Some universities across the country have begun exploring 3-year college degree structures to potentially save students time and money.  In a recent article from Stateline, the editorial arm of the Pew Research Center, colleges in different states have begun exploring ways to adjust courses to get students out the door faster and cheaper. The programs are being tested in both private and public institutions, some actually by legislative mandate. According to the article, more than a dozen…

The U.S. Department of Education begins the first phase of upgrades to the federal student aid application portal this October. Full access for all students is expected before the end of the year. According to a recent press release, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) announced that the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be launched through a new process. A limited beta group of students and institutions will vet this new process…

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives.  Programs to enable, and encourage, public high school students to dually enroll with their community college to gain momentum toward a college pathway were part of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Amidst the Blueprint roll-out, the…