An article from This week in numbers: Clearinghouse retracts first-year enrollment data

We’re rounding up recent stories, including a mea culpa from National Clearinghouse Student Research Center and billions of dollars in discharged loan debt.

Published Jan. 17, 2025 Laura Spitalniak Editor

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skynesher/E+ via Getty Images

From a research error with wide-ranging effects to the U.S. Department of Education's latest discharge of student loan debt, here are the top-line figures from some of our biggest stories of the week. 

By the numbers   5% The year-over-year drop in fall 2024 first-year enrollment that the National Clearinghouse Student Research Center had initially announced in October. On Monday, the clearinghouse retracted that preliminary finding amid revelations that its methodology was flawed and said the group's enrollment had actually risen.   $4.5 billion The outstanding loans held by former Ashford University students that the Education Department discharged Wednesday. The department is also pursuing a governmentwide debarment of the founder and former CEO of Zovio, the company that previously owned Ashford.   25-55 The age range for New Yorkers who would be eligible to earn certain college credentials for free under a new proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul. The plan, which needs approval from the state's Legislature, would allow adult residents to earn an associate degree at no cost if they study in select high-demand fields.   $375 million The reduction in funding California State University expects under Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2025-26 budget proposal. The University of California anticipates a funding drop of $271 million. Leaders from both the Cal State and University of California systems said this week that the declines would hinder academic offerings and student success.   85% The lowest acceptance rate a public Florida college could have and still accept undocumented students under a state bill proposed this week. State Sen. Randy Fine, the bill's author and a staunch supporter of strict immigration laws, also introduced legislation that would revoke eligibility for in-state tuition for the undocumented students who qualify. waitToLoadAds.push(function() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { if (window.dfp_visibility == 'mobile' ) { googletag.display('dfp-hybrid1-mobile'); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) { var adUnitPath = '/21662595662/highereddive/highereddivehybrid1'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) { var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-mobile'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper [data-container-ad-unit-id="' + adUnitPathWithVisibility + '"]'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) { $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') } } }); } }); }); waitToLoadAds.push(function() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { if (window.dfp_visibility == 'desktop' ) { googletag.display('dfp-hybrid2-desktop'); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) { var adUnitPath = '/21662595662/highereddive/highereddivehybrid2'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) { var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-desktop'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper [data-container-ad-unit-id="' + adUnitPathWithVisibility + '"]'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) { $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') } } }); } }); });

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