Student-loan delinquencies rose again as household debt stayed near a record
Student-loan balances 90 or more days past due rose to 10.6% in Q2 as U.S. household debt stayed near a record and new repayment plans took effect.
Federal Student Aid
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GAO: Education Has Addressed One of 10 Priority Recommendations
The Government Accountability Office says the Education Department implemented only one of eight priority recommendations identified in 2025, while three more concerns were added in June 2026.
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Federal student-loan borrowers can receive a 1% interest-rate reduction through autopay beginning July 1
Federal student-loan borrowers who enroll in autopay by Sept. 30, 2026, or were already enrolled, can receive a 1% interest-rate reduction through June 30, 2028.
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Federal student-loan borrowers can get a temporary 1% autopay rate cut starting July 1
Eligible federal student-loan borrowers enrolled in automatic payments can receive a temporary 1% interest-rate reduction beginning July 1, 2026. The enrollment deadline is Sept. 30.
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New federal student-loan repayment plans and borrowing limits take effect nationwide
Federal student-loan borrowers and prospective students face new repayment choices, revised borrowing limits and a new pathway for short-term workforce programs to qualify for Pell grants.
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Workforce Pell grants enter implementation phase for short-term job-training programs
The Education Department has finalized rules allowing eligible students to use Pell Grants for qualifying workforce programs as short as eight weeks, with implementation beginning July 1, 2026.
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Workforce Pell grants expand federal aid for short-term career training
A new federal program allows eligible students to use Pell Grants for qualifying workforce programs as short as eight weeks, including for some people who already hold bachelor’s degrees.
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Education Department expands nationwide fraud screening for federal student aid and reviews 2026–27 FAFSA records
The Education Department has begun a one-time review of previously submitted 2026–27 FAFSA forms as part of a nationwide effort to prevent fraud in federal student aid.
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New federal student-loan plans and Workforce Pell take effect nationwide
New repayment options for federal student-loan borrowers and a pathway for short-term workforce programs to seek Pell Grant eligibility began July 1, 2026.
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New federal student-loan repayment plans take effect as borrowers leave SAVE
The Repayment Assistance Plan and Tiered Standard Plan are now available, while more than 7.5 million former SAVE borrowers must move to another legal repayment option.
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Federal student aid is shifting toward Treasury. What borrowers should know
A three-phase Education-Treasury agreement targets defaulted-loan collections first, while staffing cuts and new repayment rules raise accountability questions.
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Education Department clarifies FAFSA fraud checks before aid cycle
Federal Student Aid explains mobile identity checks, fraud-related codes and how admitted or enrolled students can resolve a FAFSA rejection.
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Student loan defaults are rising after pandemic protections ended—what “default” means
AP reports a surge of federal student-loan borrowers entering default after pandemic protections ended. Here’s what “default” means for budgets.
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Education Dept delays Section 117 foreign disclosures; July 31 deadline
Education delayed a Section 117 foreign-disclosure rollout: July 15 lists 92 foreign entities, and July 31 submissions are due under Federal Student Aid’s timetable.
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Student-loan repayment changes start July 1: RAP, Tiered Standard, autopay rate cut
July 1, 2026 is the date for new federal student-loan repayment plans—and a temporary 1% autopay interest-rate cut for eligible borrowers.