The U.S. Department of Education has temporarily increased the interest rate discount for federal student loan borrowers enrolled in auto pay from 0.25% to 1% as of July 1, 2026. The enhanced discount will remain available through June 30, 2028, and applies to borrowers already enrolled in auto pay as well as borrowers who sign […]
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Federal Student Loan Changes for 2026-2027
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are recalculated for the upcoming school year. The rates are determined by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an additional fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this formula, interest rates on federal student loans are set to increase slightly for the 2026–2027 […]
Read MoreSAVE Plan Ending: What Student Loan Borrowers Need to Know
On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education announced next steps for borrowers who are currently enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Repayment Plan, which is being discontinued. The Department is sending guidance to the 7.5 million borrowers currently enrolled in SAVE on what they need to do next.1 Here are the […]
Read MoreYoung Grads Bear the Brunt of Tightening Labor Market
College graduates looking to join the workforce this year encountered the most discouraging labor market in recent memory. The class of 2025 saw the number of job postings on Handshake (a career platform used to recruit college graduates) decline 15% from the previous year. The number of applications per job increased by 30%.1 The Federal […]
Read MoreKey Higher Education Changes in the New Tax Bill
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025, includes multiple provisions that affect higher education. Key changes include new borrowing limits for students and parents under federal loan programs, streamlined student loan repayment plans, stricter rules on the ability of borrowers to pause student loan repayment, the promotion of workforce […]
Read MoreInterest Rates on Federal Student Loans Drop Slightly for 2025-2026
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an additional fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to decrease slightly for the 2025-2026 […]
Read MoreBorrowers in Default on Federal Student Loans Face Imminent Collection Efforts
On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, 2025. The federal government hasn’t collected on defaulted loans since March 2020. Here is some background followed by answers to questions about the new policy. A history of payment pauses and court […]
Read MoreCollege Costs for 2024-2025 March Higher
Every year, the College Board releases new college cost data and trends in its annual report. The figures published are average costs for public in-state, public out-of-state, and private colleges based on a survey of approximately 4,000 colleges across the country. Over the past 20 years, average costs for tuition, fees, housing, and food has […]
Read MoreFederal Appeals Court Blocks SAVE Student Loan Repayment Plan
On August 9, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit officially blocked the SAVE student loan repayment plan in its entirety, saying the injunction would remain in place “until further order of this court or the Supreme Court of the United States.”1 The ruling replaced a temporary order issued by the same court […]
Read MoreInterest Rates on Federal Student Loans Jump to Decade Highs for 2024-2025 Year
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an extra fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to increase for the 2024-2025 school […]
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