In a letter addressed to all university presidents and governing boards, Education Secretary Linda McMahon calls on institutional leaders to publicly support the Trump administration’s policies to reform higher education by the end of the year. Learn more: https://ow.ly/8TgC50Zwh9U

Trump administration asks colleges to commit to education overhaul

Trump administration asks colleges to commit to education overhaul

Education Secretary Linda McMahon's letter contains some similarities to a compact offered to and rejected by a small group of schools last year.

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We know your students enrolled in professional degree programs have questions about the recent court ruling and its implications for federal student loan borrowing. That's why we created a new student-facing resource to help answer common questions in plain language: https://ow.ly/mJaX50ZwANp

Several members of the Trump administration, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, sent a letter to Congressional leadership calling on them to support the administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education through interagency agreements. Learn more: https://ow.ly/VmPX50ZwhkQ

States expand student loan options as new federal borrowing caps take effect — but they come with trade-offs

States expand student loan options as new federal borrowing caps take effect — but they come with trade-offs

Some states — including Connecticut, Minnesota and Rhode Island — have expanded their own student loan programs amid new limits on federal borrowing.

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The state-led lawsuit over the Department of Education’s definition of a professional degree is moving forward. The court entered a scheduling order, setting out the dates for the case to be heard, with the case likely to continue into November 2026. Learn more: https://ow.ly/hQT550ZvPMT

Senate HELP Advances College Transparency Act and Seeks to Limit ED’s Interagency Agreements We summarized what financial aid professionals need to know about this latest legislation markup: https://ow.ly/a3Hz50ZvPhu

New Loan Limit Proration Rule Raises Concern Among Financial Aid Experts The rule—which proportionally limits how much a student can borrow based on how many credit hours they take—seems simple. But aid officers say it’s quite complicated and warn that... https://bit.ly/4hC8M5E

An ongoing legal challenge to the Department of Education’s wind-down of the SAVE repayment plan was recently amended, with plaintiffs arguing that the department’s actions to sunset the SAVE plan’s precursor, REPAYE, violates the Administrative Procedure Act: https://ow.ly/uTAw50ZtU6g

Starting next year, Compton College will make some basic needs supports for students dependent on their meeting certain academic goals. Is this a good idea? @saraweissman.insidehighered.com @insidehighered.com investigates: www.insidehighered.com/news/student...

Compton College Ties Basic Needs to Academic Milestones

Starting in fall 2027, students need to meet a set of academic requirements to get free meals, housing help and other supports. College leaders say the move will increase completion rates. But basic n...

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A recent review by the Department of Education’s (ED) Office of Inspector General (OIG) reveals that the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the department, specifically the reduction in force (RIF), resulted in a 40% decrease in ED's workforce: https://ow.ly/Qve550ZtilW

ICYMI | Here are some headlines from last week: 💰 White House Seeks to Steer More Research Funding Away From Academia 🏛️ 3 Programmatic Accreditors Withdraw From Federal Recognition Read the full weekly news update ➡️ https://bit.ly/4vPioxt

House Democrats Host Panel Over Trump Administration's Changes to Student Loan System Read our recap of the panel hosted by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee: https://ow.ly/UKFQ50ZskOY

Students Using AI to Write Financial Aid Appeals In a survey, administrators said vague, AI-written appeal letters can be burdensome because they lead to more back-and-forth between families and the financial aid office. https://bit.ly/3TbbOE1 #EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd

Federal Student Aid on Tuesday provided details on plans to begin beta testing the 2027-28 #FAFSA in August, in preparation for its October 1 launch deadline. Here's what financial aid offices need to know to be prepared: https://ow.ly/6yei50ZrVWS

Food Recovery Network is focusing on under-resourced community college communities, where students often face financial pressures that make food insecurity harder to escape.

Community Colleges Take Center Stage in the Fight Against Campus Hunger

Food Recovery Network is focusing on under-resourced community college communities, where students often face financial pressures that make food insecurity harder to escape.

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Does your institution's staffing level measure up to other institutions operating in similar circumstances? Use the updated 2026 NASFAA Staffing Model to compare your staff size to similar institutions and get an analysis of where you stand: https://ow.ly/1Izx50ZromW

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Dick Durbin reintroduced a bill that would strengthen college accreditation and prevent unmanageable student debt. https://bit.ly/4flMRwU

Student-loan borrowers are taking on debt they can't pay off. There's a renewed push to prevent that.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Dick Durbin reintroduced a bill that would strengthen college accreditation and prevent unmanageable student debt.

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The Department of Education published an electronic announcement on Friday that lists frequently asked questions about the real-time FAFSA fraud detection process. Learn more: https://ow.ly/38A450ZqPsf

How Soon Could Colleges Lose Loan Access Under New Accountability Metric? Data from the new test on student earnings will be released in 2027 and failing programs could face penalties in 2028. But some have been granted an extension that student advocates say is harmful. https://bit.ly/44FJaNG

We are pleased to share NASFAA's official comments to the Department of Education on the information collection for the Federal Direct Loan Program Regulations for Forbearance and Loan Rehabilitation, specifically ED's new Digital Rehabilitation Application: https://ow.ly/U9eZ50ZqJz4

The lawsuit over the Department of Education’s definition of a professional degree is moving forward. A federal court has established the briefing schedule, with the case likely to continue through at least December. Here's what financial aid professionals need to know: https://ow.ly/XNqq50Zq3Qf

The student loan "tax bomb" everyone fears? The data is mixed. But it's back again in 2026 and beyond, so let's look at it. #taxes

Student Loan Tax Bomb Returns In 2026 — IRS Data Shows Almost No One Ever Paid It

IRS data shows the student loan tax bomb collected almost nothing historically. Here's why 2026 is different — and what borrowers should do now.

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Use of AI in the Financial Aid Office Task Force Final Report This report presents the recommendations from NASFAA's task force on the use of AI in the Financial Aid Offices and how NASFAA can best assist our members: https://ow.ly/7Ynn50ZoUmS

The Trump administration will limit how long a foreign student can remain in the U.S. on a student visa under a new regulation announced on Thursday, increasing the hurdles for foreign students and universities’ ability to recruit them. Read more: wsj.visitlink.me/fpk5vv

During the NASFAA 2026 Virtual Summit, members of the policy team hosted a timely session to dive into the new Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability (STATS) framework, which was officially published on July 1. Read our session recap: https://ow.ly/OWUG50ZoTgb

The high school class of 2026 set a new record in FAFSA completions, with 59.1% of graduating seniors completing the FAFSA by June 30, according to new data from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN): https://ow.ly/qIhF50ZoyGB

House Education Committee Advances Legislative Package to Transfer Department of Education Responsibilities & Appropriations to Other Agencies The 10-bill package aims to codify the Trump admin's efforts to dismantle ED and would directly impact higher education programs: https://ow.ly/7JUC50ZonT3

As part of a crackdown on state-level tuition equity laws and immigration enforcement, the DOJ recently filed suit against Massachusetts and Rhode Island, challenging the states’ tuition equity laws that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students.

Federal Crackdown Targets State-Level Tuition Equity Laws

The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed suit against Massachusetts and Rhode Island, challenging the states’ tuition equity laws that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students.

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New federal Parent PLUS loan caps could leave many families facing unexpected funding gaps in a student's junior or senior year, creating new challenges for college retention and completion.

Feds' New $65K Lifetime Parent PLUS Loan Cap Could Create a New Junior Year Retention Crisis

While expensive flagships brace for a senior-year retention crisis under the new federal parent loan limits, inherently affordable sectors like public HBCUs and community colleges are uniquely positio...

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