By Marlene Seeklander State higher education agencies and membership & advocacy organizations interested in attending the upcoming Federal Student Aid (FSA) Conference need to complete the lottery submission form prior to the February 13 notification date. The Department of Education previously announced that due to the limited number of seats at the conference site, they would […]
By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education recently released an updated 2026-27 Federal School Code List, which plays a key role in the FAFSA. The Department announced the availability of the updated 2026–27 Federal School Code (FSC) List of Participating Schools. Although it’s usually not necessary, students can enter these codes on the FAFSA in order
Updated 2026-27 Federal School Code List now available Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals can stay current with how to handle federal financial aid data with updated training modules now available. Federal Student Aid recently announced that they have updated the “Aid Application Process” training track with the latest information and guidance that was published in the September 30 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-25-08.
Federal Student Aid updates “Aid Application Process” training track Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Although funding amounts have not yet been determined, the Department of Education has posted tentative funding levels for 2026-27. In a January 30 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education said tentative funding levels and worksheets for Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) programs for the 2026-27 award year have
Tentative 2026–27 Funding Levels available for Campus-Based Programs Read More »
By Catherine Mueller The maximum amount a student could receive in Federal Pell Grant funding for college will remain unchanged for the 2026-27 academic year – at least for now. On January 30, the Department of Education announced the Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts for the 2026–27 award year (July 1, 2026, through June
Pell Grant award amounts remain flat for 2026-27 academic year Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals looking for a little more guidance on reconciling federal financial aid programs have now received some from the Department of Education. On January 27, the Department released an Electronic Announcement that provides more specific information to assist schools in reconciling the Direct Loan, Pell Grant, and TEACH Grant programs. Reconciliation
By Marlene Seeklander The latest volume of the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook has just been released by the Department of Education (ED). A January 29 Electronic Announcement from ED announced the availability of Volume 5 – Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds. This volume includes information on how a school should manage Title IV funds when a student
By Marlene Seeklander Schools facing a reduction in their campus-based funding due to underuse have just a few days to request the penalty be waived. In a January 26 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education outlined that, when a school returns more than 10% of its Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) or Federal Work Study
Deadline approaching for 2026-27 Underuse Penalty Waiver for the Campus-Based Programs Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander The Department of Education is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the upcoming Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. A January 27 Federal Register Notice outlined the intent to establish a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that will prepare proposed regulations focusing on accrediting agencies and related institutional eligibility requirements under Title IV of the Higher Education
Notice of Intent to establish Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Because the FAFSA Specifications Guides are such a useful tool, financial aid professionals will want to make note of several recent updates to both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 guides. The Department of Education recently announced updates to several important volumes of the guides, such as Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects and Volume 6
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