Federal student-loan borrowers face Sept. 30 deadline for temporary rate cut
Eligible federal Direct Loan borrowers have until Sept. 30, 2026, to enroll in autopay for a temporary 1-point interest-rate reduction through June 2028.
Student Loans
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Student-Loan Defaults Surge, Putting Credit and Paychecks at Risk
About 9.5 million federal student-loan borrowers are in default. A temporary collections delay gives them time to act, but does not erase the debt.
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Education Department Releases 2027-28 College Aid Comparison Materials
The new federal College Financing Plan organizes costs, grants, scholarships, loans and work options, but most colleges can still choose whether to use it.
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Colleges Can Now Set Lower Federal Loan Caps for Specific Programs
A federal rule lets colleges set lower annual loan limits for entire programs, potentially leaving students to find other ways to cover tuition and living costs.
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New Federal Student Loan Plans Are Available. What Borrowers Need to Check Before September 30
Federal student loan repayment changed July 1. Borrowers should review their plan, SAVE notice, projected payment and auto-pay status before key deadlines.
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New federal loan limits could change some 2026-27 aid packages
Federal loan caps, program-level limits and new reporting rules are complicating 2026-27 aid offers for graduate students, parents and continuing borrowers.
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Federal Student Aid seeks comments on five-year strategic plan
Federal Student Aid is seeking feedback on a preliminary 2026–30 plan covering FAFSA service, loan repayment, technology, cybersecurity and staffing.
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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.
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SAVE borrowers face 90-day clock as notices continue nationwide
August 15 ends Edfinancial’s notice window, not every borrower’s deadline. SAVE borrowers generally get 90 days from the date on their servicer notice.
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Federal student-loan changes take effect July 1
New federal student-loan repayment options, borrowing limits and an automatic-payment interest reduction began taking effect July 1, 2026.
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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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Education rule sets Aug. 31 reporting date as colleges face new earnings-based loan limits
A new Education Department rule will measure college programs against graduate-earnings benchmarks and can restrict federal Direct Loan access after repeated failures.
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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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Federal data show rising credit stress among households struggling to get by
A Federal Reserve survey and updated CFPB credit dashboards show higher credit-card balances, payment difficulty and affordability pressures across U.S. households.
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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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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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CFPB credit-card dashboard shows 8.6 million new cards and 15.6% annual growth
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has updated its national Consumer Credit Trends dashboards with data on credit originations, inquiries and borrower risk across four major lending markets.
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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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Graduate loan caps are in effect. Colleges now decide what students pay
Federal graduate-loan caps took effect July 1, while colleges weigh lower limits, institutional aid and private credit to cover remaining education costs.
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What the end of SAVE means for millions of student loan borrowers
SAVE borrowers are receiving notices to choose new repayment plans. Here are the deadlines, options and steps to avoid missed payments or automatic placement.