The ABA, which accredits roughly 200 law schools, has come under GOP criticism over promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion standards.

lon Musk, Alex Karp and Peter Thiel are challenging the four-year degree as the default path for elite talent—and, in some cases, building their own alternatives.

The condensed programs have exploded in popularity. As of this spring, 26 U.S. states have a college that offers at least one reduced-credit, three-year bachelor’s, according to the nonprofit research group RAND.

Ghost students are viewed primarily as a financial aid problem. In reality, it is an institutional cybersecurity challenge that begins during enrollment and affects every system that depends on digital identity.