Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 21h

Rep. Carbajal Reintroduces Legislation to Double Maximum Pell Grant Award

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) reintroduced the Degrees Not Debt Act, legislation that NASFAA has tracked in the past three congressional sessions, which seeks to help students graduate with less debt: https://ow.ly/OVm950X9XaE

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Inside Higher Ed @insidehighered.com · 1d

Opinion | Transparency Now or Regulation Later

The debate over higher education’s worth has shifted from societal benefit to individual ROI. Colleges that embrace cost transparency and affordability can prove their value on their own terms—before lawmakers mandate it. https://bit.ly/4mSyB0l

An orange sticky note with the words "editor's note" typed in white.

1 1

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 1d

Basic Needs, Real Costs: Collaborative Care

In a new blog post, we explore the effectiveness of collaboration between basic needs and financial aid practitioners to support holistic student success: https://ow.ly/WEiu50X9cag

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 2d

After U.S. Department of Education announced that it would end discretionary funding to most Minority-Serving Institutions, NASFAA, along with other #HigherEd orgs, called on congressional leaders to restore funding and to increase federal investments for MSIs in FY 2026: https://ow.ly/SwJy50X97AH

NASFAA Calls on Congress to Restore ‘Critical’ MSI Funding

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

EdSource @edsource.org · 3d

California's community colleges will lose about $20 million in federal funding next year that would have supported STEM majors, dual enrollment for high school students and other programs.

Student support programs in peril after federal cuts at Hispanic-serving community colleges

California's community colleges are scrambling to preserve programs that are funded by Hispanic-Serving Institution grants, part of a federal program that the Trump administration is eliminating.

edsource.org

4 2

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

The Independent @the-independent.com · 3d

Trump is weighing selling off government’s $1.6 trillion student loan debt. Here’s what it means for borrowers

Trump considers sale of some federal student debt to private buyers

www.independent.co.uk

5 14 14

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 3d

Financial Aid Day is one week away! How are you planning to celebrate?

#FinancialAidDay #FinancialAid #HigherEd

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 4d

#NASFAAinTheNews: "Sarah Austin, a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said students tend to focus more on direct costs, or what “they actually see on their bill,” versus all the indirect costs that go along with attending college."

Inside Higher Ed @insidehighered.com · 4d

The Costs Students Don’t See Coming—and Why They Matter

New Student Voice data offers insight into students’ financial vulnerability and their grasp of cost of attendance amid a broader push for cost transparency. https://bit.ly/4o61aZd

#EDUSky #HigherEd #AcademicSky

A mason jar stuffed full of money with a "college" label on it.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 4d

RISE Committee Concludes First Round of Neg Reg Discussions With Definition of Professional Student Still Unclear

Read NASFAA's recap of Friday's negotiated rulemaking session: https://ow.ly/P5w050X78i7

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

PBS News @pbsnews.org · 8d

The updated FAFSA form launched last week — the earliest it’s been available in the program’s history, according to the Department of Education.
https://to.pbs.org/4nGiXXm

Applying for college financial aid? Here’s what’s different about this year’s FAFSA

The updated FAFSA form launched last week — the earliest it’s been available in the program’s history, according to the Department of Education.

www.pbs.org

5 22 63

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 5d

Shortly before the government shutdown took effect, NASFAA, along with other #HigherEd organizations led by American Council on Education, called on congressional leaders to ensure that agency funds for fiscal year 2026 be spent by the Trump administration as intended: https://ow.ly/OeaC50X75Wg

NASFAA Calls on Congress to Ensure FY 2026 Funds are Spent as Intended

3 5

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 7d

RISE Neg Reg Committee Conducts ‘Pulse Checks’ and Details Updated Forbearance, Loan Limit Provisions

Read NASFAA's recap of the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) committee's fourth day of negotiated rulemaking: https://ow.ly/EU1m50X6bzF

Screenshot of live streamed neg reg session on Thursday, October 2

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 7d

This week on "Off the Cuff,"🎙️Hugh is joined by David to discuss how the lapse in appropriations for fiscal year 2026 is impacting Department of Education services and programs.

🎧Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or on our website: ow.ly/iHgu50X6c8Y

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Hugh Thomas @hughtferguson.com · 8d

NegReg goes on but lots of other services are on pause. This week @nasfaa.bsky.social focused on the initial fallout a lapse in appropriations for FY 26 is having on @usedgov.bsky.social

OTC AskRegs Experts: Shutdown Interruptions and an Update on FWS Guidance

Podcast Episode · NASFAA's Off the Cuff Podcast · 10/02/2025 · 26m

podcasts.apple.com

1 1 2

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 8d

The Department of Education notified NASFAA that both the English and Spanish versions of the 2026-27 Incarcerated Applicant FAFSA forms are ready for use: https://ow.ly/FfYl50X6esb

We anticipate that these forms will also be available on the department's PEP Topics page in the future.

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Chronicle of Higher Education @chronicle.com · 10d

It's been seven years since the last government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Here's how the new one will affect higher ed.

The Federal Government Has Shut Down. Here’s What It Means for Higher Ed.

The first shutdown since 2018 could leave the higher-education sector with mounting challenges if prolonged.

chroni.cl

5 2

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 8d

‘This Is a Whole New Territory:’ Neg Reg Committee Makes Progress on Definition of Professional Student.

Read NASFAA's recap of the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) committee's third day of negotiated rulemaking: https://ow.ly/bjO450X5E2g

1

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 9d

Basic Needs, Real Costs: Pantries to Policy

In a new blog post, we explore the current policy landscape and evaluate campus-level interventions attempting to meet student needs where federal policy has fallen short: https://ow.ly/yznv50X52fC

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 9d

FSA Details Shutdown's ‘Minimal’ Impact on Operations

Federal Student Aid (FSA) issued an electronic announcement with guidance for their operations during the government shutdown: https://ow.ly/YrfQ50X5hUj

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 9d

RISE Neg Reg Committee Continues Despite Government Shutdown

The committee met on Tuesday continuing discussion on provisions regarding loan limits, repayment plans, loan proration, and loan rehabilitation and deferment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: https://ow.ly/jKVj50X4YLl

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 9d

#NASFAAinTheNews: "The department’s 'limited list of programs designated as professional could have big implications for students,' said Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy for [NASFAA}. 'It could push some students into the private student loan market...'"

Inside Higher Ed @insidehighered.com · 10d

@usedgov.bsky.social Digs Its Heels in Over Student Loan Caps

As it currently stands, the proposal will designate only 10 degree programs as professional and eligible for the $200,000 loan cap. Higher ed experts hope the department will reconsider. https://bit.ly/4mFVUup

Committee members seated at four rectangular tables arranged in a square, covered with black tablecloths. Most have laptops in front of them.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 10d

The Department of Education published a Dear Colleague Letter this week, which supersedes previous guidance published in the November 7, 2024 Electronic Announcement, and provides long awaited guidance related to FTI data use and disclosure: https://ow.ly/qXhx50X4YnK

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs @hope4college.bsky.social · 10d

In this piece by Cristian Ulisses Reyes at @nasfaa.bsky.social, he summarizes the current understanding of student basic needs insecurity and gives a brave and insightful look into his own journey. We commend him—we need both data and narrative to support students. www.nasfaa.org/news-item/37...

NASFAA | Basic Needs, Real Costs: The Price Beyond Tuition

www.nasfaa.org

2 3

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators @nasfaa.bsky.social · 10d

Cohort Default Rates Remain Unchanged, Reflecting Student Loan Payment Pause

For the third straight year, the national cohort default rate (CDR) for federal student loans that entered repayment in fiscal year (FY) 2022 remained at 0%: https://ow.ly/S0MU50X4vWA

Graph of National Student Loan Cohort Default Rates from 2018-2025

Reposted by National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 11d

Charlie Javice was sentenced to 7 years in prison for cheating JPMorgan Chase out of $175 million by exaggerating how many students her financial aid startup served.

Charlie Javice sentenced to 7 years in prison for fraudulent $175M sale of financial aid startup

The 33-year-old founder of the startup student financial aid company Frank has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

bit.ly

14 19 82