There is a lot happening in the college admissions world right now, from new federal data requirements to important FAFSA updates that could affect your financial aid package. Here is what families should know heading into this week.
Federal Government Orders Colleges to Report Expanded Admissions Data
President Trump has directed the Department of Education to collect new admissions data from colleges, including information on applicants’ race, sex, test scores, and GPA. Schools that do not comply could face consequences under federal student aid law. This move signals continued federal scrutiny of how colleges select their incoming classes, and families should expect more transparency around admissions criteria in the months ahead.
Source: American Council on Education (ACE) – https://www.acenet.edu/News-Room/Pages/Trump-Orders-Colleges-to-Submit-New-Admissions-Data.aspx
Harvard’s Legacy Admissions Policies Now Under Federal Civil Rights Investigation
The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into Harvard University’s legacy admissions practices, which give preference to applicants whose family members attended the school. This follows the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down race-conscious admissions and reflects growing pressure on elite colleges to justify preferences that critics say favor wealthy, well-connected families. Families of first-generation students and those without alumni ties may want to watch how this investigation unfolds, as it could affect policies at other schools as well.
Source: PBS NewsHour – https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/college-admissions
Early Decision Now Fills the Majority of Seats at Selective Colleges
Early Decision and Early Action programs now account for 40 to 70 percent of freshman classes at many selective universities, and students who apply early are admitted at rates two to four times higher than those who apply in the regular round. This makes the fall of senior year more important than ever for students targeting competitive schools. Families should plan to have essays, test scores, and school lists finalized by early October to take full advantage of early application windows.
Source: College Match Point – https://www.collegematchpoint.com/early-application-surge-what-the-fall-2026-admissions-trends-reveal
Standardized Testing Is Making a Strong Comeback at Top Universities
Harvard, Dartmouth, Stanford, and other highly selective schools have reinstated standardized testing requirements, and the number of students submitting scores rose by 10 percent in the 2025-2026 application cycle. Students who previously planned to apply test-optional to these schools will now need to factor test preparation into their junior year timelines. At the same time, colleges are using AI tools to detect AI-generated essay content, making authentic, student-written writing more critical than ever as a differentiator.
Source: PD Admissions Consulting – https://www.pdadmissionsconsulting.com/post/college-admissions-in-2026-seven-trends-every-family-needs-to-understand
2026-27 FAFSA Brings New Asset Exclusions That Could Help Many Families
The updated 2026-27 FAFSA now excludes grandparent-owned and sibling 529 college savings plans from financial aid calculations, which could improve aid eligibility for families who have used these accounts to save for college. Small family-owned businesses with 100 or fewer employees and family farms where the family resides are also no longer counted as assets in the Student Aid Index formula. Families who were previously penalized for these assets should review their financial aid situation carefully, as these changes may result in a more favorable aid package.
Source: Morehouse College Financial Aid – https://morehouse.edu/aid/financial-aid/fafsa/2026-2027-fafsa-changes
Have questions about how any of this affects your student’s college journey? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Sadia — no commitment, just a conversation.
