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Understanding Take-Home Pay

Partial version of 2025-2026 COD Technical Reference available

By Marlene Seeklander Another tool is available to schools for the 2025-2026 award year set-up. The Department of Education has posted Volumes 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the 2025–2026 Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Technical Reference, with the remaining volumes coming in early 2025. This resource includes development information for the 2025-2026 award year. Questions […]

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Applications now open for 2025 AmeriCorps program

By Catherine Mueller Students interested in gaining leadership skills and money for college may want to consider the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), one of AmeriCorps’ most established programs, provides young adults ages 18 – 26 with the opportunity to serve in a full-time, paid, 10 –11-month national service opportunity. Another option is

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January tasks for high school seniors

By Catherine Mueller During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. This year is filled with admission applications, scholarship essays, financial aid information, and the need to meet deadlines. Throughout your senior year, continue to build your resume by achieving academic success, as well as participating in extracurricular activities. Colleges are interested in well-rounded

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Department offers guidance on exceptions to ability-to-benefit requirements

By Marlene Seeklander As the focus on the value of career training increases nationwide, the Department is reminding financial aid offices about exceptions to the ability-to-benefit requirements. Students who otherwise might not be eligible for financial aid because of the ability-to-benefit standards, may be eligible for financial aid in specific career programs, but only if the

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Total and Permanent Disability Discharge transition announced

By Marlene Seeklander Borrowers who qualify for Total and Permanent Disability Discharge will see some changes in 2025, impacting how they track their progress to forgiveness. The Department of Education announced  that as part of the new Unified Servicing and Data Solution loan servicing environment, designed to improve the borrower experience and repayment outcomes for approximately

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2024-25 FAFSA records reprocessed to address various issues

By Marlene Seeklander Financial aid professionals have probably noticed that recent ISIR loads have included some reprocessed 2024-25 FAFSA records. A recent Electronic Announcement from the Department of Education details information about the reprocessed records, with each being assigned a separate Reprocessing Reason Code. The reprocessed record categories include: Ongoing Conflicting Information The Department also acknowledged

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Access removed for unconfirmed Electronic Services User Accounts

By Marlene Seeklander If you aren’t able to do your job because you’ve lost access to critical federal financial aid systems, you may want to check if your account needs confirmation. The Department of Education announced that they have removed access to enrolled services for accounts that had not been actively confirmed. Primary Destination Point Administrators

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Cost of attendance information must be readily available to enrolled and prospective students

By Marlene Seeklander Students and families, who understand a college’s cost of attendance, can better prepare for the expense. For colleges and universities, providing cost of attendance information is an important compliance issue. The Department of Education reminds Title-IV eligible schools in a December 2024 FSA Enforcement Bulletin that institutions must make cost of attendance information

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Create your StudentAid.gov account updated flyer available

By Marlene Seeklander Students and parents setting up an FSA ID find it easy to do so, but there are some important tips to avoid account problems in the future. Setting up an FSA ID (also known as creating a StudentAid.gov account) is the first step to complete the FAFSA. To assist students and parents with

Create your StudentAid.gov account updated flyer available Read More »

Understanding Take-Home Pay

2025-26 FSA Handbook Application and Verification Guide now available

By Marlene Seeklander Another tool is now available as you begin processing for the 2025-26 award year. The Department of Education announced that the Application and Verification Guide of the 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Handbook is now available. Financial aid administrators and counselors use this guide when helping students with the financial aid process, filing the

2025-26 FSA Handbook Application and Verification Guide now available Read More »

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