The recent clash between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the nation's largest regional accreditor, highlights escalating tensions over the future of higher education quality assurance. In a pointed response to ED Under Secretary Nicholas Kent's December 2025 directive to 'buckle up' for sweeping reforms, HLC's leadership has pushed back, emphasizing collaboration while staunchly defending the accreditation system's integrity. This exchange comes amid the Trump administration's aggressive push to overhaul accreditation, aiming to prioritize student outcomes over what officials call ideological mandates.

🔗 The Role of Accreditation in American Higher Education

Accreditation serves as the cornerstone of quality control in U.S. higher education, acting as the gatekeeper for federal student aid eligibility. The process involves independent agencies evaluating colleges and universities against rigorous standards in areas like governance, faculty qualifications, student learning outcomes, and financial stability. Institutions must undergo periodic peer reviews, typically every 10 years, with interim monitoring to maintain status.

Step-by-step, accreditation unfolds as follows:

• Self-Study: The institution conducts an internal comprehensive review, gathering data on mission fulfillment, academic programs, and resources.
• Peer Review Team Visit: External evaluators from peer institutions visit campus, interview stakeholders, and assess evidence.
• Decision by Accreditor's Board: The accrediting body reviews the team report and decides on reaffirmation, probation, or sanction.
• Federal Recognition: The ED recognizes accreditors through the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), ensuring alignment with federal law.

This system, dating back to the early 20th century, balances institutional autonomy with public accountability, supporting over $150 billion in annual federal aid.

What Makes the Higher Learning Commission the Largest Accreditor?

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), founded in 1895, accredits more than 1,000 degree-granting institutions across 19 states, primarily in the Midwest, South, and Southwest. From community colleges to major research universities like the University of Chicago and University of Illinois, HLC oversees a diverse portfolio representing millions of students.

HLC's criteria emphasize five core areas: mission, ethics, teaching and learning, resources, and planning. Unlike program-specific accreditors, HLC provides institutional accreditation, crucial for Title IV federal funding. In 2025, HLC reaffirmed accreditation for over 200 institutions, while monitoring 50 on probation for issues like leadership instability or low completion rates.

Its scale amplifies any response to federal scrutiny, as disruptions could ripple across thousands of campuses.

Nicholas Kent's 'Buckle Up' Warning to Higher Ed Leaders

During the NACIQI meeting on December 17, 2025, Under Secretary Nicholas Kent delivered a stark message to accreditors and higher ed stakeholders: 'So everybody, buckle up, we got a lot of work ahead of us.' Kent lambasted the system for prioritizing 'political and ideological enforcement' over student success metrics like graduation rates, job placement, and debt repayment.

He cited examples such as inadequate responses to campus antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, attacks and mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirements that he argued undermine merit-based hiring and free speech. Kent pledged to 'break the mold,' easing entry for innovative accreditors and conducting transparent rulemakings. For full details on his remarks, see the Inside Higher Ed report.

HLC Fires Back: A Call for Constructive Partnership

In a direct rebuttal delivered at the HLC's Higher Learning 2026 conference, the commission's president affirmed willingness to collaborate with ED while rejecting characterizations of accreditation as a 'political weapon.' 'We will work with the Department to fulfill our shared mission of ensuring quality education,' the statement read, underscoring HLC's data-driven approach and peer-review rigor.

This response counters Kent's rhetoric by highlighting HLC's recent actions, such as policy updates on institutional control adopted February 2026 and Trends 2026 report addressing emerging challenges like AI integration and enrollment declines. HLC positions itself as adaptable, not obstructive. Coverage appears in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Trump Administration's Sweeping Accreditation Overhaul

Executive Order 14279, signed April 2025, launched the reforms, directing ED to prioritize outcomes-focused accreditation. Key actions include:

• February 2026 interpretive rule eliminating 'regional' designations, reclassifying accreditors as national to foster competition.
• Grants for new accreditors like the Commission for Public Higher Education.
• Negotiated rulemaking via the Accreditation Innovation and Modernization (AIM) committee, announced January 2026.
• March 2026 warnings to two accreditors over DEI standards, signaling enforcement.

ED press releases detail these steps on their official site.

Criticisms and Defenses: DEI, Outcomes, and Accountability

Kent argues accreditors impose 'counterproductive demands' costing millions, ignoring 40% six-year graduation rates at many institutions (National Student Clearinghouse data) and $1.7 trillion student debt. Proponents of reform, including conservative groups, see DEI as discriminatory post-Supreme Court affirmative action ruling.

Defenders, like the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), warn reforms risk politicizing quality assurance. HLC counters with evidence: its institutions boast average 55% completion rates, improving via targeted interventions. A table compares key metrics:

Stakeholder Perspectives: Colleges, Students, and Policymakers

University leaders express caution; the American Council on Education (ACE) urges balanced changes to avoid aid disruptions. Student advocates support outcome focus but fear reduced access for underserved groups. Faculty unions decry attacks on DEI as cultural warfare.

Conversely, groups like the College Fix hail reforms for curbing 'woke' mandates. Regional variations matter: Midwest HLC schools, reliant on federal grants, monitor closely.

Real-World Impacts: Case Studies from Recent Probes

Columbia University's Middle States scrutiny over antisemitism protests exemplifies ED pressure. Despite reaffirmation March 2026, it underscores risks. HLC-monitored institutions like those on probation for governance face heightened review amid reforms.

Positive cases: HLC's support helped Missouri State University-West Plains regain compliance. Reforms could spur innovation, like outcome-based models piloted in Florida.

Challenges, Solutions, and Future Outlook

Challenges include transition costs ($10-20M per institution for reaccreditation) and innovation lag. Solutions: phased implementation, federal grants for compliance, hybrid models blending peer review with data analytics.

Outlook: AIM rulemaking concludes mid-2026, potentially recognizing 5-10 new accreditors by 2027. HLC's adaptability—evident in 2026 policy tweaks—suggests resilience. For institutions, proactive outcome improvements are key.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Implications for Higher Education Careers and Talent

Reforms may reshape faculty hiring, emphasizing skills over credentials, boosting demand for administrators versed in compliance. Explore opportunities at leading U.S. universities adapting to these shifts.