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By this time of year, college-bound high school seniors are usually celebrating their choices, researching dorms and even thinking of their majors. Because of a disastrous rollout of the new application for federal tuition aid, many still don’t know how much tuition they would be paying and so have not decided where they can afford to go. The Education Department’s redesigned form for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, was supposed to make applying for tuition aid easier and more accessible. But faced with a bureaucratic mess caused by technical meltdowns and severe delays in processing information and receiving aid packages, students say the new system has been anything but clear or streamlined. The first signs of trouble began in December with the form’s release and have cascaded since, creating uncertainties for students — with graduation right around the corner.
Persons: that’s Organizations: Federal Student Aid
The Education Department announced $6.1 billion in student-debt relief or 317,000 borrowers. The relief applies to borrowers who attended any Art Institute campus from January 1, 2004, to October 16, 2017. Investigations found that the Art Institutes misled students about career prospects and salaries. The Art Institutes were a for-profit system that prompted investigations from the attorneys general of Iowa, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. More broadly, the Education Department is working to implement its broader student-loan forgiveness plan after the Supreme Court struck down its first attempt.
Persons: , Joe Biden's, Richard Cordray, Biden Organizations: Education Department, Art Institute, Investigations, Art, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Art Institutes, Aid, Corinthian College, Public Locations: Iowa , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania
Read previewA major student-loan company has requested that it no longer manage some of the borrowers in its servicing portfolio. "MOHELA continues to serve as one of the Department's federal student loan servicers and will continue their support for millions of student loan borrowers," the blog post said. AdvertisementThis announcement comes as the Education Department is working to overhaul the student-loan servicing industry to make it easier to use for borrowers. Warren told BI in a statement that less than three weeks after she held the hearing, "the Education Department is taking critical action to protect student loan borrowers." Advertisement"There is more that the Education Department can do to hold MOHELA accountable, but today's action is an important first step," Warren said.
Persons: , MOHELA, servicers, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren Organizations: Service, Federal, Business, An Education Department, Public, Education Department, Federal Student Aid, Democratic Locations: MOHELA
A college enrollment crisis is likely coming this fall. It's a result of complications with the FAFSA form, along with a lower supply of high school seniors. There's also a limited supply of high school seniors right now due to lower birth rates during the Great Recession. But the immediate enrollment shock will likely come this fall — and both students and colleges will feel the impact. AdvertisementAre you a recent high school graduate not going to college?
Persons: It's, , aren't, Katharine Meyer, Gen Zers, MorraLee Keller, Keller, There's, Meyer, They're, they're, there's, Hodges University —, Zers Organizations: Service, Brown Center, Education, Brookings Institution, National Center for Education Statistics, Federal Student Aid, Education Department, National College, Hodges University Locations: Florida, New York, Texas
The nation’s top student aid official is stepping down, the Education Department said Friday, after the disastrous rollout of a new financial aid form that upended the college admissions process for millions of students this year. Richard Cordray, who took over as the leader of the Federal Student Aid office in 2021, will hand over his duties in June, Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona said in a statement. Mr. Cordray’s departure coincides with a fraught admissions season. College administrators, students and members of Congress across the political spectrum have rebuked the Education Department for mismanaging a redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, throwing the usual college admissions process into disarray. In his role, Mr. Cordray also oversaw a variety of other programs, including many parts of the Biden administration’s sweeping vision of student debt relief for millions of borrowers through loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans.
Persons: Richard Cordray, Miguel A, Cardona, Cordray Organizations: Education Department, Federal, Aid, College, mismanaging, Biden
Washington CNN —The head of the Federal Student Aid office, which has faced criticism for the botched rollout of this year’s college financial aid form, will be stepping down. The announcement of Cordray’s departure comes as his office has been under fire for problems with a new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, released late last year. “If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep,” Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told lawmakers. Cordray’s tenureAs the head of FSA, Cordray oversaw not only the FAFSA but also the entire $1.6 trillion federal student loan system. It also sued Navient, one of the biggest federal student loan servicers, for allegedly processing payments incorrectly.
Persons: Richard Cordray, Cordray, Justin Draeger, Virginia Foxx, Miguel Cardona, Cordray’s, Rich Cordray’s, ” Cardona, , Rich, Obama, ” Cordray, Pell, Biden, Trump, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Navient, “ I’m, ” Warren Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Aid, CNN, Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Education, Workforce, National Association of Student Financial, Republican Rep, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Democratic, National College, of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Massachusetts, Corinthian Colleges Locations: North Carolina, Ohio
High school seniors are more likely to attend college if they complete the federal financial aid form known as the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. But the state that was the first to require students to fill out the form to graduate, Louisiana, has reversed course and dropped the mandate, after state officials decided it was too intrusive. (The network prefers to call such practices “universal FAFSA” policies, rather than “mandatory,” because all states with the requirement allow students and their parents to opt out if they don’t want to fill out the form.) “We know FAFSA completion and enrollment are associated with each other,” Mr. DeBaun said. Filing the form allows students to get their share of federal grants.
Persons: , Bill DeBaun, Mr, DeBaun Organizations: Federal Student Aid, National College, Network Locations: Louisiana
Many students take what's known as a gap year before attending college for a variety of reasons. While the practice is more common in the United Kingdom and other European countries, gap year interest is growing in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Gap Year Association. Others may take stock of their admission offerings and financial aid packages and decide they want to try their luck in the next application cycle. As many students and families anxiously await delayed financial aid offers due to hiccups in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process, taking a gap year could help give some students more time to weigh their college decision. You also may be banned from applying to other colleges if your place is being held at one school.
Persons: Karen McCarthy, you've Organizations: Federal, National Association of Student Financial, CNBC Locations: United Kingdom, U.S
As enrollment deadlines approach, fewer students have figured out how they will afford college next year. Ongoing problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid have delayed financial aid award letters and even prevented many high school seniors and their families from applying for aid at all. As of the latest update, roughly 7.3 million 2024-25 FAFSA applications have been submitted and sent to schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education, less than half of the more than 17 million students who use the FAFSA in ordinary years. Many institutions are now issuing aid with the information they have on hand, according to the Department of Education. "Students should know that they are not going through this alone, we will remain in regular communication with schools and students and encourage students to stay in touch with us and with their colleges," an Education Department spokesperson said.
Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, it's, Sandy Baum Organizations: Federal, Aid, U.S . Department of Education, Finance, Harvard, Urban Institute's Center, Education, Department of Education
Few college admission cycles have been as hard on students as this one. National College Decision Day — the deadline most schools set to decide on a college — is just two weeks away. But many college hopefuls are still unsure of where they stand financially, as problems persist with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid. "This is make or break for students," said Ellie Bruecker, interim director of research at the Institute for College Access and Success. For most students and their families, the college they choose hinges on the amount of financial aid offered and the breakdown between grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and student loans.
Persons: Ellie Bruecker, FAFSA Organizations: National College, Federal Student Aid, Institute for College, Finance, Harvard, U.S . Department of Education
PhotoAlto/Dinoco GrecoGetting a college degree seems increasingly less appealing. College degree earners fall nearly 3%Community college pathway is 'at risk'Historically, a two-year degree was considered an economical alternative to a bachelor's, or even a more affordable pathway to a four-year college. In fact, just 16% of all community college students ultimately attain a bachelor's degree, according to recent reports by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Community college as a stepping stone is "at risk," Shapiro said, and "that's very bad news." Submitting a FAFSA is also one of the best predictors of whether a high school senior will go on to college, according to the National College Attainment Network.
Persons: Shapiro, Joe Biden, it's, Sandy Baum, Baum Organizations: Community College Research Center, Columbia University, Aspen Institute College Excellence, Student Clearinghouse Research, Community, Federal, National College, Network, Seniors, U.S . Department of Education, Education, Urban Institute
As Miguel A. Cardona, the education secretary, appeared before lawmakers on Wednesday to make his agency’s case for funding next year, members of both parties had something else on their minds: this year’s chaotic college admissions process. Republicans peppered him with questions about the botched rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, which has derailed college admissions this year. Several of them asked whether the agency had diverted resources away from the project in its pursuit of canceling student debt. “There’s nothing more important right now at the Department of Education,” Mr. Cardona told the House Appropriations Committee of the aid form, saying that the agency was successfully juggling multiple priorities with the resources available. “We’re working on this around the clock.”While Mr. Cardona was testifying, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a separate hearing where lawmakers from both parties said the problems with the aid form had harmed aspiring college students.
Persons: Miguel A . Cardona, ” Mr, Cardona Organizations: Federal, Department of Education, Higher Education, Workforce Development
Borrowers with 'runaway interest'More than 25 million borrowers owe more than they originally borrowed in federal student loans because of accrued interest charges, according to the Biden administration. Anyone enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, or SAVE, or any other income-driven repayment plan would be eligible without having to apply. Borrowers eligible for forgiveness programs, who haven't appliedConsumer advocates and borrowers have complained that the government's debt forgiveness programs can be hard to know about and to access. Borrowers who entered repayment over 20 years agoAnother 2.5 million borrowers would benefit from the forgiveness of student loans that have been held for two decades or longer. Borrowers who enrolled in 'low-value' collegesGraduates with loans from "low-value" institutions or programs would also be eligible for loan forgiveness.
Persons: Biden, they're, haven't Organizations: Public, Education, Federal, Aid, Education Department, Corinthian Colleges, ITT Technical Institute
Numerous hiccups in the rollout of the updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid have upended this year's financial aid award season. By now, most of the problems with submitting the form have been resolved, but getting the FAFSA information from the ED's Federal Student Aid office to colleges has introduced another slew of issues. "Continually taking two steps forward and one giant step back is not a sustainable pathway toward getting financial aid offers out to students and families." Outside of those erroneous forms being reprocessed, FSA said as of April, schools should start receiving students' financial information within one to three business days of the student submitting their FAFSA. Still, some students may feel the pressure to commit to a school before they've seen all the financial aid offers available to them or skip the FAFSA — and potentially college — process altogether.
Persons: Justin Draeger, they've Organizations: Federal, Education, National College, Aid, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, National Association of Student Financial
Read previewSome key changes are on the way for thousands of federal student-loan borrowers in public service. President Joe Biden's Education Department recently posted new guidance on Federal Student Aid's website with updates to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Once PSLF processing resumes in July, borrowers' loans will remain with their servicer, but the Education Department will fully manage the program. As a result, borrowers can view their PSLF payments directly on studentaid.gov, access "enhanced" services like status tracking for their applications, and see quicker processing times for PSLF. AdvertisementOn top of this transition, MOHELA is in the process of transitioning borrowers to a new servicing platform, which could mean up to 30-day delays in posting payments.
Persons: , Joe Biden's, MOHELA, that'll, PSLF, Grant, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Chuck Schumer, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Federal, Public, Business, Teacher, College And Higher, Federal Student Aid, Education Department, PSLF, Protection Locations: Massachusetts
Amid arguably the worst year to apply for financial aid, some colleges are implementing new strategies to entice students wary of the high cost. Vanderbilt University announced it is expanding Opportunity Vanderbilt to include full-tuition scholarships to students of families with an annual income of $150,000 or less. Meanwhile, Dartmouth also said it is nearly doubling its current income threshold for a "zero parent contribution" for parents with an annual income of $125,000, up from $65,000. "As costs continue to escalate we think it's so important there is access," said Doug Christiansen, Vanderbilt's dean of admissions and financial aid. "I am concerned on a national level that we will have a portion that think they can't afford it," he said.
Persons: Dartmouth, Doug Christiansen, Christiansen Organizations: Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt, Finance, Harvard, Federal Student Aid
Antonio Scordo, 50, is struggling to navigate the college financial aid process for his two daughters. Having already sent his son through college, Scordo was familiar with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, process — but this year has brought a host of new challenges. "We also don't want to apply for not enough because then you're scrambling to try to find money at the last minute. According to Federal Student Aid, the ability to make corrections and updates will not become available until "the first half of April." To help pay for his son and one of his daughter's schools, he took out nearly $50,000 in parent PLUS loans, per documents reviewed by BI.
Persons: Antonio Scordo, , Scordo, Joe Biden's, she's, she'll, Miguel Cardona, Cardona, they're Organizations: Service, Federal Student Aid, Joe Biden's Education Department, Business, BI, The Education Department, Politico, Microsoft, Education Department Locations: Scordo
Congress has until Friday at midnight to pass six major spending bills to avert a partial government shutdown. Six spending bills that cover roughly three-quarters of all federal discretionary spending are at stake:– Defense: Includes funding for nearly all military-related activities. – State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs: Includes funding for U.S. diplomatic activities, cultural exchanges, development and humanitarian assistance. As of Monday morning, appropriators had yet to release any of the six funding bills they’ll need to pass. The stalemate comes in the wake of Republicans killing the bipartisan Senate border deal last month.
Persons: appropriators, they’re Organizations: , – Financial Services, General Government, Department of, Treasury, of Columbia, – Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration Services, Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, Social Security, National Labor Relations Board, Senate, U.S . Capitol Police, of Congress, Foreign, House Republican, White House, Department of Homeland Security Locations: U.S, – State
"So I mean, we upped our retirement contributions, put more in our savings account because we're saving to buy an apartment." According to David's account, he's expected to resume payments in April, and while he's not yet sure what the amount will be, he's already having to cut back on spending and dig into his retirement savings to make sure he can afford an additional bill. Since federal student-loan payments resumed in October after an over three-year pause, many borrowers have been struggling to get help from their servicers due to strained resources at Federal Student Aid, the office that oversees repayment. AdvertisementAs David waits for clarity, he's evaluating how much money he can withdraw from his savings account to face his student-loan payments once again. "I'm on the fortunate end of this in that I do actually have a savings account," David said.
Persons: David, David —, , MOHELA, he's, We've, we're, Anne, hasn't, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, BI, Public, Education Department, Federal Student Aid, Republican Locations: PSLF, MOHELA
There were just days left to process a batch of federal financial aid applications when Education Department officials made a fateful discovery: 70,000 emails from students all over the country, containing reams of essential data. They were sitting in an inbox, untouched. The students’ futures depended on it. “It needs to get untangled,” Mr. Cordray told his staff members on Thursday, according to recordings of two back-to-back meetings that The New York Times obtained. Three years ago, Congress ordered the Education Department to revamp the new form to make it easier and more accessible.
Persons: Richard Cordray, Mr, Cordray, , Organizations: Education Department, New York Times, Federal Student Aid
It includes a $3.1 billion funding increase for the Education Department to help student-loan borrowers. AdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's budget wish list is out — and it includes boosted funding to help student-loan borrowers as they continue to navigate the return to repayment. Biden's budget request released on Monday outlines what his administration is seeking to prioritize in the final year of his first term. Additionally, the budget request proposes getting rid of student-loan origination fees, or fees a lender charges for processing a borrower's loan. However, many of the initiatives in Biden's budget request would require congressional approval, and with Republicans holding a majority in the House, it's unlikely it would pass in its current form.
Persons: , Joe Biden's, Education James Kvaal, Pell Grant, Biden Organizations: Education Department, Service, Child, Social Security, Federal, Aid, Federal Student Aid, Education, College Fund, Republicans, Business, Management
The budget seeks to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit and keep Social Security benefits intact. The budget also proposes a tax increase on billionaires, companies, and firms giving executives big paydays. The proposal comes after a tax bill that would partially expand the Child Tax Credit currently lingers untouched in Congress. Advertisement"It cuts costs for families with children and American workers and lowers childcare costs for hardworking families," Young continued. Would a restored child tax credit or maintained Social Security benefits impact your life?
Persons: Joe Biden, , White, Shalanda Young, Young, Biden Organizations: Tax, Social, Service, American, Management, Social Security, Federal, Aid, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, , GOP, Security
President Joe Biden recently announced that he was canceling federal student loans for nearly 153,000 borrowers enrolled in the plan, known as the SAVE plan. For Lauran Michael and her husband, the SAVE plan has reduced student loan payments by half. If you are interested in applying for the SAVE plan, here's what you need to know:WHAT IS AN INCOME-DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLAN? Borrowers can apply to the SAVE plan using the Income-Driven Repayment Plan request through the Education Department’s website. If you’d like to repay your federal student loans under an income-driven plan, the first step is to fill out an application through the Federal Student Aid website.
Persons: Joe Biden, Michael, they've, , you’ve, they’re, Biden’s, Charles Schwab Organizations: SAVE, U.S . Education Department, WHO, PLAN, Program, Education, Education Department, Public, Defense, Federal, Aid, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: U.S, Raleigh , North Carolina
When Biden was first running for office, he campaigned on canceling $10,000 in student debt per borrower, along with reforming repayment programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness. AdvertisementThe Education Department is undergoing a process to get relief to borrowers using a different law, but it will take time to reach borrowers. Targeted student-loan forgivenessWhile the Supreme Court struck down Biden's first try at broad student-loan forgiveness, he has still enacted smaller amounts of relief to borrowers through various reforms. Additionally, the Education Department has announced debt cancellation for borrowers defrauded by the schools they attended, including the major for-profit chains ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges. In February, the department announced $1.2 billion in debt relief for 153,000 borrowers, the first group to benefit from that provision.
Persons: , Joe Biden, Biden, Clare McCann, Arnold Ventures —, McCann, Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Public, Biden, Business, Department, Arnold Ventures, Education Department, ITT Technical Institute, Corinthian Colleges, Education, Higher Locations: PSLF, deferment
Millions of student-loan borrowers might soon see improvements to the platforms they use to pay off their debt. Federal Student Aid also posted an announcement on its website with further details on the platform changes. This is likely an effort to prevent scams by making it clear to borrowers that the servicer works with the federal government. It'll ensure that borrowers can detect whether information is coming from an Education Department website to protect them from scams and reduce disruptions across servicing platforms. Advertisement"You will see more improvements when managing and repaying your loans in the coming year," the email to borrowers said.
Persons: Joe Biden's, MOHELA Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Business, Federal, Aid, Education Department
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