Student Aid Policy

Higher education lawyers and advocates say the lawsuit is more about politics than a serious legal challenge—though others say it makes a compelling case.

Higher education groups sharply criticized the Education Department’s sweeping set of regulations that would define gainful employment and make other changes.

The Education Department’s proposed regulations would give the secretary more discretion to yank an institution’s eligibility for federal financial aid. Institutions are worried about unintended consequences.

Although not likely to become law anytime soon, the package of bills shows that Senate Republicans are ready to step up to the plate on higher education policy.

As more families with fewer resources turn to Parent PLUS loans to afford higher education, policy makers need to seek broader reforms to improve college affordability, a new study says.

With student loan payments set to resume, a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report shows more borrowers are struggling. “The situation is worse than we could have imagined,” one advocate said.

The proposed ban comes as more states are restricting colleges and universities from withholding transcripts when a student owes money to the institution. The planned federal ban would only apply in some cases.