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OTC Inside The Beltway: More FAFSA Updates and Biden's Proposed Student Debt Relief Plan
April 19, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss the latest FAFSA updates of the past week, including news ... -
ED Releases Draft Rules to Provide Student Debt Relief for Subsets of Borrowers
April 17, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday published its first set of draft rules to provide targeted student debt relief to borrowers, just 10 months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s initial student debt r... -
"Our Confidence With the Department of Education Is Wavering:" Members React to the Rocky Rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA
April 15, 2024 - Over a year ago, in March 2023, federal officials revealed publicly for the first time that due to its massive overhaul and redesign, the FAFSA application for the 2024-25 school year would not launch on October 1, as it has in past years. In the mon... -
OTC Inside The Beltway: NASFAA Testifies on 2024-25 FAFSA Rollout
April 12, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, Rachel, and Tim discuss Justin's testimony this week before the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on the Department of Education's (ED) rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. Karen als... -
"From a Hardship to a Crisis" - NASFAA Testifies on Current Status of the FAFSA Rollout
April 11, 2024 - In stark terms, NASFAA President & CEO Justin Draeger, along with other higher education experts, provided testimony to a House education subcommittee on Wednesday over the flawed rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA, and detailed how Congress should wor... -
ED Releases Details on Reprocessing ISIRs, FAFSA Student Corrections
April 10, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday evening, provided more details on when institutions can expect to receive reprocessed FAFSA applicant records and when students will be able to make corrections to their FAFSAs. The EA did not address when ... -
April State & Regional Association Updates
April 8, 2024 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Texas, Nebraska, Tennessee, California, Puer... -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Unpacking the FAFSA Tax Data Issues
April 5, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Tim discuss this week’s news that the Department of Education (ED) identified three issues concerning tax data reported on FAFSA applicant records. The team dives into the details of those identif... -
ED Releases More Details on List of Unaffected FAFSA Records
April 4, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday provided more details on the list it plans to send to institutions of FAFSA records that are unaffected by any known errors. -
FSA Releases Details on Three Additional Issues With FAFSA Applicant Records
April 2, 2024 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), via an electronic announcement Monday evening, released more details on three issues concerning tax data reported on Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). -
ED Delays Reporting Deadline for Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency Regulations
April 1, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) announced on Friday that it would delay the institutional reporting deadline for gainful employment (GE) and financial value transparency (FVT) from July 31 until October 1, 2024. -
Most College Presidents Are Confident in Financial Stability, But Share Concerns About Public Confidence in Higher Ed
March 28, 2024 - Most college and university presidents are optimistic that their institutions will be financially stable in the next five or 10 years. However, over half of these presidents have concerns about the public’s confidence in higher education &ndash... -
Democratic Senators Introduce Legislation to Codify SAVE Repayment Plan
March 28, 2024 - On the Biden administration’s “SAVE Day of Action,” a group of Democratic senators introduced legislation that would codify the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan into law. -
ED Announces $5.8 Billion in Public Service Loan Forgiveness for 78,000 Borrowers
March 22, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Thursday announced that nearly 78,000 borrowers will have their student loans canceled through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, totaling $5.8 billion in relief. -
Bipartisan Senators Urge ED to Delay Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency Reporting
March 22, 2024 - A bipartisan group of senators on Thursday sent a letter to the Department of Education (ED) urging it to delay institutional gainful employment (GE) and financial value transparency reporting deadlines to ease institutions amid the rollout of the 20... -
Biden’s 2025 Budget Proposal Would Boost Pell, Eliminate Student Loan Origination Fees
March 12, 2024 - President Joe Biden on Monday released his budget request for fiscal year 2025, which would eliminate origination fees on federal student loans and increase the maximum federal Pell Grant award by $750 through the annual appropriations process, in ad... -
March State & Regional Association Updates
March 11, 2024 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Texas, Georgia, Oregon, Mississippi, Wisconsin, P... -
Committee Fails to Reach Consensus On State Authorization, Distance Education, and Accreditation, in Final Neg Reg Session
March 8, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Thursday concluded its negotiated rulemaking session on program integrity and institutional quality, failing to reach consensus with negotiators on state authorization, distance education, and accreditation. -
Third Day of Neg Reg Session Focuses on Cash Management, Accreditation
March 7, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday carried on its negotiated rulemaking session, which focused on cash management and accreditation. -
ED Continues Neg Reg Session With Discussions on Federal TRIO Programs, State Authorization, and Cash Management
March 6, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday continued its session of negotiated rulemaking – known as neg reg – touching on multiple issues, including federal TRIO programs, state authorization, and cash management. -
ED Kicks Off Final Negotiated Rulemaking Session On R2T4 and Distance Education
March 5, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday started its final negotiated rulemaking session on program integrity and institutional quality, focusing on the return of Title IV funds (R2T4) and distance education. -
Biden Signs Short-Term Spending Plan, Reversing ED's Update to the SAI Formula
March 4, 2024 - President Joe Biden on Friday signed another continuing resolution into law for fiscal year 2024 to avoid a partial government shutdown until at least March 22. However, this resolution also reversed the Department of Education's (ED) announcement la... -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Making Sense of The SAI Formula Update and Latest Federal Budget Negotiations
March 1, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Allie and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss an update to the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula from the D... -
ED Announces Update to SAI Formula, Release of 100 Additional Test ISIRs
February 27, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday announced that it updated the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula in order to be "in full alignment with the FAFSA Simplification Act," just weeks before institutions are expected to begin receiving Institution... -
OTC From the Field: Let's Dig Through Some FAFSA Data
February 23, 2024 - This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin and Karen are joined by Bill DeBaun, the National College Attainment Network’s senior director of data and strategic initiatives, to discuss the 2024-25 FAFSA rollout. Bill de... -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Debriefing the NASFAA Leadership Conference and ED's FAFSA College Support Strategy
February 16, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Hugh to recap NASFAA’s 2024 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, and discuss the Department of Education’s (ED) new “FAFSA College Support Strategy.” J... -
ED Releases Additional Batch of Test ISIRs and Testing Tools
February 16, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) announced via electronic announcement on Friday that the first batch of test Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) are now available for institutions and software providers. The department committed to the... -
February State & Regional Association Updates
February 15, 2024 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Illinois and the Southwest Association of St... -
Democrats Seek More Clarity From ED About Next Steps in the Delayed FAFSA Rollout
February 13, 2024 - Over 100 congressional Democrats on Monday sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona pressing the Department of Education (ED) for answers on the delayed rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. -
ED Wraps Up Second Week of Program Integrity and Institutional Quality Negotiations with Continued Discussion of Accreditation
February 9, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) and non-federal negotiators wrapped up their fourth and final day of negotiations related to program integrity and institutional quality on Thursday, concluding the day with a continued conversation on accreditation. -
ED Continues Neg Reg Session With Discussion of Return to Title IV Funds and Accreditation
February 8, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) continued its negotiated rulemaking session on Wednesday, this time with negotiators discussing issues around return to Title IV funds (R2T4) and accreditation. -
ED Continues Neg Reg Session With Discussion on State Authorization and Distance Education
February 7, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday continued its negotiated rulemaking session on program integrity and institutional quality, gathering stakeholders to discuss the topics of state authorization and distance education. -
ED Hosts Second Neg Reg Session Focusing on Cash Management
February 6, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) kicked off its second negotiated rulemaking session on program integrity and institutional quality on Monday, focusing solely on the issue of cash management. -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Working Through the ISIR Delivery Delay
February 2, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss this week's news that institutions and states will begin receiving Institutional S... -
ED Announces Fourth Neg Reg Session to Provide Debt Relief for Borrowers Facing Financial Hardships
February 1, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday announced that it will be hosting another negotiated rulemaking session – known as neg reg – specifically focused on how the department can provide student loan debt relief to borrowers facing... -
ED Announces ISIR Delivery Delayed Until ‘First Half of March,’ Further Delaying 2024-25 FAFSA Rollout
January 30, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday announced that institutions and states will begin receiving Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in the “first half of March,” backtracking its original — and already delayed ... -
Top Congressional Democrats Call on Biden Administration to Hold Fourth Neg Reg Session
January 29, 2024 - Almost 40 congressional Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), are urging the Department of Education (ED) to host another negotiated rulemaking session – known as neg reg – to discuss studen... -
ED Announces 2024-25 FAFSA Inflation Adjustments, But How and When Remains Unclear
January 23, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday announced that it will update the tables used to protect a portion of a family’s income and assets from being considered in the Student Aid Index (SAI) by inflation-adjusted amounts. However, the depa... -
ED Announces Early Implementation of Student Loan Forgiveness for Borrowers Enrolled in SAVE Plan
January 16, 2024 - The Department of Education (ED) on Friday announced that starting in February, eligible borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan will have their federal student loan debt forgiven as part of an early implementat... -
Cassidy: 2024-25 FAFSA 'Has Not Gone Well'
January 16, 2024 - Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, criticized the Department of Education (ED) in a letter on Friday for its “botched” rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. -
January State & Regional Association Updates
January 10, 2024 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Texas, Illinois, Puerto Rico, and the Southe... -
Missouri Hosts Week of Action to Help Students and Families With New FAFSA
January 8, 2024 - As students and families across the country begin to fill out their 2024-25 FAFSA, the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel (MASFAP) is hosting a state-wide week of action to answer questions they may have about the new application... -
Down to the Wire: Questions and Concerns Loom Over New FAFSA
December 18, 2023 - Anxiety, tension, stress, and nervousness are the current emotions many financial aid professionals are feeling day-to-day as the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA inches closer. By the end of this month, Federal Student Aid (FSA) will launch the 2024-25 F... -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Debt Relief Neg Reg Updates and Unpacking FAFSA Family Size
December 15, 2023 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss updates with the negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and unpack a new FAFSA term – family size. This is the last “Off the Cuff” episode for 2023 and NASFA... -
A Mixed Bag: Student Debt Relief Committee Does Not Reach Consensus On Multiple Proposals During Final Neg Reg Session
December 13, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday held its final negotiated rulemaking session on student loan debt relief, where the committee ultimately did not reach consensus on several proposals. Along with the votes on consensus, the committee discus... -
Student Debt Relief Negotiators Discuss New Amendments in Third and Final Neg Reg Session
December 12, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday inched closer to developing a regulatory framework for student loan debt relief as a stakeholder committee kicked off its final negotiated rulemaking session, discussing several updates ED made to the draft ... -
December State & Regional Association Updates
December 8, 2023 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Texas, Mississippi, Nebraska, and the Wester... -
Q&A With Heidi Carl, Chair of the Career Path Awareness for Financial Aid Administrators Thought Force
December 7, 2023 - A new NASFAA thought force is seeking to change how others view the financial aid profession. The Career Path Awareness for Financial Aid Administrators Thought Force has the mission of changing the perception of the financial aid profession from an ... -
ED Forgives $4.8 Billion in Student Loan Debt for Over 80,000 Borrowers
December 7, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday announced that it approved an additional $4.8 billion in federal student loan debt forgiveness for over 80,000 borrowers through fixes to the income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiven... -
ED Releases Updated Draft Regulatory Text for Student Debt Relief
December 5, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday released an updated draft regulatory text to provide student debt relief to several groups of borrowers ahead of next week’s third and final negotiated rulemaking session. -
2023 Year in Review: NASFAA's 10 Most Popular Original Articles
December 4, 2023 - 2023 was another big year of changes for the financial aid community, with the implementation of FAFSA simplification fully underway. As aid offices wait in limbo for the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA by December 31, many financial aid professionals ha... -
FSA Outlines Provisions of Federal Tax Information and FAFSA Data Use
December 1, 2023 - Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Thursday at its 2023 virtual training conference outlined new provisions of federal tax information (FTI) and FAFSA data use under the FUTURE Act and FAFSA Simplification Act, answering key questions from financial aid of... -
FSA Debriefs Updates to 2024-25 FAFSA Form, Processing System, and Partner Portal
November 30, 2023 - Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Wednesday during its 2023 virtual training conference outlined key changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA, including with the processing system and partner portal, due to this year’s FAFSA simplification overhaul. -
FSA Officials Focus on FAFSA Simplification, Regulatory Updates at 2023 Training Conference
November 29, 2023 - Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Tuesday kicked off its 2023 virtual training conference, a four-day event highlighting initiatives and updates from FSA, including FAFSA simplification and the December launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA, federal regulations, ch... -
GAO: ED Did Not Apply Practices to Prevent Fraud in Student Debt Cancellation Proposal
November 17, 2023 - When the Department of Education (ED) announced its student debt relief plan in 2022, it quickly approved borrowers for relief without implementing practices that would have prevented fraud, a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO... -
ED Announces New Framework to Hold Loan Servicers Accountable
November 15, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) announced last week its oversight strategy to hold federal student loan servicers accountable for their customer service, as thousands of borrowers reported issues after returning to student loan repayment this fall.&... -
FSA Announces 2024-25 FAFSA Will Go Live By December 31, ISIR Delivery Delayed
November 15, 2023 - Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Wednesday announced that the 2024-25 FAFSA will go live by December 31, 2023, meeting the statutory requirement that the form must be available by January 1. Along with the release date, FSA announced institutions will be... -
ED Releases Guidance on Borrower Defense School Notification Process
November 13, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday released guidance to institutions on the borrower defense process after the Sweet v. Cardona settlement, as aid offices this fall reported concerns over an increase of borrower defense notifications. ... -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Updates on Student Debt Relief Neg Reg and the FAFSA 24-25 Contributor
November 13, 2023 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss updates with the negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and new changes with FAFSA simplification and the contributor process. Jill first debriefs listeners on last week's neg... -
November State & Regional Association Updates
November 9, 2023 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Florida, Arizona, Missouri, New York, California,... -
College Board Trends Report Paints Changing Picture of College Cost
November 2, 2023 - What the average student pays to attend college — after accounting for grants, loans, and other financial aid — has stagnated in recent years. But how students pay the remaining cost, known as the net price, has changed over time, ac... -
ED Releases Draft Regulatory Text to Provide Student Debt Relief Through Neg Reg
October 31, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday outlined options for student debt relief in draft regulatory text that detailed proposals for four different subsets of borrowers. -
Brief Outlines How FAFSA Simplification Will Impact National and State Financial Aid
October 30, 2023 - A new brief from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) found that while FAFSA simplification will be beneficial to most students and expand access to federal financial aid, state aid and grant programs may face challenges.... -
OTC From the Field: Unpacking Third Way's Economic Mobility Index and Graduate Student Debt
October 27, 2023 - This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Chazz Robinson, education policy advisor at Third Way, to discuss his work on Third Way’s 2023 Economic Mobility Index (EMI). Chazz explains the methodology for t... -
Over 300,000 Federal Student Loan Borrowers Received Incorrect Bills From Their Servicers
October 26, 2023 - Thousands of borrowers have received bills from servicers with incorrect payment amounts after applying to the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, the Biden administration's new income-driven repayment plan, multiple reports found. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Debriefing Student Debt Relief Neg Reg and Parent of Record for 2024-25 FAFSA
October 20, 2023 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss the first committee session of the Department of Education’s (ED) negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and the nuances of the “parent of record” term on th... -
Panels Discuss Strategies and Challenges to Measuring the Value of Higher Education
October 18, 2023 - As American’s confidence in higher education declines and the Department of Education (ED) implements its new gainful employment and financial value transparency rules, an event on Tuesday, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, gathered ... -
Student Debt Relief Negotiators Discuss Parameters for Cancellation in Second Day of Neg Reg
October 12, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday hosted its second day of negotiated rulemaking – known as neg reg – to provide a path to student loan cancellation, and gave an update on what the process will look like in the coming months. -
ED Kicks Off First Negotiated Rulemaking Session for Student Debt Relief
October 11, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday began its latest attempt to forge a path toward student loan cancellation through negotiated rulemaking, or “neg reg”— a regulatory process that brings together stakeholders from the highe... -
October State & Regional Association Updates
October 10, 2023 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what’s going on in your state and regional associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, Tennessee... -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing Negotiated Rulemaking, New Gainful Employment Regulations, and Influx of Borrower Defense Claims
October 6, 2023 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss how Congress avoided a government shutdown and what that m... -
ED Announces an Additional $9 Billion in Student Debt Forgiveness for 125,000 Borrowers
October 5, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday announced additional $9 billion in federal student loan debt forgiveness for 125,000 borrowers through fixes to the income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, and a... -
ED Outlines Updated Strategies to Increase Diversity in Higher Education
October 4, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) last week released a report outlining strategies states and higher education leaders can take to promote college diversity, with the intention of providing institutions up to date resources to comply with the U.S. Sup... -
ED Details Upcoming Negotiated Rulemaking Session for its Student Debt Relief Committee
October 2, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Friday provided updates on the negotiated rulemaking process that is seeking an “alternative path to debt relief” in response to President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan being struck down by... -
Cassidy Discusses Republican’s Higher Ed Priorities and Upcoming Policy Initiatives
September 29, 2023 - Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, in a panel discussion on Wednesday, outlined his higher education priorities with an update on key Republican legislation that seeks to l... -
Over 300 Institutions Across the Country Commit to Student Cost Transparency for Financial Aid Offers
September 26, 2023 - The College Cost Transparency Initiative (CCT), an initiative aimed at improving transparency of student financial aid offers, announced on Tuesday that over 360 institutions across the country have voluntarily committed to follow its set of principl... -
ED Approves $37 Million in Borrower Defense Discharges for Borrowers Who Attended the University of Phoenix
September 21, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday announced that it approved $37 million in student loan debt discharges for over 1,200 borrowers who were enrolled in the University of Phoenix between Sept. 21, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2014, and applied for re... -
Q&A with Jacquelyn Cottom, NASFAA’s Compliance Specialist and Webinar Producer
September 20, 2023 - This fall, NASFAA’s Jacquelyn Cottom will become the new “face” of NASFAA webinars and virtual events as our compliance specialist and webinar producer, as her predecessor, Margot Manning, moves into a new role as NASFAA’s dir... -
Majority of Financial Aid Professionals Say They’re Likely to Look for Other Employment Within a Year
September 15, 2023 - As financial aid offices deal with FAFSA simplification, administrative burden, staffing shortages, and more, a new survey found that a majority of financial aid professionals say they’re at least somewhat likely to look for other employment wi... -
NASFAA Reaches Out on Long Loan Servicer Call Center Wait Times
September 14, 2023 - With the unprecedented event of tens of millions of borrowers returning to repayment this month, borrowers and aid offices have raised concerns of long wait times trying to reach student loan servicers’ call centers. NASFAA is aware of the issu... -
Brief Examines Loan Forgiveness for Teachers and Social Workers With PSLF and SAVE Repayment Plan
September 12, 2023 - A new brief out of the Urban Institute examines how teachers and social workers can benefit using both the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and the Biden’s administration’s new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, the Saving ... -
Cassidy, Foxx Question ED After Income-Driven Repayment Fixes, Loan Discharges
September 8, 2023 - After the Department of Education (ED) began discharging $39 billion in federal student loan debt due to “fixes” to the income-driven repayment (IDR) loan program, two top Republican lawmakers are asking ED to provide more information on ... -
GOP Introduces Resolution to End New SAVE Student Loan Repayment Plan
September 6, 2023 - Congressional Republicans on Tuesday introduced companion Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn the Biden administration’s new income-driven repayment plan, the Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. -
September State & Regional Association Updates
September 5, 2023 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what is going on in your state and regional financial aid administrator associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from Idaho, the Southern A... -
ED Official: SCOTUS Decision On Race-Conscious Admissions Is an 'Opportunity' to Reconsider How to Support Diverse Students
August 30, 2023 - Since the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of race-conscious college admissions policies earlier this summer, a number of groups have raised concern over access and diversity at higher education institutions moving forward. At an ... -
ED Settles With Five Law Schools After Investigation Found They Improperly Disbursed Federal Financial Aid
August 29, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) announced on Thursday settlement agreements with five law schools after a Federal Student Aid (FSA) investigation found that those schools improperly disbursed Title IV funds to students in unaccredited Master of Laws... -
Analysis: Most Students Face Unmet Need When Paying for College
August 28, 2023 - An increasing number of students now face unmet need in higher education according to a new analysis out this month from the Institute of Higher Education Policy (IHEP), which also detailed concerningly stark financial disparities between student pop... -
FTC Cracks Down on a Pair of Student Loan Debt Relief Schemes
August 25, 2023 - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week, in a pair of actions, announced that they were cracking down on student loan debt relief schemes that sought to take advantage of consumers by promising deceptive loan forgiveness services. -
Biden Administration Officially Launches Application for New Income-Driven Repayment Plan
August 23, 2023 - The Biden administration on Tuesday officially launched the application for the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that the administration said will “make college more affordable and s... -
Report: Graduate Loans Could Soon Comprise the Majority of Federal Student Loan Portfolio
August 17, 2023 - A new report from the Department of Education (ED) examined trends of graduate student loan borrowing, noting that, if the current trajectory continues, graduate student loans could soon be a majority of the entire federal student loan portfolio. -
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit to Block ED’s Student Loan Forgiveness Through Administrative Fixes to Income-Driven Repayment Plans
August 16, 2023 - A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit from conservative groups that aimed to block the Department of Education (ED) from forgiving $39 billion in student loan debt after the department announced fixes to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. -
Survey: A Majority of Americans Believe in the Value of Postsecondary Education
August 10, 2023 - The majority of Americans continue to believe that postsecondary education is too expensive, but they also argue that pursuing an education beyond high school will provide students with a pathway to financial security. These findings are accord... -
New Lawsuit Challenges ED’s Student Loan Forgiveness After Fixes to Income-Driven Repayment Plans
August 8, 2023 - A new lawsuit aims to stop the Department of Education (ED) from forgiving $39 billion in student loan debt after the department announced fixes to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. -
Federal Appeals Court Blocks ED’s New Borrower Defense Rules
August 8, 2023 - A federal appeals court on Monday blocked the Department of Education’s (ED) new borrower defense to repayment rules from taking effect after a Texas for-profit college group filed a complaint. -
August State & Regional Association Updates
August 4, 2023 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what is going on in your state and regional financial aid administrator associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from California, Iowa, Ten... -
FSA Outlines 2024-25 FAFSA Simplification Changes in New Dear Colleague Letter
August 4, 2023 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Friday released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) outlining multiple changes in the 2024-25 award year due to FAFSA simplification, such as implementation of the Student Aid Index (SAI), and calculation of the f... -
University of Wisconsin Project Seeks to Connect Indigenous Students With Financial Aid Resources
August 3, 2023 - When Gresham Collom, a first descendant of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Tribe in Wisconsin, was first applying to college, he assumed that he didn’t have access to any college funding. But a few years later when his younger sister was applyin... -
10 Questions With NASFAA’s New National Chair, Helen Faith
August 1, 2023 - Meet Helen Faith, FAAC®, NASFAA's 2023-24 National Chair! As she begins her tenure, Helen took some time to discuss with Today's News her goals for the next year and what inspires her as a financial aid professional. -
House Education Subcommittee Discusses College Affordability, Student Debt Solutions
July 31, 2023 - The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee held its last hearing before its August recess on Thursday, touching on issues with college affordability, student loan debt, Pell Grants, gainful employment, price transparency, and m... -
‘This Is an All-Hands-on-Deck Situation’ – ED Hosts National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
July 27, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday hosted a day-long summit exploring the ways in which higher education can promote diversity, ensure equal opportunity, and reduce barriers for students entering postsecondary education. The event comes on... -
‘It Is a Moment for Innovation’ — Experts Give Perspectives on What’s Next After SCOTUS Decision on Race-Conscious Admissions Policies
July 20, 2023 - As the higher education community reels from the U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision on race-conscious admissions policies, experts from NASFAA and other higher education organizations gathered on Wednesday to discuss the implications of the... -
Biden’s Debt Relief Plan Heads to Negotiated Rulemaking Public Hearing
July 19, 2023 - As the Biden administration attempts to move its student debt relief plan through the negotiated rulemaking process, advocates, experts, and other stakeholders gathered on Tuesday to voice support and concerns at a Department of Education (ED) public... -
Penn Analysis Estimates Biden Administration’s New Income-Driven Repayment Plan Will Cost $475 Billion Over 10 Years
July 18, 2023 - As the Biden administration begins to early implement parts of its new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, the Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, analysts at the University Pennsylvania on Monday released a new brief that puts an est... -
ED Announces $39 Billion in Student Loan Forgiveness to Over 800,00 Borrowers After Fixes to Income-Driven Repayment Plans
July 14, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Friday announced that it will forgive $39 billion in federal student loan debt to 804,000 eligible borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans. -
NASFAA Virtual Conference Highlight: New Updates on FAFSA Simplification
July 13, 2023 - With all the upcoming changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA, NASFAA led a session at its Virtual Conference on Wednesday on key updates coming with FAFSA simplification, including changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA form, the new Student Aid Index (SAI), and more.&n... -
July State & Regional Association Updates
July 11, 2023 - In this monthly round-up in Today's News, we would like to highlight what is going on in your state and regional financial aid administrator associations. This month, we have the opportunity to hear from our colleagues from New York, Massachusetts, T... -
NASFAA Virtual Conference Highlight: Ensuring a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging
July 11, 2023 - NASFAA’s 2023 Virtual Conference kicked off on Monday morning with a session from LaQuenta Jacobs, who gave tips and examples on how to build and ensure an inclusive work environment amid challenging times as a leader. -
NASFAA 2023 Highlight: FAFSA Simplification and Public Policy Questions and Concerns
July 7, 2023 - During NASFAA’s National Conference in San Diego, attendees were able to attend three open forums — two on FAFSA simplification and one on public policy. Across those sessions, NASFAA members raised a number of questions and concerns rela... -
NASFAA 2023 Ends With Updates, Q&A on New Student Aid Index
July 2, 2023 - After days of learning, networking, and professional development, officials from the Department of Education (ED) closed the NASFAA 2023 National Conference with updates on the new Student Aid Index (SAI), which is replacing expected family contribut... -
NASFAA Staff Debriefs SCOTUS Decisions, Policy News at Inside the Beltway Session
July 1, 2023 - Amid two landmark decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on President Joe Biden’s student debt cancellation plan and institutions’ race-conscious admissions policies, NASFAA staff on Friday afternoon gave insight to attendees on w... -
‘It Is a Momentous Day:’ Panel Gives Tips to Administer Financial Aid As Pell Grants Become Widely Available to Incarcerated Students Again
July 1, 2023 - With Pell Grant eligibility officially restored to incarcerated students on Saturday, July 1, experts gathered for a panel at NASFAA’s 2023 National Conference on Friday to discuss how to provide financial aid to incarcerated students and how i... -
ED Officials Give Updates on FAFSA Simplification, SCOTUS Cases, and Other Initiatives at NASFAA 2023
July 1, 2023 - As the higher education community grapples with the latest news around this week’s U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decisions and subsequent response from the Biden administration, officials from the Department of Education (ED) provided attendees w... -
At 2023 National Conference, Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker Urges Aid Administrators to Call Out Racism, Inequities
June 30, 2023 - At NASFAA’s 2023 National Conference, Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker, II called on financial aid administrators to call out racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other inequities at their institutions in order to promote diversity. He urged aid ad... -
NASFAA Kicks Off 2023 National Conference With Message of Perseverance
June 30, 2023 - NASFAA’s National Conference in San Diego began on Thursday with the opening session outlining what attendees can expect for the next few days, and a keynote from Lt. Colonel Olga Custodio, the first Latina U.S. military pilot, about her story ... -
ED Officials Deliver Update on FAFSA Simplification at NASFAA National Conference
June 30, 2023 - As financial aid professionals prepare to implement some of the most significant changes to the federal student financial aid application process in decades, officials from the Department of Education (ED) delivered an update on the changes to the 20... -
Foxx, Cassidy Press ED for Plan on Resuming Student Loan Repayment
June 29, 2023 - Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), sent a letter on Tuesday to Education Se... -
Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Conscious Admissions Policies
June 29, 2023 - The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on Thursday ruled that race can not be considered in college and university admissions, striking down more than 40 years of precedent in a move that will also impact how some postsecondary student financial aid is awar... -
Lawmakers Discuss the Role of Short-Term Pell in Increasing Skills-Based Hiring
June 23, 2023 - The House Education and the Workforce Committee on Thursday held a hearing focusing on skills-based hiring, which touched on issues of college affordability, student loan debt, and short-term Pell Grants. -
Study: Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Would Erase All Debt for Majority of Incarcerated Borrowers
June 22, 2023 - A new study from the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) found that if President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation is implemented, a majority of incarcerated borrowers would have the entirety of their student loan debt forgiven. -
OTC From the Field: NASFAA Conference Preview
June 16, 2023 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Dana Kelly, NASFAA’s vice president of professional development and institutional compliance, and Kristi Jovell, director of student financial services operations and communications at Middlebury... -
Republican Senators Introduce Bill Package Aimed at Lowering Higher Ed Costs and Student Debt
June 15, 2023 - A group of Republican senators on Wednesday introduced the Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act, a package of five bills aimed at lowering the rising costs of higher education and rising amount of student loan debt. -
Study: Borrowers Increased Their Personal Debt During Student Loan Payment Pause
May 26, 2023 - A new working paper published in the National Bureau of Economic Research found that federal student loan borrowers — whose monthly payments and interest accrual have been paused since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — increased their ... -
Kvaal, Cordray Testify During House Education Subcommittee Hearing
May 25, 2023 - Two of the Department of Education’s (ED) top higher education officials — Under Secretary James Kvaal and Federal Student Aid (FSA) Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray — on Wednesday testified during a House Higher Education an... -
NASFAA Endorses Grothman’s Bill to Give Financial Aid Administrators Authority to Limit Student Loan Borrowing
May 22, 2023 - Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc.) last week introduced legislation that would allow institutions to limit the amount of federal loans that a student can borrow, which Grothman said would help students from overborrowing loans they won’t be able to ... -
Biden Administration Requests Federal Judge to Dismiss SoFi’s Lawsuit to End Student Loan Payment Pause
May 17, 2023 - The Biden administration on Monday filed a motion requesting a federal judge to dismiss SoFi’s lawsuit against the Department of Education (ED) which seeks to immediately end the ongoing freeze on federal student loan payments and interest accr... -
NASFAA Mourns the Loss of Gerald 'Jerry' Bird
May 16, 2023 - It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Gerald "Jerry” Bird, who served for 35 years in the financial aid profession, including as president of the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA) ... -
ED Calls on Colleges to Prioritize Federal Work-Study Funds for Tutors, Mentors, and Student Success Coaches
May 12, 2023 - Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Wednesday sent a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) to university, college, and school district leaders encouraging them to work together to use Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds and other federal resources to increase the... -
FTC Stopped Two Student Loan Debt Relief Schemes That Defrauded $12 Million From Borrowers
May 11, 2023 - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday announced that it stopped two student loan debt relief schemes that defrauded $12 million from borrowers by using deceptive claims about repayment programs and loan forgiveness that did not exist. -
House Education Committee Advances Resolution to End Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
May 11, 2023 - The House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday advanced legislation that would overturn President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and end the pause on federal student loan payments. -
ED: Over 615,000 Borrowers Received Public Service Loan Forgiveness Since October 2021
May 9, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday announced that over 615,000 borrowers received Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) since October 2021, due to previous temporary PSLF changes made by the Biden administration. -
OTC From the Field: Examining the Paying for College Transparency Initiative
May 5, 2023 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Policy Analyst Megan Walter and Scott Cline, senior vice president of enrollment management and auxiliary services at California College of the Arts. The group discusses the mission and goals of... -
Survey: Financial Barriers Are The Biggest Reasons Why People Don’t Enroll in Higher Education
May 4, 2023 - A new survey from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that for U.S. adults without a college degree or credential, financial barriers are the biggest reasons why they aren’t currently enrolled in higher education. -
Q&A With Brenda Burke, Chair of the 2023 Conference Mentor Task Force
May 3, 2023 - The NASFAA 2023 National Conference is just around the corner, and for many attendees, this will be their first time attending the annual gathering. Today’s News caught up with Brenda Burke, chair of the 2023 Conference Mento... -
Brief: SAP Requirements Create Barriers to Underserved Students
May 1, 2023 - A new policy brief out of Higher Learning Advocates argues that satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements disproportionately impact low-income students and students of color, leaving many without federal financial aid and without ever complet... -
New Series Examines Student Loan Debt Disparities in the South
April 27, 2023 - A new research series from the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) explores student loan disparities in Southern cities across the country, and found that majority-Black neighborhoods in Atlanta have seen disproportionate growth in student debt... -
FSA Provides Details About New Contracts With Student Loan Servicers, Plans for Unified Servicing and Data Solution
April 27, 2023 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Wednesday provided more details about the newly awarded contracts to five student loan servicers, and what’s next under the Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS), part of the Department of Educati... -
ED: Updated College Scorecard Will Help Students Find High-Value Postsecondary Programs
April 26, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday announced an update to its College Scorecard, a free online tool that helps students make decisions when choosing a college or university. The update will help students find and enroll in postsecondary inst... -
OTC Voices From the Aid Office: Samantha Hicks
April 21, 2023 - This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Samantha Hicks, assistant vice president of financial aid and scholarships at Coastal Carolina University. Sam speaks with Justin about her experience of growing up in ... -
Cardona Urges Higher Education Leaders to ‘Fight Complacency’ in Year Ahead
April 17, 2023 - In a wide-ranging conversation at the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Annual Meeting on Friday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona shared some of his hopes for the Biden administration's higher education policy efforts, as well as how he ... -
SCOTUS Rejects Application From Three Colleges to Halt Student Loan Debt Cancellation
April 14, 2023 - The United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on Thursday rejected an emergency application from three colleges that asked to stop a $6 billion borrower defense settlement, which will discharge more than $6 billion owed by approximately 200,000 borrowers. -
NASFAA Gives Comments on R2T4 and Third-Party Servicers at ED’s Public Hearings
April 13, 2023 - NASFAA on Wednesday provided public comment and expressed concerns related to return of Title IV funds (R2T4) and recent guidance on third-party servicers during the Department of Education’s (ED) second day of negotiated rulemaking public hear... -
Biden Signs Bill to End COVID-19 National Emergency, Prompting Questions for Financial Aid Community
April 12, 2023 - President Joe Biden on Monday signed a bill that ended the COVID-19 national emergency, about a month before it was set to expire along with a separate public health emergency, leaving questions regarding what that means for pandemic flexibilities an... -
ED Continues Negotiated Rulemaking With Public Hearings on Third-Party Servicers, Return of Title IV Funds, and More
April 12, 2023 - Many advocates and higher education experts on Tuesday shared comments with the Department of Education (ED) in the first of several public hearing sessions happening this week on negotiated rulemaking topics the department plans to tackle in the com... -
Lawmakers Urge Senate Appropriators to Increase Federal Funding for FSA
April 11, 2023 - Seventeen senators on Sunday sent a letter to Senate appropriation leaders urging them to increase funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), noting that increased funding is necessary for the office to “implement critical programs.&r... -
Warren and Pressley Demand Answers From SoFi After It Sued to End Student Loan Payment Pause
April 7, 2023 - Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) on Wednesday sent a letter to Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi, asking several questions about why the student loan refinancing company sued the Department of Education (ED) to end the stude... -
Three Institutions Ask SCOTUS to Halt $6 Billion Student Loan Debt Settlement
April 6, 2023 - Three institutions on Wednesday submitted an emergency application to the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS), asking it to halt a $6 billion student loan debt settlement and arguing that Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has abused his authority t... -
NASFAA Joins Call for Congress to Double Pell, Invest in Higher Education in FY 2024 Budget
April 5, 2023 - NASFAA joined several other higher education organizations in a letter urging members of Congress to keep student aid funding a high priority during the fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations process. -
CFPB Distributes Over $4.7 Million to Consumers Impacted by Financial Aid Scam
April 3, 2023 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced on Friday that it is distributing over $4.7 million to consumers impacted by a financial aid scam from the College Financial Advisory and Student Financial Resource Center. -
Q&A With Kristi Jovell, Chair of the 2023 Conference Program Task Force
March 30, 2023 - With NASFAA’s 2023 National Conference just a few months away, Today’s News caught up with Kristi Jovell, chair of the 2023 Conference Program Task Force and NASFAA’s national chair-elect for the 2023-24 year, on what ... -
Braun Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Student Loan Origination Fees
March 30, 2023 - Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that would amend a section of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and eliminate origination fees on federal direct student loans, which he says “adds unnecessary debt to student borrowers ... -
Warren Calls For More Higher Education Oversight, Accountability
March 29, 2023 - Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Sunday wrote a letter to the Department of Education (ED) demanding that the department goes beyond publishing an annual list of low-financial-value programs and exercises more oversight and accountability to higher... -
Grant Program Challenges Institutions to Help Students Succeed After Graduation
March 28, 2023 - As institutions work to help students complete their degree or credential, one organization is challenging institutions to look at other measures of students’ success beyond completion. -
Senate Republicans Introduce Resolution to End Biden’s Student Debt Cancellation Plan
March 28, 2023 - A group of Senate Republicans on Monday introduced legislation that would overturn President Joe Biden’s student debt cancellation plan and end the pause on federal student loan payments. -
House Subcommittee Hearing Takes Aim at Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Plan
March 24, 2023 - The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee on Thursday held a hearing on President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation plan, focusing on what the cost of the program will have on taxpayers along with solutions for stude... -
OTC Voices From the Aid Office: Alex DeLonis
March 24, 2023 - This week on a special episode of “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Alex DeLonis, the director of financial aid at Wabash College. Alex speaks with Justin about his experience as a first-generation college student and the issues he deal... -
ED: GOP’s Proposed Budget Cuts Would Have ‘Damaging’ Impact for Students, Economy
March 21, 2023 - The Department of Education on Friday sent a letter to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, outlining the potential impact that funding cuts would have on higher education and financial aid. -
FSA Announces Date Range, Road Map for 2024-25 FAFSA Launch
March 21, 2023 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Tuesday released a road map outlining delivery dates for 2024-25 FAFSA resources and confirmed that the new FAFSA will be released sometime in December this year. -
As More Institutions Announce Tuition Assistance for Low-Income Students, Barriers to Access Remain
March 20, 2023 - Though the worst of the pandemic may be behind us, students and families are still feeling the financial burden when it comes to paying for college, as inflation has impacted the cost of groceries, rent, and other living expenses. Just this month, Fe... -
Experts Discuss How to Protect Higher Ed Funding During Recessions
March 16, 2023 - A group of higher education policy experts gathered for a webinar on Wednesday to discuss possible solutions to ensure higher education has stable federal and state funding during economic downturns, making them “recession proof.” -
CFPB Discovers Illegal Junk Fees on Student Loans
March 9, 2023 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Wednesday released a report highlighting unlawful junk fees uncovered in deposit accounts and in multiple loan servicing markets, including student loans. -
Biden’s 2024 Budget Proposal Doubles Down on Funding for Pell Grants, Free Community College, and Federal Student Aid Administration
March 9, 2023 - President Joe Biden on Thursday released his first budget request for fiscal year 2024, which would boost funding for the Department of Education (ED) by 13.6%, and includes plans to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $820, provide more funding... -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Biden's Student Debt Relief Program Faces SCOTUS
March 3, 2023 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to recap and debrief how President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation program fared ... -
ED Updates Effective Date of Guidance on Third-Party Servicers After ‘Uncertainty’
March 1, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday announced in an updated Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) that it is adjusting the effective date of its new guidance on third-party servicers to Sept. 1, 2023, from its original date, rather than immediately as ... -
ICYMI: As HBCU Funding Garners More Attention, Experts Hope For Lasting Change
February 28, 2023 - Advocates, alumni, journalists, experts, and more have been ringing alarm bells for decades about the critical underfunding of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). And while there have been recent efforts at both the state and federa... -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Examining New Guidance From ED on Third Party Servicers
February 24, 2023 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss updated guidance from the Department of Education (ED) about third party servicers. Jill dives into the guidance, including what concerns institutions should have and what it means to be cl... -
Borrowers From Lower-Income Areas Applied for Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Program at a Higher Rate Than Those From Wealthier Neighborhoods, a New Analysis Found
February 23, 2023 - Student loan borrowers from lower-income neighborhoods applied for President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief program at a higher rate compared to those from wealthier neighborhoods, with most applicants coming from locations where the per-... -
College and University Endowment Returns Fell in 2022, Reflecting ‘Turbulent’ Year With Surging Inflation
February 21, 2023 - Despite the fact that endowment returns dropped in fiscal year 2022, colleges and universities reported more endowment spending than the previous year, with the largest percentage of spending supporting student financial aid, according to a new repor... -
ICYMI: Administrators Discuss the Financial Aid Implications of SCOTUS’ Decision of Race-Conscious Admission Policies
February 15, 2023 - With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to release an opinion on race-conscious admission policies this week, read through the possible implications this decision could have on financial aid offices. Some members share how their institutions are prepari... -
MVP Ryan West, FAAC®
February 14, 2023 - Meet Ryan West, FAAC®. Ryan started his career as an auditor for a public accounting firm, but would later move back to his alma mater, Western Oregon University, as a financial aid counselor. Now, 21 years later, Ryan is the execut... -
NASFAA’s 2023 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo Kicks Off
February 7, 2023 - Over 400 financial aid professionals — the largest number in the conference’s history — convened in Washington, D.C. on Monday for NASFAA's Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo to grow professionally, learn, network, a... -
FSA Noncommittal on October 1 FAFSA Launch Date
February 7, 2023 - Officials from the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) did not commit to an Oct. 1, 2023, launch date for the 2024-25 FAFSA during a session on FAFSA simplification Tuesday morning as part of NASFAA’s ongoing Leadership & Legislative Confer... -
OTC Inside the Beltway: What the End of the COVID-19 National Emergency Means For Financial Aid
February 3, 2023 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss new data from the Department of Education on how Higher Education Emergency Relief... -
NCAN Report: $3.6 Billion in Pell Grants Went Unclaimed in 2022
February 1, 2023 - Students who graduated from high school in 2022 left about $3.6 billion in Pell Grants unclaimed by not completing the FAFSA, a new report from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) found. -
FSA Annual Report Highlights Student Loan Repayment Pause and Cancellation, Calls for Reforms to Increase Equity
January 27, 2023 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Monday released its annual performance report which included details on a wide range of topics, such as the student loan portfolio, employee engagement, data protection and cybersecurity, and updates on its ... -
Pell Grants May Not Meet Incarcerated Students’ Financial Need, Research Shows
January 24, 2023 - In just a few months, Pell Grants will be widely available to eligible incarcerated students who were previously restricted from accessing grants due to a federal ban implemented in 1994. As students and institutions prepare for this change, new rese... -
Measures of College Value Should Take Race Into Account, New Brief Argues
January 24, 2023 - A new analysis out of The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) examines a different way to measure the value of a college education, centering the metric on race. The analysis introduces the Race and Economic Mobility (REM) metric, whic... -
ED Awards Over $30 Million in Grants to Institutions to Improve Opportunities For Students From Underrepresented Communities
January 23, 2023 - The Department of Education (ED) on Friday announced 38 grant awards to institutions totaling more than $30 million under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). FIPSE, which has five grant programs, aims to improve higher ed... -
Survey: Higher Ed Supervisors Are Also Joining the ‘Great Resignation’
January 19, 2023 - As the higher education sector deals with the repercussions of significant turnover and staffing shortages, a new report out of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) found that supervisors in higher educati... -
Coalition Filed 13 Amicus Curiae Briefs With SCOTUS in Support of Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation
January 12, 2023 - A coalition of states, experts, and advocates on Wednesday filed 13 amicus curiae briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of President Joe Biden's student loan cancellation, which was put to a halt after several legal challenges. -
NASFAA Seeks Assurances of October Launch for 2024-25 FAFSA
January 9, 2023 - NASFAA, along with the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), recently sent a joint letter to the Domestic Policy Council and Department of Education (ED) asking the administration to confirm that the 2024-25 FAFSA will be live on Oct. 1, 2023, ... -
Q&A With Anthony Jones, Chair of the Resumption of Loan Repayment Task Force
January 4, 2023 - With the Resumption of Loan Repayment Task Force coming to an end next month, chair Anthony Jones spoke with NASFAA about the task force’s work over the past few months. The purpose of the Resumption of Loan Repayment Task Fo... -
A Year in Review: The Biggest Financial Aid News of 2022
January 3, 2023 - Looking back at 2022, some of the biggest news surrounded President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation plan, which would cancel between $10,000 and $20,000 in student loan debt for eligible borrowers. While the plan is currently stalled and ... -
2022 Year In Review: Our Featured MVPs
December 21, 2022 - NASFAA's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) is a series that features a brief Q&A with notable NASFAA members — with questions ranging from what they wish they knew their first year working in financial aid to how they relax in their free tim... -
Q&A With Amy Cable: What to Expect From the Succession Planning Pathway
December 19, 2022 - The NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo is just around the corner. With the conference offering five different pathways, today we’re highlighting the Succession Planning Pathway, with the pathway’s chai... -
OTC AskRegs Experts: The National Emergency's Impact on Financial Aid and Upcoming Changes to Professional Judgment
December 15, 2022 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss how rescinding the national emergency could impact financial aid and how the rollout of FAFSA Simplification will bring about changes to professional judgment. Jill dives into how House Rep... -
VA Announces Delay of Enrollment Management System Transition
December 14, 2022 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the implementation of its new enrollment management system, named Enrollment Manager, will be delayed from mid-January 2023 to early March 2023. Last week, NASFAA, along with other higher educati... -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing GAO's Report on Financial Aid Offers
December 9, 2022 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on financial aid ... -
Q&A With Dr. Christina Tangalakis: What to Expect From the FAAC® Forum
December 5, 2022 - With the NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo just two months away, we’re highlighting one of the five pathways members can register for, the FAAC® Forum, with Dr. Christina Tangalakis, chair of the Certif... -
GAO: Institutions Are Not Providing Clear and Standard Information in Financial Aid Offers
December 6, 2022 - Institutions are not providing students clear and standard information in their financial aid offers, often not including or understating the net price, which could confuse students and their families, according to a new report out of the Government ... -
Education Secretary Cardona Warns Against Complacency in FSA Conference Keynote
December 1, 2022 - As the Federal Student Aid (FSA) annual training conference continues, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona gave a keynote address on Wednesday highlighting successes of the Biden administration, including increasing the maximum Pell Grant award and st... -
MVP Gena Boling, FAAC®
November 30, 2022 - Meet Gena Boling. Gena got her start in higher education in 2003, first working in student affairs where she focused on student conduct, student government, and Greek life. From there, Gena moved to residence life before eventually tran... -
2022 Year in Review: NASFAA's 10 Most Popular Original Articles
November 28, 2022 - This year, financial aid took a front seat in the news cycle and among discussions over public policy. Most notably, President Joe Biden announced his student loan cancellation plan, which would forgive between $10,000 to $20,000 in student loans for... -
How First-Generation Students Prepare and Perceive College Affordability
November 23, 2022 - A new white paper by Citizens and Everfi highlights how first-generation students prepare and plan to pay for college, as well as those students’ perceptions about attending higher education. -
Higher Ed Legislation to Watch in the Next Congressional Session
November 21, 2022 - The 118th Congress is sure to be split, with Democrats maintaining control of the Senate and Republicans flipping the House, meaning that passing any legislation — let alone bills related to higher education — is likely to be challenging.... -
NASFAA Joins Letter Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Protect Dreamers
November 21, 2022 - NASFAA signed on to a letter sent by the American Council on Education urging congressional leaders to pass legislation to protect Dreamers after recent court decisions declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal. -
Judge Grants Final Approval to Borrower Defense Settlement
November 18, 2022 - A federal judge in California granted final approval on Wednesday to a settlement that will cancel billions of dollars in federal student loans for hundreds of thousands of borrowers who argue they were defrauded by their college. -
Arizona Voters Approve Proposition to Give Non-Citizens In-State College Tuition
November 17, 2022 - A ballot measure that would grant in-state tuition to undocumented students in Arizona was narrowly approved by voters on Monday night, the Associated Press called. -
ED Releases Recommendations on How Colleges Could Spend Leftover COVID-19 Funds
November 15, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday released a letter listing recommendations colleges could take to use unspent COVID-19 relief money in order to expand career programs and pathways for students. -
Q&A With Samantha Veeder, Chair of the Advancing the Profession Task Force
November 3, 2022 - With the Advancing the Profession Task Force beginning its work last month, chair Samantha Veeder, FAAC®, spoke with NASFAA about the task force’s upcoming plans. The purpose of the Advancing the Profession Task Force is to cr... -
NASFAA Joins Call for Congress to Support Tax-Free Pell Grant Act
November 1, 2022 - NASFAA, along with several higher education organizations, signed on to a letter by the American Council on Education (ACE) urging leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to include the Tax-Free Pell Grant Act i... -
ED Issues Final Rules on Borrower Defense, Closed School Discharges, Total and Permanent Disability Discharges, Interest Capitalization, False Certification, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
November 1, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) on Monday announced highly anticipated final rules on a number of issues, including the contentious borrower defense to repayment regulations, which aim to create an easier path for borrowers defrauded by their instit... -
ED’s Office of Inspector General Releases Alert on Student Loan Relief Scams
October 31, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a public service announcement on Thursday warning borrowers of scams related to President Joe Biden’s student loan relief and the pause on student loan repayments. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Updates to Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness
October 28, 2022 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the temporary block on President Joe Biden’s plans for student loan canc... -
13 Reasons Why NASFAA Members Are Awesome
October 24, 2022 - The last year has brought an onslaught of new challenges, but you're still getting the job done, and showing up to help and support students and their families. Read on to find out why we think NASFAA members are so awesome. -
Pandemic Still Impacts College Pricing and Student Aid, Annual Report Finds
October 24, 2022 - After the pandemic started many institutions froze tuition for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years. But as the pandemic began to wane and students returned to campus, more institutions raised tuition and fees for the 2022-23 academic year than in ... -
Addressing Burnout in Higher Education
October 20, 2022 - Like much of the American workforce, higher education employees said they felt burnt out and exhausted during the COVID-19 pandemic — a phenomenon that led to resignations across campuses and teams being short-staffed. A new brief from the Amer... -
Biden's Student Loan Cancellation Application Opens for Beta Testing
October 16, 2022 - The application to receive President Joe Biden's student loan cancellation opened on Friday evening for beta testing. Over the last several days, borrowers have been able to begin submitting their application ahead of the official launch, which is ex... -
NASFAA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
October 14, 2022 - As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, NASFAA is highlighting several Latino members and the work they do in financial aid offices across the country. We asked these members how their community helped or inspired them to work in financial aid. ... -
OTC From the Field: Examining and Addressing Needed Reforms to the Student Loan System
October 14, 2022 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, Megan, and Rachel discuss student loan debt reform recommendations NASFAA made with support from a grant provided by Arnold Ventures. The conversation touches on three main areas, which include how to impro... -
Scott, DeLauro Outline Future of Higher Education After Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief
October 13, 2022 - Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, chairwoman of the House Committee on Appropriations, spoke about President Joe Biden's student loan debt relief, other legislation aimed at stude... -
It Starts With Access: How Institutions Are Supporting First-Generation Students
October 6, 2022 - The college application season — and the financial aid applications that go hand-in-hand — are now well underway for students from all walks of life, including those who may be the first in their family to attend college. And while expert... -
CFPB: Blanket Withholding of Transcripts to Pressure Institutional Loan Borrowers Is ‘Abusive’
October 5, 2022 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Thursday released a report that found some institutions had improper blanket policies of withholding transcripts to force students to make payments on institutional loans. -
NASFAA Report Highlights Student, Institutional Experiences With COVID-19 Pandemic Funds
October 5, 2022 - A new report out today from NASFAA documents the experiences students and institutions had with emergency COVID-19 funding, including how institutions doled out those funds to students, and what those students used the emergency funds for – lik... -
Federal Student Loan Servicers Violated Federal Consumer Law, CFPB Report Finds
October 3, 2022 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Thursday released a report that found federal student loan servicers illegally hampered borrowers’ access to federal student loan payment relief and cancellation programs. -
NASFAA, Along With Other Organizations, Urges Biden to Extend PSLF Waiver
September 28, 2022 - The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Coalition, which NASFAA is a member of, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging for the extension of the temporary PSLF waiver through July 2023. -
Some States Could Tax Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief
September 26, 2022 - While President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief won’t be federally taxed, millions of borrowers may have to pay state income tax if they receive the relief. -
MVP Patti Kohler, FAAC®
September 21, 2022 - Meet Patti Kohler, FAAC®, vice president of financial aid at Western Governors University. Patti got her start in financial aid as a financial aid counselor at Utah State University and has worked in financial aid for 17 years. Whil... -
As Inflation Rises, Institutions Create More Resources to Help Students and Employees
September 20, 2022 - Within the past year, the costs of groceries, housing, utilities, and gas have increased, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just between June 2021 to June 2022, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers increased 9.1%, which i... -
Report: Parent PLUS Debt Disproportionately Burdens Lower-Income Borrowers
September 20, 2022 - The Parent PLUS loan program creates “immense debt” for thousands of low-income parents each year, which they will struggle to pay off, due to poor policy design and compounded by structural inequalities, a new report out of Georgetown Un... -
Foxx Outlines Republican Vision for Higher Education Reform
September 15, 2022 - As the midterm elections approach, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), ranking member of the House Education and Labor committee, spoke about implementing the Responsible Education Assistance Through Loan (REAL) Reforms Act as a part of a future Higher Educ... -
Lawmakers Press Servicers on How They’re Communicating With Borrowers After Student Debt Relief Announcement
September 14, 2022 - Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) sent a letter to 10 loan servicers requesting more information about how the companies are communicating with borrowers about receiving President Joe Biden’s student loan relief... -
Top House Republicans Request Hearing Over Biden’s Student Loan Relief Plan
September 9, 2022 - House Republicans are demanding an oversight hearing on President Joe Biden’s student loan relief plan, which would cancel $10,000 to $20,000 of student loan debt for millions of borrowers, claiming the plan is illegal, unfair, and chaotic.&nbs... -
Education Department Releases More Details About Biden’s Loan Debt Relief
September 7, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) posted more information about President Joe Biden’s student debt relief announcement, including updated information on eligible loans and other frequently asked questions. -
FTC Warns Borrowers of Scammers After Biden’s Loan Cancellation Announcement
September 6, 2022 - Just a week after President Joe Biden announced that he is canceling $10,000 to $20,000 in student loan debt for millions of borrowers and extending the student loan repayment pause, borrowers are already reporting that they’re receiving emails... -
Experts Share How to Tackle Tough Conversations Around Financial Aid
September 2, 2022 - As institutions begin their fall semester, some financial aid administrators across the country might have received phone calls and messages from students and families saying they can’t afford to attend their institution anymore after getting t... -
Personal Information of Over 2.5 Million Borrowers Exposed in Nelnet Data Breach
September 2, 2022 - Over 2.5 million borrowers who have taken out student loans with either the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority (OSLA) or Edfinancial had their personal information exposed in a data breach this summer. -
New Bill Would Make Institutions Repay Some of Defaulted Students’ Loan Debt
September 1, 2022 - A new bill introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) would make institutions responsible to pay back a percentage of borrowers’ loans if they defaulted on payments and require the Department of Education (ED) to post data from public institutions,... -
Education Department Cancels $1.5 Billion in Loans for Former Westwood College Students
August 31, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) announced on Tuesday that it will cancel $1.5 billion in outstanding student loans for borrowers who attended Westwood College, a private for-profit college that shuttered in 2016. -
Some Borrowers Are Getting Their Pandemic Payments Refunded in Order to Maximize Loan Forgiveness
August 30, 2022 - After President Joe Biden announced his plan for student loan cancellation last week, one of the first questions that started to surface was: What about borrowers who have already paid off their student loans? As it turns out, those borrowers who mad... -
Updated: Biden Takes Executive Action on Student Loan Cancellation, Extends Repayment Pause
August 24, 2022 - This article has been updated to note that the relief includes current students and borrowers who have federally-held undergraduate, graduate, and Parent PLUS loans where the first disbursement was on or before June 30, 2022. A previous version of th... -
Free Tuition Programs for Indigenous Students Pick Up Steam Across the Country
August 23, 2022 - Just within this year, multiple institutions across the country have announced programs that would provide free tuition to Indigenous students. Some experts say it’s part of a growing trend. -
Low-Income Student Parents Cannot Afford College and Child Care, Report Finds
August 19, 2022 - Low-income student parents on average would need to work 52 hours per week, on top of their full-time classes, to cover child care and tuition costs at a four-year public institution in the U.S., a new report by the Education Trust (Ed Trust) and Gen... -
Education Department Cancels $3.9 Billion of Student Debt for Former ITT Tech Students
August 17, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) announced on Tuesday it would cancel $3.9 billion worth of federal student loans owed by former students of ITT Technical Institute (ITT), a for-profit college that shut down in September 2016. -
Poll: Support For Free College Upticks After Last Year’s Pandemic Low
August 16, 2022 - Support for free two-year and four-year public college leapt up this year after reaching a low point in 2021 but partisan divides among Republicans and Democrats remain strong, according to a new survey by Education Next. -
10 Questions With NASFAA’s New National Chair, Brad Barnett
August 12, 2022 - Meet Brad Barnett, FAAC®, the associate vice president for access and enrollment management and the director of financial aid and scholarships at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and NASFAA's 2022-23 National Chair. As... -
GAO: Education Department Should Improve Outreach for Borrowers Whose Institutions Close
August 12, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) often takes months to identify when a college closes and doesn’t always provide borrowers the information they need to obtain a closed school discharge of their federal loans, the Government Accountability Offic... -
Questions Surround the Apparent Launch of Operation ‘Fresh Start’
August 10, 2022 - The Department of Education (ED) has quietly begun implementing the so-called “Fresh Start” initiative, which was originally touted as a way for delinquent and defaulted borrowers to reenter repayment in good standing. But many questions ... -
Panel Discusses Student Debt Crisis and Its Impact on Black Women
August 9, 2022 - As student loan borrowers wait for the Biden administration to issue an announcement concerning the student loan payment pause, a group of experts discussed the negative impact of student debt on Black women borrowers. -
House Republicans Propose Student Loan Reforms, Pell Grants for Short-Term Programs, and Limits on ED Authority
August 4, 2022 - House Republicans are championing a new proposal to bring targeted reform to the sprawling student loan portfolio, while at the same time challenging their Democratic counterparts to do the same, rather than allow the administration to tinker with th... -
Education Department, FSA Fall Below Median in Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings
August 2, 2022 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) was ranked the 296th best place to work in the federal government out of 432 subcomponent agencies in 2021, according to the annual calculations by the Partnership for Public Service and the Boston Consulting G... -
GAO Report: Federal Direct Loans Cost Federal Government $197 Billion
August 1, 2022 - While the Department of Education (ED) initially estimated that the Direct Loan program would generate billions in income for the federal government, a new report released Friday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that the studen... -
Bipartisan Bill Reintroduced to Prevent Student Loan Borrower Default
July 28, 2022 - A bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduced legislation that would aim to help student loan borrowers avoid default by automatically enrolling delinquent borrowers in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and streamlining the renewal process. -
Paper Examines Who Would Benefit From PSLF Program Waivers
July 11, 2022 - Full participation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver program would narrow the racial gap in student debt burden and largely benefit teachers and health care workers, found a new working paper published in the National Bureau of Eco... -
NASFAA Signs Letter Calling for Repeal of Pell Grant Taxability
July 8, 2022 - NASFAA joined over a dozen other higher education organizations in a letter calling on Congress to make legislative changes that would help low-income students retain more of their financial aid by repealing the taxation of federal Pell Grants, which... -
NASFAA, Other Organizations, Support Bill to Clarify VA 85-15 Rule
July 7, 2022 - NASFAA joined more than a dozen other higher education organizations in a letter praising new legislation that addresses concerns stemming from recent policy changes to the 85-15 rule by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).