This week on "Off the Cuff," Jill, Sarah, and Maria discuss the breaking news this week that, in a reversal of guidance, the Department of Education (ED) is now including Graduate PLUS loans in the new $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit established through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Jill explains what this means for students and walks listeners through different student scenarios. From there, Sarah debriefs listeners on the latest Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from ED regarding the new Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability (STATS) framework. Sarah provides some background on what is included in the NPRM, and notes that NASFAA will be submitting its own comments on the proposed regulations. 

Speakers

Jill Desjean Director of Policy Analysis	Sarah Austin Policy Analyst	Maria Carrasco Reporter

This episode of Off The Cuff is brought to you by our NASFAA 2026 National Conference.

Registration is now open for the NASFAA 2026 National Conference taking place June 29 - July 2, 2026, in National Harbor, MD. As you know, there are significant changes underway in the world of federal student financial aid policy. NASFAA 2026 will offer critical and timely professional development to help your institution remain compliant, informed, and student-focused. This conference will bring together thousands of aid professionals for in-depth training on regulatory updates, implementation strategies, and emerging best practices. Register online at nasfaa.org/conference by May 1 to take advantage of early bird discounts.

Resources

• Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube
• Episode Transcript (PDF)
• In a Reversal, ED Says Graduate PLUS Loans Will Count Toward New Lifetime Borrowing Limit
• AskRegs: Do Direct Loan Lifetime Limits Include Amounts Borrowed Prior To July 1, 2026?
• Available On Demand: Graduate and Professional Community Update
• ED Issues Proposed Regulations for New STATS Earnings Accountability Framework
• One Big Beautiful Bill Act Web Center

Send your thoughts, questions, and comments. We'd love to hear what you think.