Nicholas Kent

Nicholas Kent was sworn in as the 15th Under Secretary of Education on August 4, 2025, following his nomination by President Donald J. Trump and confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

As a first-generation college student and a respected education policy expert with more than two decades of experience, Kent serves as the nation’s top federal official for higher education. As Under Secretary, Kent oversees the Department’s postsecondary education, career, technical, and adult education, and federal student aid programs. This includes managing the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio and the over $30 billion Pell Grant program.

Kent is responsible for implementing President Trump’s mission to restore the greatness of American higher education and ensure that our taxpayer-supported colleges, universities, vocational schools, and other postsecondary programs are genuinely helping high school graduates and working adults launch and grow their careers. Kent spearheads the implementation of President Trump's landmark legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will lower the cost of higher education, simplify student loan repayment, expand workforce trainings options, and hold institutions accountable for degrees that do not provide a return on investment.

Before joining the U.S. Department of Education, Kent served as Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia under Governor Glenn Youngkin. In that role, he led efforts to reduce the cost of higher education, expand access to career and technical education, and increase institutional transparency and accountability.

Kent previously served as Chief Policy Officer at Career Education Colleges and Universities, where he advocated for federal policies that support career-focused education and promote choice and innovation in higher education. He was also the founding President of the CECU Research Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing data-driven solutions to support student success.

He has also served in executive roles at a private-sector education company, where he led regulatory and accreditation operations for a national system of postsecondary institutions. Kent also has experience in K-12 education, having served as Director of Policy, Planning, and Research at the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education. He began his career in education policy as a professional staff member at an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Kent holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he attended on a Pell Grant. He also holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from The George Washington University. He and his partner reside in Virginia.