Attendees seated attentively at the NASFAA 2026 conference in National Harbor, Maryland, focusing on a speaker or presentation.

We're about two months out from the #NASFAA2026 National Conference in National Harbor, MD! If you've been on the fence about attending, the full schedule of sessions descriptions is now available to view: https://ow.ly/yGUw50YO0kT

Register by May 1 to save up to $100 with the early bird discount!

Text explaining three 'Clean Slate' acts aimed at removing default records from credit history for borrowers who repaid, consolidated, or rehabilitated federal student loans.

NASFAA endorses a series of bills aimed at providing a “clean slate” by removing default records from the credit history of borrowers who have acted to rectify their defaulted federal student loans https://ow.ly/P9r850YOblE Congresswoman Nikema Williams Rep. Haley Stevens Representative Deborah Ross

#NASFAAinTheNews

The Department of Education released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) with proposed regulations on the new Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability (STATS) framework. Comments are due May 20.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/uv5B50YNyiO

Trump Administration Proposes New 'Earnings Premium' Accountability System Under the newly proposed accountability system, undergraduate programs must demonstrate clear economic value to remain eligible for Pell Grants and federal loans. Public comments on the draft are open...

A new accountability system by the U.S. Department of Education says institutions will have to show that graduates from their undergraduate degree programs earn more per year than a typical high school graduate.

Statement from NASFAA President Melanie Storey criticizing the Department of Education's reversal on Graduate Plus Loans affecting borrowing limits.

In a Reversal, ED Says Graduate PLUS Loans Will Count Toward New Lifetime Borrowing Limit

NASFAA calls on ED to immediately issue clear, formal guidance regarding this reversal & to prioritize timely, transparent communication moving forward. Learn more: https://ow.ly/Noyt50YNsva

Breaking News

JUST IN 🚨 The Department of Education on Monday revised its previous guidance, now stating that Graduate PLUS loans will be included in the new $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit established through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, NASFAA has learned: https://ow.ly/bZ4L50YNaer

#NASFAAinTheNews: "Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at [NASFAA], said that, when the legislation first passed last year, numerous institutions asked NASFAA if they could move their start dates up..."

Announcement for an FSA webinar on May 1 about real-time FAFSA fraud detection.

Federal Student Aid announced a webinar on May 1 from 1-2 p.m. ET about the new real-time FAFSA fraud prevention measures. A recording and transcript of the webinar will be posted on the FSA Training Center the week following. How to join the webinar: https://ow.ly/p74w50YMIkM

Joint resolution led by Courtney and Kaine aims to end politicization of public service loan forgiveness program.

Congressional Democrats Rep. Joe Courtney & Senator Tim Kaine have unveiled an effort to rescind the Department of Education’s final rule concerning changes to the administration of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Learn more: https://ow.ly/TiOY50YLe0V

In Accreditation Talks, Colleges, Accreditors Have Fewer Votes A fraction of the number of college and university leaders have a seat at the negotiating table compared to a similar rule-making effort in 2019, an Inside Higher Ed analysis finds.

In January, Undersecretary Kent told accreditors, “it’s better to be at the table than on the menu.” So what does it mean when fewer colleges and accreditors are at the table for #negreg? Story by @jessicablake.bsky.social

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Today on "Off The Cuff," Melanie & Karen are joined by Aaron Lemon-Strauss, the U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA program executive director, to discuss new #FAFSA fraud prevention measures announced this week.

Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or at: https://ow.ly/3P1b50YLbbv

Happy National Volunteer Month! NASFAA depends on the talents and energy of individuals at member institutions to carry out many association activities. No matter how big or small the project, we are incredibly grateful to all of our volunteers! 🫶

#NASFAAinTheNews: “'I would say it immediately raises lots of questions about how exactly this will happen. You know, the devil is always in the details, and there are lots of moving pieces to this,' Karen McCarthy, the vice president of public policy and federal relations at [NASFAA], told NOTUS."

Illustration of a masked person in a hoodie holding an ID card in front of a computer screen, symbolizing identity fraud detection. Caption above illustration says, "Everything Financial Aid Professionals Need to Know About the New FAFSA Real-Time Identity Fraud Detection Capabilities."

The Department of Education on Wednesday unveiled details of its new identity fraud prevention measures, which will be part of the FAFSA starting April 26, along with a one-time identity fraud screen of all previously submitted 2026-27 FAFSAs.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/lOkr50YKrcT

FSA updates student-facing OBBBA info on new loan limits, repayment plans, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness details.

Federal Student Aid on Wednesday released updated student-facing information regarding new changes to loan limits and repayment plans made under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: https://ow.ly/9f1F50YKpVB

Letter from NASFAA addressing the 2027-28 FAFSA submission to the U.S. Department of Education.

In this first round of 2027-28 #FAFSA comments, NASFAA expressed support for many of the proposed changes and offered recommendations for further improvement and reiterated areas of concern raised in prior years’ comments.

Read our comments: https://ow.ly/BYsF50YJVSa

Enrollment outpaced public higher ed funding in 2025

LEARN MORE: bit.ly/4voyPC5

The Department of Education on Monday kicked off the first day of its newest negotiated rulemaking committee focused on reforming the accreditation process, which Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said could “upend” higher education. Learn more: https://ow.ly/p5cP50YITis

Illustration of an open envelope with a letter from the American Council on Education about workforce Pell eligibility on a blue background.

NASFAA and over 30 #HigherEd organizations led by the American Council on Education responded to the Department of Education’s proposed regulations for the new Workforce Pell Grant Program.

Learn about the specific concerns and suggestions included in the letter to ED: https://ow.ly/Waan50YIQ3a

Multiethnic group of male students selecting food at a dining hall on a college campus.

Student Success | Food Insecurity Higher for Working, Caregiving Students

A new analysis from the Institute for Higher Education Policy found that food insecurity was associated with lower persistence among older, working and caregiving college students. https://bit.ly/4chyR5S

#EDUSky #AcademicSky

Many of the Education Dept.’s Accreditation Ideas May Be Illegal, Experts Say The first discussions about the draft regulations begin Monday under negotiated rulemaking. The process can be painstakingly tedious, but with enormous implications for the future of higher ed.

The Education Department is trying to overhaul accreditation. Policy and legal experts warn many of the proposals may be illegal. https://chroni.cl/4tNSjyq

Report reveals nearly 40% of Americans are denied access to private student loans in the current market.

As new limits on #StudentLoans are set to be enacted in the coming months under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a new report from Protect Borrowers & The Century Foundation warns that 40% of Americans would likely be denied a private student loan.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/BB6i50YIhxg

Covid-era learning reduced student enrollment in college, report finds

LEARN MORE: bit.ly/4ccKFGB

The saga of Leopold and Ségolène is back! This time with a new lesson on retroactive and late disbursements.

Listen to the new episode of "Off the Cuff" to hear the full story. Now available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website: https://ow.ly/VLT550YH2VN

Illinois state capitol building

State Funding per Student Drops for First Time Since 2012 https://bit.ly/4t3NHUT

Colleges cut spending, raise funds as new loan limits for parents loom A cap on the amount families can borrow through the federal Parent Plus program has some colleges and universities, especially HBCUs, scrambling for ways to fill the gap.

New restrictions on how much parents can borrow for their children’s higher education are putting pressure on colleges and universities to help families cover more of the cost.

Illustration of an open orange envelope containing a letter from NASFAA addressing Pell Grant regulations under OBBBA.

On Wednesday NASFAA submitted comments to the Department of Education in response to its proposed regulations for changes related to the Pell Grant in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Read our comments: https://ow.ly/XwQQ50YGwgS

Report cover analyzing universal FAFSA completion policies in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana by EdTrust.

With over a dozen states creating universal #FAFSA completion policies, requiring or strongly encouraging FAFSA completion as a condition of graduation, a new report from EdTrust examines what schools need for successful implementation to help students access financial aid: https://ow.ly/Agcj50YFOeO

A bunch of gray speech bubbles with a single one in orange.

ICYMI | How to Deliver an Effective Public Comment

With a series of critical higher ed regulations soon to be opened for public comment, Inside Higher Ed spoke with three experts on how to submit feedback that makes an impact. Here’s what they had to say. https://bit.ly/4bWPp49

#EDUSky #HigherEd