Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Tariffs and Higher Ed
Preview:
The current administration is implementing a protectionist trade policy that will be harmful to higher education and its students. Tariffs will increase prices, pushing costs up for colleges and universities as well as for families. These price increases are likely to be regressive, hurting lower-income families more than higher-income ones. When the effects of tariffs are combined with those of other policies of this administration, such as changes to visa policies expected to reduce the number of tuition-paying international students, increases in endowment taxes and cuts in research funding, many colleges and universities will have little choice but to reduce financial aid. As a result, we can expect educational attainment rates to slide, reducing the supply of skilled labor to the workforce and thereby harming the overall economy.
Originally published: September 25, 2025
Author: Catharine B. Hill
Position: President Emerita
Institution: Vassar College
Published by: Inside Higher Ed