Us Education

Harvard tightens grading norms making it harder for undergrads to earn A's

At Harvard University, earning straight A's is about to get harder. Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that it would limit the number of A grades awarded to undergraduates, adopting one of the most ambitious efforts by a major university to curb grade inflation. The decision was made by faculty vote earlier this month. The move comes after top grades became so common that some Harvard faculty argued they no longer reliably distinguished exceptional work. More than 60% of all grades awarded to undergraduates in recent years were in the A range, according to university data cited by faculty members who supported the measure. Harvard is not the first elite university to confront grade inflation. Princeton University adopted a policy in 2004 to limit A-range grades to 35% of those awarded, though it abandoned the system a decade later after criticism that it disadvantaged students in competition for jobs and graduate school admission. Nationally, grade-point ...

Fewer students abroad? Indian families spend $3.7 bn on overseas education

According to Reserve Bank of India data, Indian families and students spent $3.71 billion in 2025 on international education - an increase of 31% compared to $2.83 billion in 2018.

US colleges received $5.2 bn in foreign funds in 2025, shows govt data

The Education Department released the data Wednesday, touting a new website it says is aimed at bringing more transparency to foreign funding at US colleges

Is the American Dream fading? Foreign students dip by 5,000, grads by 6%

New enrolment data shows international student numbers fell in autumn 2025, with graduate programmes taking the hardest hit amid visa pressure

Yale, US universities plan student loan options as Trump caps grad debt

Graduate student loans account for half of the outstanding $1.7 trillion federal student loan portfolio, according to the Education Department

Trump admin recalls education dept workers to tackle civil rights backlog

The Trump administration is bringing back dozens of Education Department staffers who were slated to be laid off, saying their help is needed to tackle a mounting backlog of discrimination complaints from students and families. The staffers had been on administrative leave while the department faced lawsuits challenging layoffs in the agency's Office for Civil Rights, which investigates possible discrimination in the nation's schools and colleges. But in a Friday letter, department officials ordered the workers back to duty starting Dec. 15 to help clear civil rights cases. A department spokesperson confirmed the move, saying the government still hoped to lay off the staffers to shrink the size of the department. "The Department will continue to appeal the persistent and unceasing litigation disputes concerning the Reductions in Force, but in the meantime, it will utilize all employees currently being compensated by American taxpayers," Julie Hartman said in a statement. In the let

Northwestern reaches $75 mn deal with Trump admin to restore funding

Northwestern, which has campuses in Evanston, Illinois, and Chicago, had been crippled financially by the federal freeze and was self-financing its research, paying millions of dollars each month

Why Trump is right in saying foreign students are good business for the US

Each year, they contribute billions of dollars to the country's economy and create jobs in various sectors

Study in Germany, Ireland or US, UK? What foreign students are now picking

A report shows students moving away from Canada, US, UK and Australia due to higher fees and proof-of-funds rules, with Germany, Ireland, France and Spain emerging as more affordable destinations

Trump's wind-down of Education Department leaves schools fearing disruption

The Trump administration says its plan to dismantle the Education Department offers a fix for the nation's lagging academics a solution that could free schools from the strictures of federal influence. Yet to some school and state officials, the plan appears to add more bureaucracy, with no clear benefit for students who struggle with math or reading. Instead of being housed in a single agency, much of the Education Department's work will now be spread across four other federal departments. For President Donald Trump, it's a step toward fully closing the department and giving states more power over schooling. Yet many states say it will complicate their role as intermediaries between local schools and the federal government. The plan increases bureaucracy fivefold, Washington state's education chief said, undoubtedly creating confusion and duplicity for educators and families. His counterpart in California said the plan is clearly less efficient and invites disruption. Maryland's .

Over 3.6 lakh Indians study in US: What draws them despite tough visa rules

India remained the largest source of international students in the US in 2024-25, with over 360,000 enrolments, even as early 2025 brought a dip in new students amid visa delays and shifting policies

Cornell eyes $1 billion bond sale amid Trump's higher education squeeze

The Ivy League university expects to price the bonds as soon as Nov 17 and plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes

Harvard admits too many students getting A's amid grade inflation

The report's author, Harvard undergraduate dean Amanda Claybaugh, urged faculty to curtail the practice of awarding top scores to the majority of students, saying it undermines academic culture

US sees 20% fall in foreign student arrivals in August, 45% drop from India

International student arrivals to the United States fell by 19% in August 2025, with the steepest decline from India, as visa delays and new travel bans under Trump disrupted university enrolment

Arrivals of international students to US dropped almost fifth in Aug: Data

The number of international student arrivals in the US dropped by nearly a fifth in August as American universities started the new academic year, according to federal data. The dip is the latest sign of a hit to colleges' international enrolment as the Trump administration ratchets up scrutiny of foreign students. International visitors arriving to the US on student visas declined 19 per cent in August compared with the same month in 2024, according to the preliminary data released by the National Travel and Tourism Office. The numbers declined also in June and July but August is the summer month that typically sees the most international student arrivals 313,138 this year. As the federal government has clamped down on student visas, industry groups have warned of international enrolment declines that threaten school budgets and American colleges' standing in the world. While the full extent of the change remains to be seen, the new data suggests a turnaround in international ..

US 5% cap on foreign students may hit Indian undergraduates the hardest

US cap on foreign students Visa: The White House proposal to limit foreign undergraduates to 15% per campus and 5% per country has raised worries among Indian students and education experts

Cap foreign students at 15%, max 5% per country: Trump to US universities

Trump administration memo orders US colleges to cap foreign undergraduates at 15%, linking compliance to federal grants and penalties

Yale to cut costs, offer retirement perks as endowment tax tops $300 mn

The New Haven school, the richest private US university after Harvard, faces an 8 per cent tax on annual investment gains from its endowment - up from 1.4 per cent

End work permits for foreign students: Republicans after H-1B visa revamp

Republicans want DHS to end work permits for foreign students, putting OPT at risk. Indians, the largest group, fear losing career pathways in the US

Trump admin threatens further sanctions on Harvard in escalating fight

The Trump administration escalated its fight with Harvard University on Friday, placing the Ivy League school under extra financial oversight and threatening sanctions if it does not provide additional data on its admissions practices. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the department was placing Harvard under heightened cash monitoring, forcing the school to use its own money to pay out financial aid for students and then seek reimbursement from the government. She also threatened further enforcement action if the school does not turn over records to prove it no longer is considering race in admissions. Harvard did not respond to a request for comment. The moves are part of the administration's crackdown on Harvard as President Donald Trump seeks to eradicate what he describes as liberal bias at colleges around the country. Since taking office, Trump has used the Education Department in unprecedented ways, cutting federal research grants for schools that do not accede to his .