"As millions of borrowers default on their student loans, the clock is ticking for colleges to make a more concerted effort in response. If not, higher ed finance experts warn, hundreds of institutions could risk losing access to federal student aid," Inside Higher Ed reports.

..."Data on the next round of cohort default rates, based on the 2024 cohort, will be sent to institutions early next year. Borrowers in that group will have had two years in which they could default.

Cecil and groups like the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators say the next cohort default rate might still be low. But since the window for default is longer, the rate will likely start to climb. Some say it could exceed pre-pandemic rates, in part because borrowers were “unaccustomed to making payments for an extended period of time.” In 2019, the national CDR hit 10 percent."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 10/6/2026