President Trump Advocates for Reform of Higher Education Accreditation Standards

In a sweeping order issued on April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump criticized the current accreditation system for higher education in the United States, pointing out a significant failure in quality control among accredited institutions. The President argued that about 64% of students nationally graduated within six years as of 2020, a concerning statistic that he connected to an oversaturation of low-quality education programs that burden students with debt without delivering adequate returns on investment. More startling, he highlighted that nearly 25% of bachelor's degrees and over 40% of master's degrees result in negative returns, suggesting that students are paying exorbitant costs for degrees that don’t yield substantial financial benefits. The order specifically targets accreditors for their alleged focus on 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DEI) standards, which Trump claims force institutions into adopting what he termed 'unlawful discriminatory practices.' He pointed out that bodies such as the American Bar Association and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education require schools to demonstrate a commitment to DEI, which he argues contradicts legal standards set by recent Supreme Court decisions. The order outlines plans for reform, instructing the Secretary of Education to revise accreditation processes to ensure that institutions must offer high-quality, non-discriminatory educational programs. The reforms aim to enhance accountability for accreditors and ensure that they prioritize student outcomes over what Trump refers to as 'compelling adoption of discriminatory ideology.' Trump emphasizes that new standards would lessen barriers for institutions seeking accreditation while promoting diversity among faculty based on intellectual merit rather than demographic quotas. Reactions to this order have been mixed; supporters assert that it empowers students and seeks to improve educational quality, while critics view it as a dismantling of important diversity initiatives designed to improve equity in education. The proposed reforms may steer higher education policy into a contentious political sphere, raising questions about the future of DEI practices in American academia.