The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts again extended the deadline for many public colleges and universities to comply with the Trump administration’s mandate that those institutions share seven years’ worth of detailed data — including about applicants’ and enrolled students’ race and sex, standardized test scores, GPAs, and other characteristics. The new April 6, 2026, compliance deadline applies only to public colleges and universities in the 17 plaintiff states. All other higher education institutions must comply by March 31, 2026, unless they secure an extension.
Coalition of State Attorneys General Sought Emergency Relief
On March 11, 2026, attorneys general from 17 states filed a joint lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s revised Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Admission and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) survey.
The states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington — sought a stay of the March 18, 2026, compliance deadline. Shortly after the states filed suit, the court scheduled a motion hearing for March 24, 2026, and blocked enforcement of the compliance deadline nationwide until March 25, 2026.
Further Reprieve for State Colleges and Universities
At the hearing, the court agreed with the administration that future relief should be narrowed to public colleges and universities in the 17 plaintiff states. However, it appeared skeptical of the practical need for granular admissions data.
In a written order after the hearing, the court extended the temporary restraining order, giving public institutions in the 17 plaintiff states until April 6, 2026, to complete the survey. The court also indicated that it plans to issue a preliminary injunction decision on April 2 or 3. That decision could further extend the deadline or alter the scope of the relief.
The IPEDS Help Desk has confirmed that all higher education institutions not covered by the injunction must submit data for the IPEDS ACTS survey by March 31, 2026, unless they receive an extension. Some institutions have already sought and qualified for an extension to submit their ACTS data by April 8, 2026.
For questions about how these developments impact your institution, and what steps you should take to prepare for the extended compliance deadline, contact the authors, your McGuireWoods contact, or a member of the firm’s Higher Education team.