Top Ten Higher Education Policy Issues For 2016

As higher education issues command more attention this year from presidential candidates on the campaign trail, governors and state legislators are also expected to address an array of public policy issues affecting students and institutions of higher education in the upcoming legislative sessions. This brief provides a synopsis of the higher education issues most likely to generate legislative activity in 2016.

Last year’s legislative outcomes, along with gubernatorial statements, newspaper articles, and economic projections, informed this ninth annual iteration of the Top Ten. While many of the topics listed are recurrent, state political, economic and policy realities remain dynamic, leading to a host of new challenges and opportunities for policymakers seeking to address these issues. Other items, such as student loan refinancing and debt management, reflect emerging concerns that could occupy more legislative agendas in the months and years ahead.

Authored by the Thomas L. Harnisch and Kati Lebioda