Third Way Education

1 in 4 men under 35 say they're lonely. 1 in 4 kids is growing up without a dad at home. Kids need coaches. Schools need teachers. Communities need men who show up. Two new bills make it easier. More in our statement⤵️ www.thirdway.org/press/third-...

What’s next for the graduate vs. professional loan fight? The coming months could determine how new loan limits are interpreted and applied. Our latest blog breaks down the legal battles, implementation challenges, and potential role for Congress. 🔎

📱RPU students get their news through social media, like most young adults. But the stories they see online don’t always reflect their reality. Our latest student poll explores what media gets right about college life and where it misses ➡️ buff.ly/KAYekxp

Becoming a licensed professional shouldn’t start with a financial hurdle. Our latest memo explores graduate-level apprenticeships that shift training costs from students alone to a shared investment among employers, institutions, and communities. ⬇️ buff.ly/KCa9ncg

ICYMI 👀: Our latest conversation explored what our new poll reveals about the experiences of students at regional public universities and why these institutions deserve more attention. Catch the replay: buff.ly/kf6QHAz

Check out the latest jobs on higheredpolicyjobs.org 💼 👉 Senior Editor, CCRC 👉 Associate II, Development, EdTrust 👉 Senior Research Associate (Higher Education & Workforce), Urban Institute Find your next opportunity or post one today!

TOMORROW: Don’t miss the conversation on what our latest student poll reveals about life at regional public universities. Hear directly from experts on the data about what students value, the challenges they face, and what comes next. Register here: bit.ly/RPUWebinar

More than a dozen states already offer graduate loan programs, and some are now looking to expand them in response to new federal loan caps, Emily Rounds told @nytimes.com. Read more about how states are stepping up to support graduate students⬇️ www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/y...

Less bureaucracy? More like more confusion. The House GOP's education package would transfer multiple ED programs to different federal agencies, creating a more confusing system for students, families, and schools. Read our full statement: www.thirdway.org/press/third-...

From affordability to belonging, RPU students are sharing what shapes their college experience. 💻 Join us next Tuesday for a panel discussion on what our latest student poll reveals about the role RPUs play in expanding opportunity. Register here: bit.ly/RPUWebinar

Our latest poll goes beyond the numbers. Hear directly from regional public university students about affordability, belonging, and the experiences shaping their path to a degree. Discover what students shared! 🗣️ buff.ly/8UlSPEa

The way students pay for graduate school has changed. As Grad PLUS comes to an end, our latest series examines innovative policy ideas to expand financing options, protect access, and build a more sustainable system for graduate education. Learn more: buff.ly/Kudpqec

What does the typical college experience really look like? Look to regional public universities, which educate nearly 70% of college students nationwide. Our latest poll reveals the experiences and challenges of the students behind the numbers. 🔗 buff.ly/8UlSPEa

Both sides of the aisle could agree that Grad PLUS wasn't "working in the most effective way possible to fund graduate education," says Ben Cecil. New grad loan caps could push institutions to rethink costs and improve affordability. More @chronicle.com ⬇️

Join us July 21 for a webinar diving into the results of our poll on RPU students. Moderated by Washington Monthly's Anne Kim, our panel will discuss what students told us and the role RPUs play in expanding access and opportunity. 👉 Register: bit.ly/RPUWebinar

It's been more than four years since cohort default rate (CDR) data was last collected, but new data is expected later this year. Our latest primer breaks down what CDR is, why it matters, and why it's an important measure of institutional accountability. Read more: buff.ly/8Hx65RT

A court intervened in ED’s new grad loan cap rules—but for now the rule still takes effect tomorrow. The legal status allows for programs to challenge, so we’ll see how they respond as implementation moves forward. More from @usatoday.com ➡️

Regional public universities educate most college students, yet rarely get the spotlight. Our latest poll shows RPUs deliver on affordability, flexibility, and belonging for millions of students across the country. 💡 🔗: buff.ly/6rRNG8g

An exclusive w/ @glastris.bsky.social ( @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social ) reveals what’s happening at RPUs, where access & opportunity meet for most students. RPUs deliver affordability, flexibility, & belonging, but students are still facing real challenges. ⬇️ washingtonmonthly.com/2026/06/26/r...

Advanced degrees should open doors—not be high-stakes gambles. Our new series explores policy solutions that can help preserve access to graduate education while improving accountability and outcomes. Check them out! ⬇️ buff.ly/EWkCNWy

We're proud to endorse the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026. Pell is the foundation of our financial aid system, but its purchasing power has not kept pace with rising college costs. Students need a Pell Grant that grows with the reality they face.

Happy 54th birthday to the Pell Grant 🎉 For decades, Pell has helped millions of students access higher ed. But its purchasing power has fallen behind. Hear from recipients about why investing in Pell remains critical for future generations. More at protectpell.com.

As Congress phases out Grad PLUS and imposes new borrowing limits, the conversation is just beginning. Our new series explores how graduate education can be financed in ways that protect students while preserving pathways to career advancement and mobility. 🔍 buff.ly/EWkCNWy

Federal scholarship tax credits differ from traditional private school vouchers: public school students can also receive scholarships. With thoughtful state design, they can bring new resources to students and support public education systems. Learn more: Learn more in our latest: buff.ly/HlbUqdS

A degree remains one of the clearest paths to economic mobility, but too many students never cross the finish line. The Postsecondary Student Success Act helps colleges scale proven student success strategies, and we're proud to endorse it. Read our statement: www.thirdway.org/press/statem...

🗣️The Pell Grant has a real impact on real students. Hear directly from recipients about how it helped them afford college, stay enrolled, and open doors they once thought were out of reach. Learn more at protectpell.com.

We are proud to endorse the Beginning Educator Mentorship and Retention Act and support investments that help the next generation of teachers and school leaders thrive.

We've added some fresh opportunities to our higher ed job board! Check out these few and explore more at higheredpolicyjobs.org. 💼 ➡️ Assoc. Director of Research, Institute for Higher Education Policy ➡️ State Policy Manager, @ncanetwork.bsky.social ➡️ VP of Development, Jobs for the Future

When institutions invest in students, results matter 📈. A new analysis, in partnership with Excelencia in Education, finds that Hispanic-Serving Institutions lead in economic mobility outcomes for low-income students. Read more: buff.ly/VGeFIm4

The Pell Grant is the foundation of our nation’s financial aid system, but today, it is being asked to do more with less. Congress must act to close the gap and protect the grant from continued funding shortfalls. Learn more at protectpell.com 💡

When graduates consistently leave programs and go on to earn low wages, something needs to change. An earnings test for institutions adds accountability by helping ensure students and taxpayers are better off. More in @washingtonpost.com : buff.ly/n3uvEIV

Federal scholarship tax credits could inject new funding into public schools, but only if they can compete with established private-school networks. Our newest memo lays out how states can help public-serving organizations become SGOs fast. 🔗: www.thirdway.org/memo/ensurin...

Over 7 million students each year rely on the Pell Grant to afford college. But with continued funding shortfalls, access to higher education could narrow for the students who need it most. Congress must act to protect Pell. Learn more at protectpell.com.

Accreditation reform can’t survive on regulatory whiplash. In collaboration with ACTA, we argue that lasting higher ed accountability must come from Congress, not shifting presidential agendas. ⬇️

Students deserve clear answers before they enroll. Debt-to-earnings data helps show whether graduates are actually earning enough to manage their student loans, bringing more accountability and transparency to higher ed. More in @insidehighered.com: buff.ly/ZZmZIOU

“Accreditors are being asked to take on more responsibilities, including politically sensitive ones,” said Emily Rounds. Critics warn the proposed overhaul could add complexity instead of clarity. Read more in @insidehighered.com:

The ASAP model doubled three-year community college graduation rates and is now helping students succeed at nearly 70 institutions across nine states. Your state could be next. Join an informational webinar on May 29 from 2–3 PM ET. Register here: buff.ly/vO9zSuD.

Quality assurance. Accountability. Value. Modernization. This memo lays out five bipartisan principles to guide accreditation reform. Real change belongs in Congress, not executive overreach. 🔗 www.thirdway.org/memo/five-bi...

This week, our friends at IHEP released resources on reimagining college admissions to expand opportunity for all students. The framework shares strategies for policymakers, colleges, admissions professionals, and researchers to expand access. Check out the video to learn more: buff.ly/U0wg6KZ

Round 2 of ED’s neg reg takes place this week with the AIM Committee. But innovation only works when quality stays at the center. Technology should support, not replace, the meaningful interaction students are promised w/ qualified faculty. ➡️ buff.ly/bg4m0im

No matter where you fall politically, higher ed needs a stronger quality assurance framework. But the Trump Administration’s push to change accreditation through regulation instead of statute risks prioritizing rhetoric over lasting reform. Read more: buff.ly/CFjn9bw

A college degree can open doors, boost lifetime earnings, and create new opportunities, but millions of Americans who started college still haven’t crossed the finish line. As workforce demands grow, supporting completion matters more than ever. 🎓 Learn more at www.college-completion.com

We’re proud to support the Student-Centered Enrollment Management Principles, which rethink enrollment practices. In partnership w/ @stradaeducation.bsky.social, these Principles were co-led by @aceducation.bsky.social, AACRO, @nacac.bsky.social, & @nasfaa.bsky.social. www.strada.org/news-insight...

Completing college is rarely a straight line. It is stops, starts, and persistence in between. What stands out most is the decision to finish. 🧑‍🎓 Read more about what earning a degree meant to these students and how they got there: buff.ly/Qcxha1D

College still matters, but pressure is rising for the system to deliver. Concerns about cost, debt, and whether the payoff matches the price are growing, even as the value of a degree remains widely recognized. 📚 More in our latest poll: buff.ly/i9vRY2R

Programs like CUNY ASAP show what happens when college completion is funded and followed through. Revisit our conversation with Dr. Constance Barnes of ( @cunyasap.bsky.social ) on replication, adaptation, and implementation in action. buff.ly/ERtGLH0

Weather’s warming up, and so are the opportunities. ☀️ Check out the latest at higheredpolicyjobs.org.

Did you know college completion isn’t just about getting in, it’s about getting through? 🎓 Behind every graduation rate is a mix of support, systems, and sometimes luck. Learn more at college-completion.com.

@educationwork.newamerica.org Future of Work has teamed up with non-profit newsroom Work Shift to launch a reporting fellowship to support place-based, in-depth journalism on the future of work for 10 mid-career storytellers. 📅 Apps due 7/24! https://go.newamerica.org/reporting-fellowship-2026-5

College completion is where access turns into real opportunity, and helping students finish matters just as much as helping them get in. #CollegeCompletionDay