By Catherine Mueller When it comes to paying for college, many students and parents face uncertainty. Will there be enough money and is this college the right decision? Along with those questions, throw in some future changes with the budget reconciliation bill and it could be enough to cause some students and parents to question any […]
Summary of Budget Reconciliation Changes for Students and Parents Read More »
Higher Ed News Vol. 17 – Issue 20 Department of Education issues reminder: Federal grant funds may not be used on lobbying activity Higher education officials may already know that federal grant funds cannot be used for lobbying efforts but just in case anyone didn’t know, the Department of Education sent out a reminder earlier
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – October 2, 2025 Read More »
Early Awareness E-News October 2025Vol. 17 – Issue 10 Launch of the 2026-27 FAFSA is the earliest in the program’s history The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for all students to complete. Five reasons you should complete the FAFSA Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can
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By Marlene Seeklander ACT test takers now have a shorter test and the option of taking the science section. Last spring, ACT introduced enhancements to the national test online and those enhancements have now been extended to national paper-pencil test takers. These enhancements include: According to ACT, the enhancements are designed to allow students to finish
Enhanced ACT now available to national paper-pencil test takers Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander To keep pace with the cost of living, the Department of Education recently updated the numbers used in determining whether a student qualifies for need-based federal financial aid. In a September 24 Dear Colleague Letter, the Secretary of Education announced the annual updates to the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis
Federal Need Analysis Methodology updated for the 2026-27 Award Year Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander The national student loan default rate remains at 0% for the third year in a row. The Department of Education (ED) released their FY 2022 national default briefing and, as expected, the FY 2022 cohort default rates were affected by the pause on federal student loan payments that began in March 2020.
FY 2022 national default rate briefing released Read More »
Higher Ed News Special Edition Launch of the 2026-27 FAFSA is the earliest in the program’s history The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for all students to complete.
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – Special Edition – September 25, 2025 Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals who are facing several reporting deadlines with the end of the federal fiscal year may not want to hear any more about upcoming deadlines. However, in a September 18 Federal Register Notice, the Department of Education announced the 2024-25 Award Year deadline dates for reports and other information from
2024-25 award year deadline dates published by Department of Education Read More »
Higher Ed News Vol. 17 – Issue 19 Reminder: FISAP deadline October 1, 2025 The clock is ticking for a critical deadline for financial aid administrators. Impact of end of Federal Fiscal Year 2025 on federal financial aid systems The Department of Education last week alerted financial aid professionals about the upcoming end to the
Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News – September 18, 2025 Read More »
Tip of the Week Gathering feedback on a student financial aid feedback system Sometimes change for the better requires someone to speak up. That’s the intent of most feedback systems – to gather thoughts and ideas from users as to what is not working and how it could be better. While it may seem “meta-like”,
Tip of the Week – September 17, 2025 Read More »
