Higher Education

APA Services works to support doctoral psychology students and early career psychologists by expanding access to and affordability of graduate education, including through federal student financial assistance and federal student loan, repayment, and forgiveness programs. APA also supports policies that ensure that college campuses are safe, healthy, and positive learning environments for all students.

Our focus

Supporting affordable federal student loan, repayment, and forgiveness options for graduate students
Advocate for policies that lower the cost of federal student loans for graduate education. This includes maintaining the ability of graduate students to borrow up to cost of attendance, eliminating student loan origination fees, lowering interest rates, allowing for refinancing options, reinstating the in-school interest subsidy, and reforming Income-Driven Repayment programs. APA Services also supports various pathways to student loan forgiveness including through strengthening the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Expanding and increasing funding for federal student financial assistance programs
Advocate for several Department of Education student financial assistance programs that specifically aim to increase access to higher education for low-income, first generation students. This includes the Federal TRIO, Federal Work Study, and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need programs. APA Services also supports proposals to expand the Federal Pell Grant Program to include graduate study.
Ensuring safe, healthy, and positive campus climates
Advocate for policies reflective of psychological science that aim to eradicate campus sexual misconduct, institute trauma-informed Title IX investigations, support traditionally marginalized students such those with disabilities and from LGBTQ+ populations, and increase the capacity for all types of institutions of higher education to meet the mental health needs of their students.

Our efforts on this issue advance the following advocacy priorities:

Application of psychological science to pre-K, K–12, and higher education
Psychology workforce development across the lifespan

What you can do

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Related issues

Contact us

Kenneth Polishchuk
Deputy Chief, Education and Science Policy

Raegina Likewise
Director of Congressional and Federal Relations

Email APA Advocacy Office

Recent advocacy on higher education

Students gather and talk in a campus walkway while a student in the foreground carries folders and a backpack.

Opposing the Department of Education’s accreditation proposal

October 6, 2026

APA Services urged the department to pursue targeted accreditation reforms without weakening discipline-specific review, disrupting psychology education and training, or worsening the behavioral health workforce shortage

Sign outside the U.S. Department of Education headquarters building in Washington, D.C.

Opposing proposed changes to Department of Education grant regulations

October 6, 2026

APA Services urged the Department of Education to withdraw proposed changes to its grant administration regulations, citing concerns about research funding, grant stability, transparency, and the future of education and workforce development programs

Close-up of an H-1B visa document and paperwork placed on a calendar.

Advocacy leads to key exemptions in proposed fees for international psychologists working in the US

August 27, 2026

APA Services helped secure key exemptions in a proposed H-1B visa fee rule, protecting higher education, research, and nonprofit teaching institutions that rely on international psychology talent

A psychologist and an individual sit across from each other in an office, engaged in conversation.

Key psychology priorities advanced in House Appropriations Committee Labor-HHS-Education Bill

June 22, 2026

The FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education bill includes priorities for funding psychological research, education, training, workforce development, and access to behavioral health services

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Campus Sexual Assault and Student Mental Health (PDF, 809KB) opens in new window

The prevalence of sexual assault has not changed in over 30 years. Rape and other forms of sexual violence exact tolls on victim’s mental health, physical health, and academic achievement. This fact sheet includes campus sexual assault federal policy recommendations.

Last updated: September 2026Date created: October 2021