Colleges Expect Less Red Tape Under Trump, More Input on Policies

Inside Higher Ed

Jessica Blake

January 14, 2025

As Donald Trump returns to the White House, academics have expressed a catalog of concerns about the vulnerability of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, student loan forgiveness policies and academic freedom. But while the president-elect is expected to ramp up scrutiny of academia, policy experts say that certain executive actions could benefit colleges and universities as employers.

The potential rewards for institutions will vary, with private for-profit institutions likely to see the greatest gains. The incoming administration is expected to roll back regulations for colleges and universities, which should provide some benefits. Institutions also could see a boost if the administration changes union or compensation rules. Plus, the protection of certain tax credits could benefit colleges that provide health insurance and promote charitable giving.

“We forget sometimes that institutions are major employers. In many cases, they may be the largest employer in the state,” said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education. “In the labor and employment area, this administration coming in is likely to be more favorable to institutions than to employees.”

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