Donald J. Trump is making one thing clear—if colleges want to keep collecting federal money, they’re going to have to open their books.
In a newly signed presidential memo, Trump directed the U.S. Department of Education to overhaul how colleges report admissions information. The order demands that every institution receiving federal aid must submit a full breakdown of how they select students.
What kind of data? Everything from applicants’ GPA and standardized test scores to race, gender, and whether the school uses “diversity statements” or similar tools that could hint at race-based selection. The goal, according to the memo, is transparency and fairness—and making sure schools aren’t quietly skirting Supreme Court rules against using race in admissions.
This new move also gives the Department of Education more power to audit and fact-check the numbers. If schools are late, inaccurate, or evasive with their data, they could face consequences, including the loss of federal funds.
The memo specifically calls for:
- A complete overhaul of the IPEDS system, the federal database that tracks college info
- Expanded reporting requirements, starting with the 2025–2026 school year
- Public access to all the new admissions data collected
- Investigations and potential penalties for schools that don’t comply
Trump’s message? If you’re getting a check from Washington, the public deserves to see how you run your admissions playbook. No more guessing games. No more behind-closed-door decisions. Every number now matters.
And with billions in federal funding at stake, colleges are officially on notice.
