NASFAA Megan Walter January 30, 2026 The Department of Education (ED) today published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement statutory changes to the federal student loan programs enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The proposed regulations largely mirror the consensus text agreed to by the OBBBA’s Reimagining […]
Inside Higher Ed Jessica Blake January 30, 2026 The rule is slated to take effect July 1. However, significant pushback is anticipated from Congress and higher ed groups in the weeks to come. The Department of Education has taken its penultimate step in finalizing a new rule that will put a […]
U.S. Department of Education January 29, 2026 The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at reducing the cost of higher education and simplifying federal student loan repayment, as outlined in President Trump’s historic Working Families Tax Cuts Act (the Act). Last summer, Congress […]
Cal Matters Mikhail Zinshteyn January 28, 2026 In the past two years, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed three bills that would have allowed community colleges to award students more bachelor’s degrees. Unfazed, lawmakers are now backing a fourth bill that does much of the same. The measure, Assembly Bill 664, cleared its […]
Brookings January 28, 2026 This document provides a detailed overview of how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—passed into law in the summer of 2025 and set to take effect in just a few short months—changed higher education financing. It describes the state of student lending at the time […]
Inside Higher Ed Josh Moody January 28, 2026 The education undersecretary argued that accreditors have largely failed to hold colleges accountable and pledged to make reforms. On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump called accreditation his “secret weapon.” Now, a year into his second term, education under secretary Nicholas Kent […]
U.S. Department of Education January 26, 2026 The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) today announced its intent to establish the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee to develop proposed regulations that would, among other goals, simplify the Secretary’s recognition of emerging and existing accreditors; examine the extent to which […]
Inside Higher Ed Jessica Blake January 27, 2026 ED officials have said for months that they want to tackle the regulations governing accreditors. A Monday announcement offers more specifics on their agenda. The Department of Education is taking its next major step toward overhauling the college accreditation system, inviting higher […]
Capitol Weekly Riley Burr January 26, 2026 OPINION – Golden Opportunities, a recent report from the College Futures Foundation using data compiled by esteemed researcher Michael Itzkowitz of The HEA Group, shines a light on one of the most popular topics in higher education: return on investment (ROI). But the results and methods deviate significantly […]
Third Way Emily Rounds January 22, 2026 Recently, the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) committee reached consensus in their second week of negotiations. The session focused on how the Department of Education (Department) will integrate the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBBA) accountability provisions with […]