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The court overseeing the nurse practitioner (NP) and physician associate (PA) groups' (plaintiffs) lawsuit against the Department of Education (ED), challenging ED’s definition of a professional degree under the RISE final rule, has set a briefing schedule that will run through early December. This timeline means that the June 29 Electronic Announcement (EA) issued by ED updating the list of professional degree programs eligible for higher Unsubsidized Loan limits will likely remain in effect until a final decision is made by the judge, which can happen any time after December 4, unless ED successfully appeals the stay or takes other action.

NASFAA is pleased to share its response to the Department of Education's (ED) request for comments on its information collection for the Federal Direct Loan Program Regulations for Forbearance and Loan Rehabilitation, specifically ED's new Digital Rehabilitation Application. The department has redesigned the application as part of its efforts to simplify the loan rehabilitation process for borrowers with defaulted loans. NASFAA's comments address the application's default status banner and pre-application disclosure language, including a recommendation that ED account for the second rehabilitation opportunity created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) starting July 1, 2027, as well as the sequencing of spousal information collection during the Marital Status step.

No action is required, according to the FAFSA Specifications Guide Volume 7, Comment Codes: No action is required unless the school chooses to have a policy to institutionally select the student for identity verification in tracking group V4 (or V5), or if the school finds conflicting information related to the student's identity in its own files that needs to be resolved. These students have been deemed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to not require any additional follow-up, and NASFAA generally recommends against unnecessary documentation requirements for students or schools. View the full answer to this question to learn more.

Help shape the agenda for NASFAA’s premier event! Each summer, more than 2,300 financial aid professionals gather at the NASFAA National Conference to learn, network, and share ideas. The Conference Program Task Force ensures high-quality sessions by reviewing proposals and building the conference program. Members must attend an in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., in late fall or early winter. Conference attendance in June is not required. To get involved, review the task force charter on the volunteer information page and complete the volunteer form by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, July 31, 2026.

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