Times Higher Education

A first-person essay argues that American higher education's structures, schedules, and costs were designed around traditional students and leave nontraditional learners behind. The author describes how older students, working parents, and career changers struggle with systems that assume full-time enrollment and conventional life paths, calling for institutions to redesign support around the realities of today's student population.

Times Higher Education has announced the results of its World University Rankings 2027. The annual league table compares thousands of universities worldwide on measures including teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income, and is closely watched by institutions, students and governments. Universities that rise or fall sharply typically draw attention from academics and higher education commentators as the rankings influence reputations and recruitment.

Lindsey Johnson, president and CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association, is calling for greater transparency and data reporting around college costs and student outcomes. The statement urges colleges to disclose clearer information on what students pay and the results they achieve, a debate that touches directly on student lending and higher education accountability.