Higher Ed News Vol. 18 – Issue 14 Schools can set lower, program specific student loan limits As of July 1, schools can establish lower annual loan limits for specific programs, beginning with the 2026-27 award year. National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) updates as a result of new provisions When it comes to NSLDS […]
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – July 9, 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Students in some professional degree programs will find that they are – at least for now – eligible to borrow the higher federal student loan limits, while others will find that their program is no longer on the approved list. A recent June 24 court case preliminarily stayed part of the Department
List of professional degree programs updated due to recent Court Order Read More »
Tip of the Week Tax Transcript Matrix for 2026-27 Verification now available Although the number of FAFSAs selected for verification is down, financial aid professionals will, no doubt, appreciate any tool to assist with verification – particularly tax information. In a July 8 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education released the 2024 IRS Tax Return
Tip of the Week – July 8, 2026 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Institutions with foreign ownership, gifts or contracts must submit disclosure reports with the federal government by the end of July. In a July 6 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education reminded institutions of higher education (IHEs) the next date for submitting Section 117 disclosure reports is Friday, July 31, 2026. In the announcement, the
By Marlene Seeklander Student loan borrowers using the Student Loan Simulator tool at StudentAaid.gov will now see new repayment options. As of July 1, the new Repayment Assistance Plan as well as the new Tiered Standard Repayment Plan are available in the loan simulator. RAP is the newest income-driven repayment plan available to any borrower with
Student Loan Simulator updated with new repayment plans Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can now access two key volumes recently added to the 2026-27 FSA Handbook. The Department of Education announced that the following volumes of the 2026-27 FSA Handbook are now available: Volume 3: Academic Calendars, Cost of Attendance, and Packaging – provides information on academic calendars, payment periods, and disbursement requirements for
Important financial aid processing volumes added to 2026-27 FSA Handbook Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools participating in the TEACH Grant program face an important upcoming deadline for the 2025-26 award year. In a recent Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education announced that the closeout deadline for the 2025-26 award year for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is September 30, 2026. This
Data submission deadline reminder for 2025-26 TEACH Grant Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander EDExpress for Windows users have new service releases available for 2025-26 and 2026-27 that resolve software issues and update enrollment-related fields. In a July 1 Electronic Announcement, Federal Student Aid announced new service releases for EDExpress for Windows 2025–26, Release 2.0 and EDExpress for Windows 2026-27, Release 2.0. Updates in the service releases
EDExpress Service Releases for 2025-26 and 2026-27 now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Schools seeking approval from the Department of Education to offer eligible workforce programs can now access the required certification form. In a July 1 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education (the Department) announced that the State Workforce Pell Certification Form is now available for eligible institutions seeking approval from the Department. As part
State Workforce Pell Certification Form now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander When it comes to NSLDS reporting, financial aid professionals can leave some of the optional fields blank in the next report. However, in doing so, they are indicating their school’s intent to early implement some of the provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. In a July 1 Electronic Announcement, the Department
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) updates as a result of new provisions Read More »
