Broadening Access to Higher Learning in 2025

We’ve welcomed 2025; the holiday celebrations are barely behind us. And now we face truly sobering questions about the future of American education. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies are under attack; the incoming president and his administration are vowing to wipe out federally funded diversity programs, remove protections for Q+ students, and eliminate the federal oversight and funding that support programs designed to assist low-income students. They threaten to jettison the Department of Education. Going forward, what can we expect?

In view of this daunting forecast, recent results from New America’s Varying Degrees survey provide some encouragement about how Americans view diversity. A key source for understanding public opinion on higher education in the U.S., Varying Degrees 2024 shows that a majority of Americans do back efforts to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion in colleges and universities. One key question was whether more should be done to recruit, admit, and support students who have historically been left out of higher education—racial minorities, first-generation students, low-income individuals, and those with disabilities. Turns out, seven in ten Americans surveyed think colleges should step up their efforts to bring in students from these underrepresented groups. A solid 77% believe the government—both state and federal—should ensure these students can access higher education. And while there’s a big divide between Democrats and Republicans on these issues, a surprisingly high number of Republicans do support increasing admissions for underrepresented students.

Critics of DEI programs argue they’re unfair and end up discriminating against other groups, especially White Americans. Detractors view the programs as zero-sum: the more advantages minorities have, the fewer others like themselves will enjoy. However, these initiatives gain support when advocates don’t promote the term DEI and instead clearly communicate how their efforts align with a college or university’s goals, and how each individual will benefit. The PowHERful Foundation joins many in viewing these policies and initiatives as opportunities for improvement that benefit everyone. We believe a diverse learning environment increases awareness and critical thinking skills and promotes academic and career success in a fast-changing world.

Universities and colleges of all sizes, public and private, are now looking for creative strategies to comply with the law while promoting an enriching, diverse, and inclusive environment to serve all students.

PowHERful scholars know from experience that our identities don’t need to divide us. We learn most from those who are different from us—whether in terms of socioeconomic situation, background, race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. As we learn and work together our outlook broadens, and we learn even more. This is the future of education.