College Costs, Accreditation Likely Top Focus for Congress

"Lowering college costs, boosting accountability and reforming accreditation will likely be at the top of congressional Republicans' to-do list for 2026. But as public approval ratings for President Trump continue to decline and midterm elections loom, higher education policy experts across the political spectrum say congressional conservatives could be running out of time. The push for more affordable higher education has been gaining momentum for years,"

""The Republican majority is very conscious that it may be on the clock, and this would argue for trying to move rapidly and get things done," said Rick Hess, a senior fellow and director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank. "But with the narrow and fractious House majority, the way the budget is going to chew up time going into January and the pressure on the Senate to get judges confirmed,"

Congressional Republicans plan to prioritize lowering college costs, boosting accountability and reforming accreditation in 2026. Republicans enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut taxes for wealthy individuals, increased taxes for elite universities, and overhauled the student loan system. Lawmakers then focused on federal budget disagreements that produced a record 43-day government shutdown. When higher education appeared on the agenda, the emphasis centered on holding colleges accountable for students' return on investment. A looming Jan. 31 funding deadline, a narrow House majority, and Senate confirmation pressures will constrain time for additional higher-education legislation.

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