This last week was dominated by the RISE negotiated rule-making meetings, along with a continuing college enrollment cycle, and lawsuits... lot's of lawsuits. We'll have more updates on RISE next week, but the big focus was the definition of a professional student vs. graduate student (and it sparked some controversy).
Here’s a quick look at some of the other stories shaping higher education and student personal finances for November 7, 2025.
🎓 Headlines at a Glance
- New student loan class action lawsuit filed aimed at collection and credit reporting practices.
- Mississippi State University reports record enrollment growth.
- Wayland Baptist University cuts tuition - is this the start of a trend?
- Penn State reports massive decline in international student enrollment.
Mississippi State University Stadium
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1. Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses Education Department of FCRA Violations
A new federal class action filed in the Northern District of Georgia (PDF File) accuses the U.S. Department of Education and major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) of willfully violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The suit, led by borrowers Jamica Bates, Meryl Blazer, Carissa Gillespie, and Tamara Cesar, alleges that the Department wrongly reported millions of borrowers as delinquent or in default due to operational breakdowns after the 2025 loan repayment restart. Plaintiffs claim these reports were inaccurate, damaged credit scores, and triggered wage garnishment efforts even as borrowers tried unsuccessfully to reach servicers.
➡️ Impact: The complaint portrays the Department as using negative credit reporting as a collection tool- potentially exposing it to liability and potentially signaling the most far-reaching borrower-protection case since the Sweet v. Cardona settlement.
2. Mississippi State University Reports Record Enrollment Growth
Mississippi State University set another enrollment record this fall, enrolling over 24,000 students and marking its tenth growth year in the past eleven. The increase, driven by a 12.6% rise in first-time freshmen, comes as many regional publics face enrollment declines. University leaders credited new degree pathways and retention programs for the gains.
➡️ Impact: Sustained growth underscores how some public universities are countering national enrollment contraction through targeted recruitment and affordability strategies.
3. Wayland Baptist University Cuts Tuition Nearly 10%
Wayland Baptist University announced a 9.5% tuition cut for full-time undergraduates on its Plainview campus - reducing the annual tuition rate to $19,950 for 12-18 credit hours. Administrators said the change aims to curb student debt and make college “affordable for working families” amid national scrutiny of higher-education pricing.
➡️ Impact: Wayland joins a small but growing number of private universities lowering sticker prices rather than increasing discount rates. Observers hope it may pressure peers to reconsider tuition strategies.
4. Penn State and Other Flagships See Drop in International Enrollment
At Pennsylvania State University, international student enrollment fell 5.6% year-over-year, continuing a multi-year slide attributed to stricter visa policies and global perception of U.S. immigration hurdles. The university reports an 11% decline since 2022, echoing similar losses at other major public research institutions.
➡️ Impact: International enrollment remains a crucial financial pillar for U.S. universities and extended declines could strain research budgets and increase pressure to recruit domestically.
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Editor: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.