For students like Rayvon Bray, the Multicultural Center at the University of North Texas is like a second home—a place to meet friends, play games, and share experiences as part of the Black gay community.

Now, a new state law that forbids diversity, equity, and inclusion programs sponsored by public universities has taken that once-welcoming atmosphere away, contends Bray.

This year's rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form has been plagued with one issue after the other, causing havoc on colleges’ admission timelines.

As challenges continue to beset the new FAFSA, most colleges are pushing their deposit deadlines into June. But some are still dragging their feet. What’s the hold up?

Photo: Jules Hotz 

They’re known as "Pell runners." After enrolling at a community college, they apply for a federal Pell grant, collect as much as $7,400, and then simply vanish.

California’s community colleges are reporting a rise in financial aid fraud, with so-called Pell runners scamming schools out of millions of dollars. Administrators there say the fraudsters are only getting smarter with the help of artificial intelligence.