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One Big Bill, Three Big Changes: What TRIO Professionals Need to Know About Low-Income Students
At the 2026 Student Financial Aid Research Network (SFARN) Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, my presentation “One Big Bill Impacts on Graduate Education Access for Low-Income Students” examined how the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed into law on July 4, 2025, is reshaping the way low-income students finance graduate school. Here’s what…
The U.S. Degree Attainment Paradox: Progress Amid Declining Global Standing
November 24, 2026,
Across all countries participating in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Education at a Glance surveys, the proportion of tertiary degree holders with a bachelor’s degree has been increasing over time. The United States has also increased its tertiary degree attainment, but across all metrics, its relative standing in degree attainment has declined over time. This presentation outlines why the United States’ relative standing has decreased and illustrates why implementing a national policy to increase the tertiary attainment rate is challenging in the U.S. context.
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