The U.S. Department of Education will offer researchers new access to federal data for studies that "can inform and advance policies and practices that support students’ postsecondary success and strengthen repayment outcomes for borrowers," the White House announced last week. Read more...

The Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success, a group of 93 leading colleges introducing an alternative to the Common Application this summer, on Friday issued the essay prompts to be used on the first application. Read more...

Overall college affordability has worsened in 45 US states since 2008, creating a significant financial burden for students of modest economic means, writes Paul Fain for Inside Higher Ed. Read more...

By Jon Marcus. For years, popular rankings of universities and colleges have been blamed for pushing universities and colleges to shift financial aid away from needy students to wealthier graduates of top private and suburban high schools who can help them raise their standings. More...

By Susan Stewart. One of Nicola Sturgeon’s earliest actions as First Minister was to set up a group of experts to look at how to make higher education in Scotland fairer and more accessible. The Commission on Widening Access, chaired by Dame Ruth Silver, was tasked with making recommendations on action the Government could take to ensure young people from disadvantaged areas will have an equal chance of going to university as their peers from better-off backgrounds. More...

By Charles Dull - EvoLLLution. Higher education serves an immensely diverse audience with a range of needs and priorities, which is not captured by studies that seek to directly compare traditional and online delivery modes. More...