Something is broken in American higher education, and this year Washington can finally do something about it.
This week, congressional leaders announced their policy priorities for 2026, and for the first time in years, higher education is near the top of the list. From student loan reform to an accreditation overhaul, lawmakers are signaling that the days of blank checks and political protection for bloated institutions may finally be over.
They are right to take action. For decades, many colleges and universities have enjoyed massive taxpayer support without any accountability. Tuition has skyrocketed, administrative costs have ballooned, and too many graduates are leaving with crushing debt but no clear path forward.
As president of Southeastern University, I believe it is time to tailor higher education to what students actually need. That means affordable, targeted programs that prepare them for real life, not just lectures. It means rethinking accreditation systems that protect entrenched interests. And it means supporting schools that provide hands-on learning, character development, and real returns for students and taxpayers alike.
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The traditional model no longer works. The average cost of a four-year college has more than doubled in the past generation. Student loan debt now exceeds $1.7 trillion. And many employers still say graduates lack essential workplace skills, including communication, critical thinking and basic reliability.
At the same time, accreditation bodies have created a system that favors conformity over innovation. They prevent emerging and faith-based institutions from competing while shielding traditional schools from reform. The result is less competition, more ideological groupthink and fewer options for families looking for something different. The system is built to serve institutions, not students. That has to change. Encouragingly, some accreditors, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), under its new leadership, are beginning to push back against this standard and promote innovation that truly benefits students.
Accountability does not mean more federal red tape. It means asking basic, common-sense questions: Are students graduating on time? Do they find meaningful work or service opportunities? Are they growing in responsibility, purpose and leadership?
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We must reward schools that provide high-quality, low-cost education. We must open the door so that trade schools, Christian universities, and non-traditional programs can thrive without being punished by outdated standards.
The future of American higher education will not be saved by doubling down on debt and bureaucracy. It will be saved by bold leadership that believes in affordability, responsibility and the dignity of every student’s calling. (iStock)
At Southeastern University, we have built a model that combines career clarity, experiential learning, and a foundation of Christian leadership. We partner with employers, ministries, and community leaders so that students gain real-world experience before they ever cross the graduation stage. We do this while keeping our tuition among the lowest in our category.
This is not a theory; it works. And we are not the only ones. Across the country, mission-driven colleges are proving that it is possible to educate the whole person without burdening students with excessive debt or ideological pressure.
This is a rare window for change. Students have higher demands. Families lose trust. And now Congress is finally asking the right questions.
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But it will take courage to persevere. The same institutions that helped create this crisis will be the loudest defenders of the status quo. They will argue that reform is dangerous, that oversight is political, and that any challenge to the current system is an attack on higher education itself.
It’s not. It is a defense of what higher education was always intended to be: a path to truth, service, and opportunity.
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The future of American higher education will not be saved by doubling down on debt and bureaucracy. It will be saved by bold leadership that believes in affordability, responsibility and the dignity of every student’s calling.
Congress is right to act. Now they have to finish the job and put the students first.
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