Higher Education Reform Initiative
Develop and advance higher education policy reforms at the state and national levels.
Policy Priorities
Reform America’s Dysfunctional Higher Education Accreditation System
Rethink Public Financing of Postsecondary Study to Encourage Competition and Accountability
Open New Pathways to Family-Sustaining Careers
Combat the Politicization of Higher Education and Encourage Viewpoint Diversity on U.S. Campuses
Protect Students’ and Professors’ First Amendment Rights
Universities are among the most important institutions in American society—responsible for advancing science, fostering economic growth, transmitting a cultural inheritance to the next generation, and preparing young people for citizenship and family-sustaining careers. Unfortunately, although U.S. universities are lavishly funded by state and federal taxpayers, many of them are failing to live up to their important public responsibilities.
The America First Policy Institute’s Higher Education Reform Initiative works to develop and advance policy reforms at the state and national levels. We envision a competitive higher education marketplace that does a better job of graduating students with in-demand skills and credentials at a reasonable cost to families and taxpayers. Universities should also prepare graduates for citizenship and lifelong learning through rigorous academic programs delivered in an environment that fosters free inquiry and a wide range of viewpoints.
Team
Latest
Expert Insights
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February 23, 2026
How a Compact Restores Public Trust in American Higher Education
Americans have lost faith in their institutions of higher education. According to Gallup, only 42% of Americans expressed confidence in American higher education in 2025, down from 57% in 2015 and up only slightly from 36% in 2023 and 2024. Findings from the Pew Research Center confirm this trend: a 2025 poll found 70% of Americans believe higher education is “going in the wrong direction,” up from 56% in 2020. Only 28% think higher education is “going in the right direction,” down from 38% in 2020.
News Release
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February 17, 2026
AFPI Releases New Civics Education Research Report Ahead of America 250
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has released a new research report titled, “Restoring Civics Education to Revitalize our Republic,” in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Statement
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February 6, 2026
AFPI Applauds U.S. Department of Education Actions to Protect Student Data and Election Integrity
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) issued the following statement from Thomas Lane, Director of Election Integrity, on the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to launch Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) investigations into Tufts University and the National Student Clearinghouse amid allegations that student data was improperly shared with third parties, including political organizations, to influence elections.
Issue Brief
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January 6, 2026
A New Era for College Sports: The Saving College Sports Proposal Outshines the SCORE and SAFE Acts
College sports stand at an existential crossroads. This uniquely American institution has enriched and shaped American culture for over a century. It has given us reasons to cheer for our student athletes, schools, communities, and country. It has developed many of our nation’s leaders by cultivating grit, determination, and resilience. The impact of college sports on social mobility is unmatched throughout the world. Through talent, hard work, and perseverance, college sports have helped generations of young Americans to achieve their own American Dream.
Op-Ed
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December 17, 2025
Trump’s Agreement with Northwestern Is a Warning to Higher Education
Given the nonstop pace of the Trump administration news cycle, it would be easy to assume that all has gone quiet on the university front. Early enforcement actions to address rampant antisemitism at Columbia University and Harvard University dominated the headlines for months and offered university leaders a stark choice: accept a tough but fair civil rights settlement or risk institutional ruin.
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