Third Way Education

The Department of Education and Negotiators Agree: A Narrow Definition of Professional Programs Supports Responsible Borrowing Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.

New grad loan limits aren’t cutting access. They fix a broken system. The final definition of professional programs covers 440,000+ students, nearly 40,000 more than before. ED should hold the line and honor the negotiated deal. ⤵️

Financial Aid Awareness Month Throughout the month of February, the higher education community celebrates Financial Aid Awareness Month, in an effort to provide crucial information to students and families about access to…

College is an investment in your future. 💰This #FinAidFeb, weigh the costs of borrowing against the potential long-term benefits of a college degree. 🔎

ED Releases Rule on Loan Limits for Public Comment The rule is slated to take effect July 1. However, significant pushback is anticipated from Congress and higher ed groups in the weeks to come.

ED released proposals to overhaul grad ed financing for public comment. The plans move closer to loan caps & defining covered programs. These categories aren’t about value. They’re guardrails to limit debt & keep tuition in check. More from @insidehighered.com ⤵️

Education Dept. Eyes Rewrite of Accreditation Rules ED officials have said for months that they want to tackle the regulations governing accreditors. A Monday announcement offers more specifics on their agenda.

As accreditation reform takes shape, Emily Rounds points to a way forward on student outcomes: accreditors should “work with its institutions to set benchmarks for continuous improvement.” More from @jessicablake.bsky.social ( @insidehighered.com ) buff.ly/C83vKqb

Q&A: Higher Ed Accreditation Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.

Next up in the neg reg series: accreditation. Let’s get back to basics and unpack what it actually means for institutions, students, and taxpayers. ⤵️

Education Department Tries To Delay Student Loan Forgiveness For 170,000 Borrowers On Cusp Of Key Deadline The Education Department filed a last minute request to extend the time window to process student loan forgiveness applications, just days before a key deadline.

ED is asking to delay forgiveness for 170,000 borrowers from the 2022 Borrower Defense settlement, citing backlogs & limited capacity. Cuts that reduced ED staff by nearly 50% make the challenge worse. With Wednesday’s deadline, here is what’s at stake.⚠️ buff.ly/WHAj6EG

On International Day of Education, we celebrate youth shaping the future of learning. Gen Z values higher ed but worries about rising costs & student debt. Listening to young people means policies that deliver affordability, transparency, & real outcomes. #EducationDay #HigherEd

Negotiators Reach Consensus on Accountability Framework Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.

ED recently hosted sessions on the new earnings threshold, and our policy advisor Emily Rounds was there every day to follow along. Want the full recap? Read Emily’s latest blog🔎:

The OBBBA may spark debate, but it also creates opportunities for students. Making the most of this bill to boost higher ed value is a bipartisan imperative. Hear from our director, Michelle Dimino, on making this bill work for students, in a panel hosted by @insidehighered.com 🗣️

ED is finalizing how the earnings threshold will work. It is not perfect, but it is a meaningful step toward stronger accountability and transparency in higher ed and rebuilding trust in the system. Read more about the process ⬇️ buff.ly/u4qYUpW

We're hiring at Third Way! Are you a health care wonk? Come be out newest Deputy Director for Health Care www.thirdway.org/careers#depu...

Pell Grants Will Soon Help Students Pay for Job Training Programs But a slew of rules intended to protect students and taxpayers, combined with a rapid implementation timeline, could mean relatively few courses get approved for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Rules for short-term Pell Grants need stronger guardrails to protect students. “There’s just a lot we don’t know about what financial returns students will get in the labor market by pursuing a short-term program,” says @bencecil.bsky.social. More from Money 📰
buff.ly/A7PVQci

Higher Ed Policy Jobs Homepage Higher Ed Policy Jobs

Looking for your next career move in the new year? Here are some of the latest additions to our higher ed job board!
🔷Program Asst., PNPI
🔷Research Analyst, National Student Clearinghouse
🔷Senior Project Assoc., ACCT
Check out more or submit your own at higheredpolicyjobs.org.

All Eyes on Accountability: AHEAD Committee Negotiated Rulemaking Recap Day 5 Happy final day of negreg to those who celebrate! Today, negotiators hashed out the details of revoking Pell Grant eligibility for some low-earning programs and came to consensus on the drafted text. ...

ICYMI - Negotiators reached consensus on new accountability rules tying federal funding to earnings outcomes. Programs that repeatedly fail could lose loan access, and institutions dominated by those programs could risk Pell eligibility. Read more below. 🔽 www.linkedin.com/pulse/all-ey...

Earning Their Keep: Better Alternatives Abound Near Programs That Fail the Earnings Threshold Default description

Students still have strong paths forward. Even with the new earnings threshold, most programs meet the standard, and those that do not often have nearby alternatives that lead to better outcomes. Learn more. 👇

Financing Graduate Training for the Next Generation Default description

Grad PLUS is gone. What comes next matters. Our policy menu shows what works:
➡️ State loans tied to workforce needs
➡️ Guardrails for private lending
➡️Outcomes-based financing
➡️Employer-funded training
➡️More grants & pay-it-forward models

Read more.

Some worry the earnings threshold will limit access, but 83% of failing programs have an alternative nearby. The data is clear.🔎 Dive into the findings. ⬇️ buff.ly/MWCCW4v

The 101 on Negotiated Rulemaking Have you ever wondered how the Department of Education makes rules for financial aid? It all begins with negotiated rulemaking sessions—or "neg reg" for short—when the Department brings together…

Welcome to the new year and back to negotiated rulemaking as ED takes on accountability measures. Want a quick breakdown of how neg reg works? Our latest animated video has you covered. 💡

Financing Graduate Training for the Next Generation Default description

Grad ed financing is entering a period of change. If policymakers get it right, we can build a system that delivers value for students & taxpayers. Explore options to redesign grad lending in latest from @michelledimino.bsky.social, @stephmhall.bsky.social & @emiliarounds.bsky.social

Next year marks a major shift in grad education financing. Ending unlimited federal borrowing by eliminating Grad PLUS protects students and taxpayers and moves us toward a sustainable system. How can policymakers fill the gaps? Read more→ buff.ly/HUgyxKS

ICYMI: We sat down with Viviann Anguiano, Managing Director of Higher Education Policy at @americanprogress.bsky.social, for a conversation about what students are facing amidst big policy moves this year, and how state and institutional support can help bridge gaps. 🎙️https://buff.ly/aDtvt3V

Join our team! We’re stepping back into the K–12 space and looking for someone ready to do the work. If you or someone you know is a strong fit, apply today. 💼 buff.ly/tla3tz2

OPINION: Workforce Pell can lead to good jobs for students if they get the support needed for long-term success - The Hechinger Report Next summer federal funds will be available for Workforce Pell, which extends federal aid for career-focused education and training programs with the expectation that they will lead to “good-paying…

Workforce Pell will only work if we get it right. @mdrc-news.bsky.social argues that short term training must come with advising, wraparound supports, and lessons from the @cunyasap.bsky.social model. The evidence is there. Read why it matters.

How We Got Here: The Rise and Fall of the Grad PLUS Loan Program Default description

OBBBA reshapes graduate education. Grad PLUS loans are gone, ending nearly unlimited borrowing and forcing a rethink of student debt. ⬇️
www.thirdway.org/memo/how-we-...

The 101 on Borrower Defense Students invest time, money, and trust into earning a degree—often taking out student loans expecting an earnings boost to help pay them off once they’ve graduated. But when an institution misleads…

Did you know that nearly a million people have had their loans discharged because they were sold on failed promises from a school? That's why Borrower Defense exists. Watch our latest video to learn how the program works. 🎞️

Short Term Pell 101 There is very little data on the efficacy of short-term certificate programs in higher education. This is a collection of resources about the need for more data on short-term programs, to ensure…

Workforce Pell Grants for short-term credentials may seem like a commonsense policy, but w/o proper guardrails, we could be sending federal dollars to programs that leave their students worse off than if they never attended. More ➡️

The new low-earnings indicator on the FAFSA helps students see real outcomes before they enroll. Greater transparency means students can make informed choices that lead to better outcomes.🎓 More from @michelledimino.bsky.social buff.ly/usAl9Zn

New Deep Dive: Making OBBBA Implementation Work for Students The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the biggest shake-up to federal higher education policy in more than a decade. And while the bill passed on partisan lines, implementing it to maximize student…

Stronger accountability and curbing excessive graduate borrowing have been bipartisan priorities for over a decade, says Michelle Dimino. Learn more about how the controversial OBBBA could reshape higher ed:

The Pell Grant was intended to help low-income students reach their highest potential. The Department of Education and negotiators must ensure its continued legacy and implement guardrails that will help Workforce Pell meet its highest potential as well. ⬇️ buff.ly/dy2ys82

With more than 4,000 colleges nationwide, students have plenty of options. When the earnings threshold takes effect a small share of programs will lose federal loan access, but students can still choose from thousands of others in the same field and area. ⬇️ buff.ly/jDWBcS8