IDR Backlog Falls to 530,295 in April as Education Department Sets New Processing Record
IDR backlog fell to 530,295 in April 2026 as the Education Department decided a record 456,594 applications but reporting issues delay other numbers.
Robert’s latest articles
Trump Administration Proposes New Rules To Cut Federal Loans For Low-Earning College Programs
New proposed rule would hold all colleges accountable for graduate earnings. Programs that fail could lose student loan eligibility for two years.
Democrats File Resolution to Block ED’s OBBBA Student Loan Final Rule
Democrats filed a bicameral CRA resolution to block ED’s OBBBA student loan rule, which ends SAVE, caps grad and parent borrowing, and takes effect July 1.
NY Fed: 3.6 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Have Defaulted Since October
The NY Fed reports 3.6 million federal student loan borrowers defaulted in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 — and a second wave from SAVE plan could follow.
Are There Charities That Pay Off Student Loans? Here’s What’s Real In 2026
Charities that pay off student loans are mostly a myth. Here’s what the Debt Collective, federal forgiveness, and employer SLRA programs actually cover.
Federal Student Loan Rates Set To Rise For The 2026-27 School Year
Federal student loan rates rise for 2026-27: 6.52% undergrad, 8.07% grad, 9.07% PLUS — based on the May 10-year Treasury auction.
South Carolina Higher Ed Agency Short $25 Million on Scholarships Already Awarded
South Carolina’s higher education agency is $25M short on scholarships already awarded — three years after a $152M surplus exposed projection failures.
Pell Grant Eligibility Jumped 31% After FAFSA Simplification, GAO Finds
A new GAO report finds FAFSA simplification expanded Pell Grant eligibility by 570,000 students and added 1.9 million to the max award rolls.
UC Irvine Cuts MBA Tuition to $99,000 to Slip Under New Federal Loan Cap
UC Irvine’s Merage School is cutting MBA tuition to $99,000 to fall under the new $100,000 federal graduate loan cap. But there’s a catch for borrowers.
Education Department Stops Updating Key School Data After Cutting Research Arm
Education Department’s update of Education Statistics stopped updating after cutting its research arm. Key school data is now over a year old.
SAVE Forbearance Is Ending: 7 Million Borrowers Face Repayment Restart
SAVE forbearance ends 90 days after your servicer contacts you starting July 1. Most borrowers face an end-of-September restart. Here’s what to do.