Latest news with #FreeApplicationforFederalStudentAid
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Trump's Education Department has little time for these big changes
Big Beautiful Bill 101: What you need to know about the new law That process began in earnest on Aug. 7, when the department hosted a public hearing to begin implementing the White House and Congress' mandates. Facing a July 1, 2026, deadline, the agency has a long to-do list. It must create new plans for student loan repayment, revise accountability rules for universities and establish new types of Pell Grants. And the workload keeps growing: The White House just announced plans to reform its main database for higher education information (though the data-gathering arm of the Education Department has been reduced to just a handful of people). Despite those obstacles, leaders at the Education Department insist they can meet the deadlines. In his first interview on the job, Nicholas Kent, the top official overseeing higher education at the department, was optimistic about the agency's bandwidth. He pointed to one provision in the law - an exclusion of family farm and small business assets from financial aid calculations - that is already being rolled out months ahead of schedule. He said that change will be included in the latest version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which will fully launch this fall. Read more: Does the new FAFSA actually hurt farm families? Republicans say yes. "We are off to the races in implementing this historic legislation that's going to make higher education work better for the American people," Kent said. "We are confident that we will be able to deliver it on time, or earlier, than what is required." Read more: Senate confirms former for-profit college exec to oversee higher ed Yet skeptics, including former Education Department officials, worry that the agency lacks the staffing it needs. After the department reduced its workforce by half in March, college financial aid offices have struggled to get in touch with the Federal Student Aid office. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has reported widespread communication breakdowns and processing delays, leaving students without answers they need to get help paying for school. At the Aug. 7 hearing, Melanie Storey, NASFAA's president and a former Education Department official, urged the agency's leadership to include the financial aid community as it moves forward with putting all the new changes in place. "Ignoring the financial aid community's operational expertise," she warned, "creates a significant risk of implementation failure." Trump administration hits 200-day mark As the administration hits its 200-day mark, higher education reform has emerged as a centerpiece of Trump's domestic policy agenda. After freezing billions in federal funding for academic research, the White House has pushed a growing number of universities into unprecedented agreements. Those deals have included multimillion-dollar fines, commitments to handing over data on student enrollment and promises to prohibit transgender women from playing collegiate sports. Critics have derided those efforts as historic encroachments on academic freedom. Kent, a former for-profit college executive, instead views the recent agreements as examples of a "lot of success." "Stay tuned," he said. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
The clock is ticking for Trump's Education Department
The Education Department has less than a year to implement big changes to student loans and college oversight. The man in charge of it all is adamant the agency can do it – even with half the staff. There's no time to spare at the Education Department. No, not because the agency is going away anytime soon – actually, its plate just got even fuller. When President Donald Trump signed his massive domestic policy bill into law on July 4, the agency's workload ballooned. Now, with its usual staff cut in half, it has less than a year to implement major reforms to college financial aid and oversight. Big Beautiful Bill 101: What you need to know about the new law That process began in earnest on Aug. 7, when the department hosted a public hearing to begin implementing the White House and Congress' mandates. Facing a July 1, 2026, deadline, the agency has a long to-do list. It must create new plans for student loan repayment, revise accountability rules for universities and establish new types of Pell Grants. And the workload keeps growing: The White House just announced plans to reform its main database for higher education information (though the data-gathering arm of the Education Department has been reduced to just a handful of people). Despite those obstacles, leaders at the Education Department insist they can meet the deadlines. In his first interview on the job, Nicholas Kent, the top official overseeing higher education at the department, was optimistic about the agency's bandwidth. He pointed to one provision in the law – an exclusion of family farm and small business assets from financial aid calculations – that is already being rolled out months ahead of schedule. He said that change will be included in the latest version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which will fully launch this fall. Read more: Does the new FAFSA actually hurt farm families? Republicans say yes. "We are off to the races in implementing this historic legislation that's going to make higher education work better for the American people," Kent said. "We are confident that we will be able to deliver it on time, or earlier, than what is required." Read more: Senate confirms former for-profit college exec to oversee higher ed Yet skeptics, including former Education Department officials, worry that the agency lacks the staffing it needs. After the department reduced its workforce by half in March, college financial aid offices have struggled to get in touch with the Federal Student Aid office. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has reported widespread communication breakdowns and processing delays, leaving students without answers they need to get help paying for school. At the Aug. 7 hearing, Melanie Storey, NASFAA's president and a former Education Department official, urged the agency's leadership to include the financial aid community as it moves forward with putting all the new changes in place. "Ignoring the financial aid community's operational expertise," she warned, "creates a significant risk of implementation failure." Trump administration hits 200-day mark As the administration hits its 200-day mark, higher education reform has emerged as a centerpiece of Trump's domestic policy agenda. After freezing billions in federal funding for academic research, the White House has pushed a growing number of universities into unprecedented agreements. Those deals have included multimillion-dollar fines, commitments to handing over data on student enrollment and promises to prohibit transgender women from playing collegiate sports. Critics have derided those efforts as historic encroachments on academic freedom. Kent, a former for-profit college executive, instead views the recent agreements as examples of a "lot of success." "Stay tuned," he said. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Best Online Associate Degrees Of 2025
Pro Tip Community colleges often partner with public universities in their home states to offer associate degree programs specifically designed to meet lower-division bachelor's requirements. If you plan to transfer to a four-year school, talk with your academic advisor about transfer pathways within your state's public higher education system. Choosing a college is no walk in the park. Spend some time clarifying your academic and career goals to determine which associate degree is best for you, then look for a school that offers the degree you want at a price point that works with your budget. Consider Your Future Goals When choosing an online community college, think about your career goals. Look for programs offering concentrations or emphases in your area of interest. You might also research each program's faculty to see if any professors have expertise in your field of choice. One of the benefits of online associate degrees is that you can pursue the program that best fits your aspirations, even if it's not offered in your local area. If you plan on continuing your education after earning your associate, look for programs with defined transfer pathways or articulation agreements with four-year schools, which could reduce the time and money you spend earning both degrees. Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options The cost of online associate degrees varies by school and student. Average in-state costs for tuition and fees at the schools on this list range from $1,124 to $4,230. Over the course of two years—the typical length of an associate degree program for full-time students—total tuition costs range from roughly $2,250 to $8,450. For comparison, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average annual tuition rate at a two-year college was $3,885 as of the 2022–23 academic year. Over a two-year associate program, this totals slightly under $7,800 in tuition and fees. Even with competitive tuition rates, many students need financial aid to help cover their education costs. By filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can qualify for federal student aid, including loans, grants and scholarships. The FAFSA may also determine your eligibility for institutional and third-party aid.
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
Education Department launches key college financial aid form sooner than expected
The U.S. Department of Education is making the Free Application for Federal Student Aid available earlier this year, which experts say may address some of the bugs that have plagued previous application cycles. The FAFSA serves as the gateway to all federal aid money for college-bound students, including federal student loans, work-study and especially grants. The 2026-27 FAFSA is already available to a limited group of students in a beta test. Starting on Sept. 1, anyone can request to participate in the second phase of testing, according to an announcement from the Education Department. All students will have access to the coming academic year's form at the beginning of October, in keeping with the typical start date. More from Personal Finance:These college majors have the best job prospectsFamilies feel confident about paying for college, until tuition bills arriveStudent loan borrowers: How will the end of the SAVE plan impact you? Tell us "We're pleased to hear that Federal Student Aid has launched FAFSA beta testing sooner than expected," said Melanie Storey, president and CEO of The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. "An earlier and longer testing window will give the Department of Education the time it needs to address any potential bugs or errors, with valuable feedback from applicants and financial aid professionals, which should lead to a smoother process when the application is opened to the broader public," Storey said. Kim Cook, CEO of the National College Attainment Network, said she was "pleased" that beta testing for the new FAFSA is already underway and that the new FAFSA is on track to open to the public on Oct. 1. "All these positive changes portend that the high school class of 2026 will achieve an all-time high FAFSA completion rate by the time they graduate next spring," Cook said. For many families, financial aid is essential when it comes to covering the cost of college, which has jumped significantly in recent decades. Grants — including federal ones such as the Pell Grant — have become the most crucial kind of assistance because they typically do not need to be repaid. The earlier families fill out the form, the better their chances are of receiving aid, since some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, or from programs with limited funds, experts often say. Submitting a FAFSA is one of the best predictors of whether a high school senior will go on to college, according to the National College Attainment Network. Seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in college directly after high school, according to an NCAN study of 2013 data. Yet, only 71% of families submitted the FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic year, down from 74% in the previous academic year, according to Sallie Mae's recent How America Pays for College report. That's in part because of previous complications with the new form, which initially launched in late December of 2023 after a monthslong delay. "Families reported having an easier time completing the FAFSA last year, but 58% indicated they still needed assistance, so having a head start can be beneficial especially for first time FAFSA filers," said Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae.
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Many families feel confident about paying for college — until tuition bills arrive. Here's how they're covering costs
With the start of fall semester just weeks away, sky-high college costs are an extreme pain point for most students and their parents. A recent report by Citizens Financial Group found a growing "confidence gap." While 59% of parents said they were confident about managing college expenses when their child was accepted, just 21% said they felt prepared for the actual cost once tuition bills arrived. "We know the cost of attendance continues to grow, and a lot of forms of federal lending and grants and aid have not kept pace," said Chris Ebeling, head of student lending at Citizens. "Families felt like they were going to be OK, but once those tuition bills arrived, that number plummeted," Ebeling said. In April and May, Citizens polled more than 1,000 parents of children aged 13 to 29 who are either planning on attending or have some experience with college. More from Personal Finance:These college majors have the best job prospectsStudent loan forgiveness may soon be taxed againStudent loan borrowers — how will the end of the SAVE plan impact you? Tell us College costs have risen significantly in recent decades, with tuition increasing 5.6% a year, on average, since 1983 — outpacing inflation and other household expenses, according to a recent report by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. A growing share of schools are now crossing the $100,000 threshold for total annual cost to attend, and tuition is still rising roughly 5% a year. To be sure, few families pay a school's sticker price. As of the 2024-25 academic year, the amount families actually spent on education costs was closer to $31,000, on average, according to Sallie Mae's annual How America Pays for College report — but that figure is still up nearly 10% from a year earlier. Sallie Mae polled 1,000 parents of undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 24, as well as 1,000 undergraduate students. In most cases, parent income and savings cover about half of college costs. Free money from scholarships and grants accounts for more than a quarter of the costs and student loans make up most of the rest, the education lender found. Scholarships are a key source of funding, yet only about 60% of families use them, according to Sallie Mae. Those who do receive about $8,000, on average. "Every dollar counts when it comes to paying for college," said Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae. "The last thing you want to do is leave free money on the table." There are other "stubborn statistics," too, Castellano said, which are at odds with the growing cost-consciousness among families. For example, only 71% of families submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which serves as the gateway to all federal aid money, including loans, work study and grants. That's down from 74% in the previous academic year. And although most advisors say 529 college savings plans are a "no-brainer" when it comes to financial planning for college — largely because of the tax advantages — fewer than one-third of families utilize them, according to Sallie Mae. "I think there is generally a lack of awareness around 529 plans," Castellano said. Recent data from Credit Karma paints an even starker picture: Fewer than one-quarter of the parents polled said they had a 529 account for their children and 43% said they've never heard of a 529 at all. Roughly 18% said they aren't contributing because they didn't realize the funds could be used for education expenses beyond college, such as K-12 private school tuition or trade and vocational programs — not to mention that Donald Trump's massive tax and spending package expanded 529 qualified education expenses even further to include educational therapies and tutoring, among other costs, for students starting in kindergarten. Most experts say 529 plans are often misunderstood and overlooked. But even among families that do have a college plan, and have saved for years, few have enough stashed away to cover the entire cost. "Even those families that are really well prepared, most families are going to have a financial gap," Ebeling said. Another point of contention is the growing share of young adults rethinking their education altogether. The rising cost of attendance and ballooning student loan balances have played a large role in changing views about the higher education system, with students increasingly deciding to opt out. "The last thing you want, as parents or students, is to feel like higher education is the ultimate goal and you get ready to pay and it's just not possible," Castellano said.
