NASFAA Policy
NASFAA is active in the proactive policy arena, which allows for effective, productive engagement with the higher education community on key policy issues. Some recent initiatives and topics of focus include:
One Big Beautiful Bill Act
This web center is dedicated to tracking the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3 or OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, through the budget reconciliation process. As this legislation contains significant provisions that reshape student financial aid, NASFAA has created this resource to keep members informed about the latest analysis, guidance, and regulatory developments as they occur.
SAVE Plan
The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan developed through the negotiated rulemaking process in 2021-22. Implementation of the SAVE plan started in early 2024, but lawsuits soon followed, and it has been held up in litigation since.
Financial Aid 101: Resources for the 119th Congress
As the 119th Congress begins, lawmakers have an opportunity to re-evaluate our country's higher education policies and take action to ensure an affordable college education is within reach for all students. Robust, streamlined student aid policy must play a central role in this effort. To that end, NASFAA offers these resources to assist members of the 119th Congress as they work to pass reform that will strengthen access to, and success in, higher education for our nation's students.
FAFSA Simplification
The FAFSA Simplification Act passed on Dec. 27, 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the FAFSA® form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs. NASFAA is providing training, guidance, and resources for the financial aid community to stay up-to-date with the latest updates.
College Cost Transparency Initiative
In an effort to improve the clarity and consistency of student financial aid offers, NASFAA — along with 10 higher education associations representing college presidents, financial aid offices, enrollment managers, and admissions counselors — launched the College Cost Transparency Initiative (CCT) with the goal of creating a set of principles and standards about what information should be included in institutional aid offers so the resulting documents are clear, meet high standards of transparency, and contain consumer friendly information, while still allowing for institutional customization.
College Cost Reduction Act Coverage
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, on January 11, 2024, introduced the College Cost Reduction Act, which seeks to address issues around college cost, accountability, and transparency. The bill includes a provision that would "create a standardized financial aid offer form that includes standardized definitions and terminology, formatting requirements, and information for students and families."
Higher Education Act Reauthorization
As Congress begins serious consideration of reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended, legislation and related resources, including NASFAA comments and in-depth analysis, can be found on this page. This HEA Reauthorization page also offers HEA-related legislation from 2013-present and NASFAA’s HEA recommendations for Congress.
Additional NASFAA Policy Initiatives
Data Sharing
Financial aid professionals collect, manage, and have access to a vast amount of confidential student and parent data. NASFAA has compiled this web center of resources for the financial aid community.
Negotiated Rulemaking
Negotiated Rulemaking (or "Neg Reg") is a process used by the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies, in which representatives from a government agency and affected interest groups negotiate the terms of a proposed administrative rule. The agency publishes the proposed rule in the Federal Register and then follows the usual rulemaking procedure of soliciting public comments, which are evaluated for inclusion in the final rule. NASFAA has historically participated in Neg Regs pertaining to federal student aid program regulations, by supporting and sending financial aid administrators from members institutions, NASFAA staff, and others to the negotiating table.
Policy Task Force Reports
NASFAA regularly convenes task forces composed of geographically diverse groups of NASFAA member volunteers from all types of postsecondary institutions and sectors to help review legislative and policy proposals and voice NASFAA's position on pending legislation.
