Low Student Loan Repayment Rates Put Hundreds of Colleges at Risk of Losing Federal Aid
More than 1,000 colleges have low student loan repayment rate. Here’s what students need to know about default rates and financial aid access.
Recent Higher Ed Policy
Trump Orders Colleges to Report Admissions Data on Race
The president’s memorandum wants the National Center for Education Statistics to provide a clearer picture of whether students of certain races are admitted at higher or lower rates.
Updated August 18, 2025
Undocumented Students No Longer Eligible for Career, Technical Training Programs
Career and technical education programs must now verify participants’ eligibility and ensure that federal funding is not distributed “to support programs and services that serve” undocumented people.
Updated July 28, 2025
One Big Beautiful Bill Has Huge Impacts on Higher Ed. Here’s Everything Students Need to Know
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill ushers in significant changes to the federal financial aid and student loan system, impacting most college students.
Updated July 11, 2025
Colleges’ Access to Federal Financial Aid Is Now Tied to Students’ Earnings. Here’s How It Could Impact Popular Degrees
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” ties colleges’ access to federal student loans to students’ postgraduation earnings.
Updated July 8, 2025
Whats going on In Higher Ed Policy
Proposal Would Increase Housing Allowance for Online GI Bill Recipients
Updated July 2, 2025
2026-27 FAFSA Updates: What Students Need to Know About Federal Financial Aid
Updated July 29, 2025
All Higher Ed Policy
Congress Is Poised To Expand Workforce Pell. Here’s What It Means for Adult Learners
Proposals to expand the Pell Grant to short-term certificate programs could have a big impact on adult learners seeking to advance their careers.
Proposed Pell Grant Cuts Could Have Outsized Impact on Online, Adult Students
Experts told BestColleges that the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that passed the U.S. House in May could cause many part-time students to lose access to critical financial aid.
Survey: Administrators Anticipate ‘Disruption’ of Financial Aid Delivery
When asked to rank concerns following staff cuts at the Department of Education, many said their worries lie in students’ access to federal financial aid.
Trump Admin Proposes First Pell Grant Cut in Three Decades
President Donald Trump’s budget calls for a 23% reduction in the maximum Pell Grant award.
Education Department Cuts Could Leave Colleges Without Critical Data. Here’s What Students Need To Know.
Cuts to the non-partisan Institute of Education Sciences could lead to gaps in the data that is used to analyze the U.S. higher education landscape and improve student outcomes.
House Proposal Revokes Financial Aid Eligibility for Select Student Groups
Refugees and other immigrant groups previously eligible for federal financial aid may lose their eligibility for the 2025-26 academic year.
California Proposal Would Widen Online College Options
If passed, California students would have more online college options but without many of the consumer protection laws they enjoy.
Trump Budget Proposal Eliminates Childcare Subsidy for Parenting College Students
The president’s budget would cut all $75 million in funding for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program.
Lawmakers Spar Over Proposed Pell Grant Eligibility Cuts
An estimated 20% of Pell Grant recipients would need to increase their courseload to maintain eligibility.
Trump Executive Order Targets DEI in College Accreditation
The executive order makes good on Trump’s campaign promises to make sweeping changes to the country’s college accreditation system.
Bipartisan Proposal Would Make Pell Grants Tax-Exempt
If passed, low-income college students could qualify for larger tax refunds.
Student Advocates Sue to Stop Cuts to Higher Education Data Systems
The lawsuit is a response to the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Institute of Education Sciences.