College affordability remains front and center as elite universities expand aid, more families complete the FAFSA early than ever before, and universities struggle with the downstream effects of federal funding shifts. Meanwhile, new research raises uncomfortable questions about who really benefits from college financial aid.
Here’s a quick look at the most important stories shaping higher education and student finances this week on February 6, 2026.
🎓 Top headlines at a glance
- FAFSA completions for the Class of 2026 are on the rise well before last year.
- Yale expands free tuition to families with incomes up to $200,000.
- Universities report budget pressures after a year of federal policy changes.
- New research questions whether college aid is reaching low-income students.
1. FAFSA completions for the Class of 2026 Surge
according to New dataFAFSA completion processes are run by high school seniors More than 50% above last year’s pace. Nearly 1.6 million applications had been filed for the 2026-2027 aid year by late January, driven by the earlier FAFSA release and a smoother application process.
High completion rates increase the likelihood that students will receive federal, state, and foundation aid—particularly need-based grants.
➡️ impact: Filing the FAFSA early improves access to limited aid dollars. The increase indicates that families are adjusting to previous FAFSA upheavals and taking college finances more seriously early in the process.
2. Yale University expands free tuition for families with incomes of less than $200,000
Yale University has announced a major expansion of its undergraduate financial aid program. Beginning in the fall of 2026, students from families will earn Less than $200,000 They will qualify for free classes, while those earning less than $100,000 will still cover the full cost of attendance.
The change places Yale among a growing group of elite universities that are expanding aid eligibility to attract more middle-income families as sticker prices approach six figures.
➡️ impact: While elite colleges enroll a small percentage of students overall, their financial aid policies affect broader expectations about affordability – and highlight the widening gap between institutions with large endowments and those without.
3. Universities announce budget pressures after federal policy shifts
Colleges across the country are I’m starting to feel the financial impact of federal policy changes. Many major universities announced Tighten the budget, freeze hiring, or cut programsciting uncertainty over federal research funding and regulatory shifts.
Institutions with large research portfolios appear particularly vulnerable, raising concerns about ripple effects on graduate funding, campus recruitment, and long-term teaching decisions.
➡️ impact: Budget pressure at large universities can translate into higher costs or fewer services for students. Financial pressures at institutions often first appear behind the scenes—before families see them reflected in tuition or fees.
4. New Research Questions Who does College Aid really serve?
A Analysis of new policies It indicates that an increasing share of institutional grant aid is being used Recruiting high-income studentsInstead of reducing costs for low-income families. Researchers argue that competition for admission is reshaping how college financial aid is distributed, even as concerns about affordability exacerbate.
The findings raise questions about whether aid funds are used to improve access to services or to manage institutional finances.
➡️ impact: Families often assume that scholarships flow primarily to the neediest students. In fact, aid strategies vary widely from school to school, making it difficult to judge true out-of-pocket costs without carefully examining net price data.
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