper-based testing in the greater New York City area are already sold out for September. Seats at 3 of the 6 similar sites are already sold out for October.
- All sites in the greater New York City area still have seats available for computer-based testing. For the September test date, 6 similar such sites offer “Bring Your Own Computer” testing, while only 3 offer the “Use Test Center Computer” option. In October, 6 similar such sites are offering seats for both computer-based options.
- It is possible that more sites could be added at a later date.
- Both September and October dates are “ACT My Answer Key” eligible. The My Answer Key service (formerly TIR) gives students the ability to see which questions they missed. This is a key differentiator from the SAT, which has no question-and-answer service and provides very limited insight reporting to test takers.
- There is an extra cost for students to add the science section. Although price may vary based on specific location, that extra cost seems to be $4 for U.S.-based students and $10 for non-U.S.-based students.
- The ACT Gateway App currently does not contain any practice material, in contrast to the SAT Bluebook App, but students are able to register for a test date directly through the platform.
Harvard Scores Legal Win in Latest Court Decision
On Friday, federal judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled in favor of Harvard, thwarting the Trump administration’s attempts to prevent the university from enrolling international students. Judge Burroughs had previously issued a temporary block on Trump’s proclamation earlier this week, but Friday’s decision allows Harvard to continue its Student and Visitor Exchange Program (SVEP). Thus, at least for now, Harvard will be able to “continue enrolling international students and scholars while the case moves forward.”
Takeaways:
For months, Harvard has been in the Trump administration’s crosshairs, due to alleged antisemitism and “pro-terrorist conduct.” Since mid-April, the university has been locked in a legal battle with the White House after Trump administration officials sent Harvard a letter – perhaps in error – outlining a set of organizational and pedagogical demands, which Harvard promptly rejected. Significant funding has already been withheld from the university, but the threat of losing its ability to enroll international students imperils Harvard’s ability to operate. Judge Burrough’s latest ruling orders the government not to give “effect to any suspension, withdrawal, revocation, termination, or other alteration” of Harvard’s status as an SVEP entity. President Trump reacted to the latest court developments on social media, praising Harvard for conducting itself “extremely appropriately during these negotiations” and hinting that a “mindbogglingly HISTORIC” deal could be made in “the next week or so.” Whether the president is attempting to save face while conceding legal defeat or if his comments are a precursor to an abrupt change in position remains to be seen. For the meantime, however, this development gives hope to non-U.S. students who aspire to matriculate in Cambridge, MA this fall.
Judge Blocks a Trump Effort to Prevent International Students at Harvard (NY Times) – 6/20/25
Cornell, Temple, and Others See Looming Financial Disaster
Six esteemed research universities – including several Division 1 sports powerhouses and an Ivy League institution – announced this week that significant budget cutbacks are impending. Citing enrollment trends, probable loss of federal funding, and the possibility of losing the means to enroll international students, Cornell University, Temple University, University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, and University of Maryland all released statements detailing expected layoffs and programming cuts. These schools join a growing list of institutions facing financial crises that have been accelerated by current national leadership.
Takeaways:
Many U.S. Colleges and Universities have been on a fiscal precipice since the pandemic, if not before, but anti-higher ed policies enacted by the Trump administration threaten to push schools over the edge. Cornell is facing “profound financial challenges” directly relating to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research contracts and is planning to “require financial austerity in all areas.” Temple University is looking down the barrel of a $60 million budget shortfall due to a decrease in enrollment by roughly 10,000 students since 2017. U of Kansas is projecting a $22.3 million deficit that is expected to grow to $117 million by 2029 without corrective action; university officials have promised strategies that require “hard decisions,” starting with a 5 percent decrease in operating expenses. U of Minnesota is enacting a cut of 7 percent of its programs, a layoff of 350 staff and faculty, and tuition increases of up to 7.8 percent to help balance $115 million in reduced revenue. U of Nebraska will be cutting $20 million from its budget and plans to raise tuition; the school recently saw freezes to federally funded research and the possibility for reduced reimbursement for indirect research costs. U of Maryland will be decreasing its budget by 7 percent, or $155 million, this coming year, after recently shrinking it by 4 percent; in a video message to the Maryland community, Chancellor Jay Perman said that “personnel actions cannot be taken off the table…It’s not a reflection of your value to the system, to your university, to the students we serve.”
Budget Cuts Announced By Six More Major Research Universities (Forbes) – 6/19/25
Student Visa Application Process Resumes With Increased Scrutiny
The U.S. State Department has resumed processing visa applications for non-U.S. students and visiting scholars. The screening process was previously and suddenly halted in late May when Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for “a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor visa applicants.” Three weeks later, the application process has reopened, but consular officers at overseas missions have been ordered to screen prospective students’ social media accounts for “hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”
Takeaways:
While Secretary Rubio defends the need for “aggressive” vetting, critics of this increased social media screening fear that students will face an unprecedented and inappropriate “political litmus test” that could disqualify otherwise viable candidates. The State Department’s guidelines for the new policy are intentionally vague. This, presumably, gives the Department some leeway to shift policy based on the oft-changing whims of its leadership; however, a lack of clear guidelines will continue to put international students and their families in a difficult position. Many foreign students are expected to pay full tuition at U.S. colleges and universities. Without the guarantee that they will be able to attend a U.S. institution even if they are admitted, some international students may look at more secure options – outside of the United States.
U.S. to Review Social Media Posts of Student and Scholar Visa Applicants (NY Times) – 6/18/25
Republican Representative Brings Another Complaint Against Harvard University
Last week, Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sent a letter to the SEC Chairman demanding an investigation into Harvard University’s bond sales. The representative, who achieved recent national recognition with her crusade against university responses to the war on Gaza, argues that Harvard may have violated federal securities law by withholding important financial information. Harvard denies any wrongdoing.
Takeaways:
Representative Stefanik’s accusations are the latest attack in a multipronged campaign by the Trump administration against the storied university. Over the past several months, Harvard has seen significant cuts in federal funding, its ability to enroll foreign students being put in jeopardy, and allegations made that it has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 has been the lodestar for the Trump administration’s domestic policy and its combative stance on U.S. higher education foretells continued attacks on Havard and other high-profile universities in the coming years.
Stefanik Calls On SEC to Investigate Harvard’s $750 Million Bond Disclosure (Harvard Crimson) – 6/18/25
Judge Dismisses Faculty Union Suit Against Trump Administration
On Monday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought forward by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) which attempted to halt the Trump administration’s cuts in $400 million dollars of federal funding to Columbia University. Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of the southern district of New York ruled that the faculty unions’ suit had no credence as it did not clearly articulate how the Trump administration had broken the law. The judge noted that Columbia was “conspicuously absent” from the case, and the University has yet to make a statement.
Takeaways:
This is one of four lawsuits brought forward by the AAUP, with the union contesting the White House’s ban on DEI initiatives, deportation and attempted deportation of pro-Palestinian students, and withholding of Federal funds from Harvard. AAUP representatives consider Trump administration policies “authoritarian agenda that extends far beyond Columbia.” They vowed to continue fighting as “lifesaving research, basic civil liberties and higher education in communities across the country are all on the line.”
Trump administration notches first big win in assault on higher education (The Guardian) – 6/16/25
Student Debt Penalties Aim to Put Colleges’ “Skin in Game”
Wrapped into the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that is currently being revised in the Senate is a stipulation that would financially punish colleges and universities whose students’ earning to debt ratio is in the negative. The proposal would require all higher education institutions – both public and private – to reimburse the federal government for a portion of any debt that cannot be repaid by students. Institutions could also be penalized for students who enroll in income-based repayment. This plan, according to the congressional budget office, would save the government $6 billion over the next ten years.
Takeaways:
On the face of it, this proposal seems like an elegant way to hold institutions more responsible for student outcomes, while helping fund “PROMISE grants” for low-income students and, perhaps, bolstering community college enrollment. Critics of the plan, however, cite a lack of data which could make implementation difficult and costly, as well as the fact that the bill does not penalize institutions for students with defaulted loans, giving possible benefits to for-profit colleges.
Consequences for colleges whose students carry mountains of debt? Republicans say yes (npr) – 6/12/25
All But One Fulbright Board Member Resigns Over State Department Interference
This week, eleven of the twelve members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned in protest of what they consider political interference in the Fulbright selection process. In a statement, the resigning members call the Trump administration’s actions “unprecedented.” They characterize the encroachment as “impermissible under the law, compromis(ing) U.S. national interests and integrity, and undermin(ing) the mission and mandates Congress established for the Fulbright program nearly 80 years ago.”
Takeaways:
In May, the State Department, as directed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, interfered with the final stages of the Fulbright decision process, allegedly cutting more than 20 percent (or 200) of the finalists selected by the Fulbright Board. The reasoning behind the cuts was the Trump administration’s ongoing “war on woke.” Many finalists who were rejected last-minute had proposals centered on climate change or gender identity – or used words considered as off-limit DEI terms. The resigning board members contend that “injecting politics and ideological mandates into the Fulbright program violates the letter and spirit of the law.”
Fulbright Board Resigns Over Political Interference (Inside Higher Ed) – 6/11/25
Study Concludes Increased Policization in Students’ College Choices
A recent report from EAB, an enrollment management consulting firm, concludes that a growing number of high school seniors consider political factors when deciding where to apply to college. In a survey of approximately 40,000 students, the report found that 29 percent of applicants had removed at least one institution from their list due to perceived on-campus politics, while 16 percent removed at least one college from consideration due to policies in its state. 14 percent of respondents removed schools for policies deemed too conservative; 8 percent removed schools for policies deemed too liberal.
Takeaways:
These findings resonate with further results from the study: the vast majority of students were found to value a sense of belonging, safety and emotional well-being, and 53 percent of respondents were found to consider these factors to include commitments to diversity. Although the EAB concludes that their results show an increase in politicalization, it is worth noting that this is the first year that questions pertaining to politics have been included on the survey. Politics aside, the main reason cited for eliminating potential colleges was financial: 71 percent of respondents reported removing a choice from their list because it was too expensive.
Politics, ‘Belonging’ Drive College Choice (Inside Higher Ed) – 6/10/25
18 Universities Back Harvard in Battle With Federal Government
This week, eighteen higher education institutions drafted a five-page amicus brief as a show of support for Harvard University in its legal battle with the Trump administration over $3 billion in federal funding. Five Ivy League institutions and MIT were among the schools to sign the brief, which provides a “broader perspective” on the potential funding freezes and argues that the government actions will have far reaching consequences: “The cuts will disrupt ongoing research, ruin experiments and datasets, destroy the careers of aspiring scientists, and deter long-term investment at universities across the country.” The judge presiding over Harvard’s case has agreed to admit the brief, but the universities have yet to submit it.
Takeaways:
It is uncommon for peer institutions to support one side in a legal or political battle, but, with billions of dollars of federal money on the line and the future of grant research in peril, the outcome of the case will have an impact on the signatories for years to come. The only Ivy League institutions that did not sign the brief – other than Harvard itself – were Cornell University and Columbia University. The former saw a funding freeze of $1 billion in April and the latter recently conceded to many of the Trump administration’s demands to avoid continued funding cuts.
18 Universities Seek To Back Harvard in Federal Funding Lawsuit (Harvard Crimson) – 6/8/25
2026 Budget Could Spell Danger for Pell Grants
Budget proposals put forward by President Trump have placed college access in jeopardy, especially for the lowest income students. Certain provisions raised in the ongoing budget reconciliation process would effectively remove Pell Grant eligibility for millions of students. Additionally, the FY 2026 budget aims to drastically reduce – if not altogether eliminate – Pell Grant aid. In the 2023-24 academic year, Pell Grants helped to facilitate college for approximately 6.5 million students.
Takeaways:
The passage of these budget measures could result in the following changes to the federal aid process:
- The maximum award possible for a student would be reduced from $7,395 to $5,710; this cutback of 23 percent is by far the largest in the grant’s history
- The bar for what makes a full-time student – the only way a student can receive the full award amount – would be raised from 12 credit hours per semester to 30 credit hours per academic year
- Pell Grant eligibility would be eliminated for students attending less than half-time
These changes would have an outsized effect on students with childcare concerns (20 percent of community college students are parents) or those who need to balance higher learning with employment demands; it is less likely that these students will be able to increase their credit hours to conform with new eligibility guidelines. Research has shown that college-educated workers contribute more taxes and are less likely to rely on public assistance programs, so any short-term fiscal gains from Pell Grant cutbacks could result in greater long-term economic strain.
Pell grant cuts threaten state college access goals (Brookings) – 6/5/25
Trump Administration Threatens Columbia University’s Accreditation
This week, the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights sent a letter to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the organization responsible for Columbia University’s accreditation, accusing the university of violating anti-discrimination laws. According to the DOE, Columbia’s alleged “deliberate indifference” toward harassment faced by Jewish students warrants a potential loss of accreditation. This letter on its own will not result in any immediate consequences, but it signals an escalation in the Trump Administration’s war on higher ed.
Takeaways:
If an institution loses accreditation, it will no longer be eligible for federal student financial aid funding. Department of Education’s allegations against Columbia notwithstanding, only the accreditation group can make distinctions on a university’s eligibility – and the de-accreditation process can take years. Nonetheless, by issuing a public threat, the Trump administration is putting pressure not only on Columbia but also on the Middle States Commission on Higher Ed; the DOE’s letter noted that the commission has “an enormous public responsibility as gatekeepers of federal student aid.” Critics fear that the government is “trying to weaponize the accreditor to get the institution to bend to its will.”
Trump Escalates Attack on Columbia by Threatening Its Accreditation (NY Times) – 6/3/25
Enhanced TOEFL iBT To Be Launched January 2026
Educational Testing Service (ETS) announced forthcoming major changes to its TOEFL iBT test – as well as more cosmetic shifts that have already gone into effect. The smaller shifts include in-house proctors to provide support for testers, AI-assisted identity verification, and simplified testing workflow. Full test refinements will be live for at-home and in-person testers starting January 2026:
- Reading and Listening sections will shift to an adaptive design
- Content will be modified to focus on “modern, equitable topics”
- A 1–6 banded scoring scale will be added – in addition to the current 0–120 scale
- Test center audio equipment will be updated: centers will provide “state-of-the-art custom stereophones”
- Scores will be available within 72 hours; currently students receive predicted Reading and Listening scores immediately, while full scores are available within 4-8 days after the test
- The registration process will be “simplified”
Takeaways:
The TOEFL iBT is the most widely accepted English-Language proficiency in the U.S. These changes will mark the second time the test has undergone a major shift in the last five years, with the current shortened version of the test launched in 2023. According to the ETS press release, “These (new) updates are designed to make the TOEFL experience fairer and more accessible for students, without compromising the academic integrity and reliability trusted by institutions for over six decades.” Practice materials are expected to be released in July of this year.
TOEFL iBT Transforms for Today’s Global Learners (ETS) – 5/29/25
Written by
Zachary Adler
Since 2010, Zach has been helping students achieve their college readiness goals, specializing in all sections of the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and SHSAT. Prior to joining Onsen, Zach worked for a global investment firm, as well as in various roles in the education space. He has served as a youth mentor and has run college readiness information sessions for students in under-resourced communities. Additionally, Zach is a writer and filmmaker. He is an International Baccalaureate scholar and a graduate of Boston University.