By Marlene Seeklander You can make a note on your 2026-27 planning list to check out the recent additions to the 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide. The Department of Education recently announced the addition of several volumes to the 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide. These volumes include: Throughout the 2026-27 cycle, the Knowledge Center website will be updated with changes to the FAFSA
Updates to 2026-27 FAFSA Specifications Guide Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander The minimum and maximum Federal Pell Grant amounts for 2025-2026, through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, that were previously announced are correct. In a May 29 update to an earlier Dear Colleague Letter, the Department of Education noted that the previously announced Federal Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts
2025-2026 Federal Pell Grant award amounts confirmed Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Student loan borrowers will see slightly lower interest rates starting July 1 for Direct Loans borrowed on or after July 1, 2025. The new interest rates were announced by the Department of Education in a May 30 Electronic Announcement. The interest rate is a fixed rate for the life of the loan. For Direct
Direct Loan interest rates for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2025 announced Read More »
Early Awareness E-News June 2025Vol. 17 – Issue 6 A handy packing list with everything you need for college Although graduation ceremonies are just now getting underway for many students, it won’t be long before move-in day on college campuses. Department of Ed issues reminders for student loan borrowers The Department of Education has three
Early Awareness E-News – June 2025 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Congratulations on your graduation from high school! Like most high school graduates, you may be just now catching your breath after all the activity surrounding the end of the senior year. It’s a good time for you to relax and reflect on your accomplishments. But once you’ve had some time to consider all
June tasks for high school seniors Read More »
Higher Ed News Vol. 17 – Issue 11 Use and Disclosure of Federal Tax information and FAFSA Data training available New financial aid professionals will likely benefit the most from a new training course on the handling of student data, but experienced professionals may want to attend the course as a refresher. Campus-Based school testing
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – May 29, 2025 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals will have the opportunity in a June webinar to ask questions about recently released Department of Education (ED) and Federal Student Aid (FSA) guidance. In an Electronic Announcement this month, ED announced an upcoming webinar that will focus on topics presented in the Federal Update presentation held earlier this year.
Upcoming Federal Student Aid webinar with Q&A format Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals who need to finish any of the 2024-25 award year specific training courses need to do so soon before the courses are removed. Since most of the online courses in the FSA Training Center are award year specific, the 2024-25 training courses will be removed on June 27 and replaced
2024-25 award year training courses on the FSA Training Center will be removed soon Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Students impacted by an issue that prevented an official SAI (Student Aid Index) from being calculated may now be eligible to receive a Title IV loan. In a May 27, 2025 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education (ED) announced that they are amending and extending flexibilities for late disbursements that were published in
Tip of the Week What are you going to do this summer? That simple sentence may cause financial aid professionals to tense up. When I worked in a financial aid office, that was a question often asked by students when they stopped by our office at the end of the spring semester to hand in
Tip of the Week – May 28, 2025 Read More »
