Education Department’s New Rules May Block PAYE Enrollment Before July 1 Deadline
New Education Department rules effective July 1, 2026 may block many borrowers from enrolling in the PAYE student loan repayment plan before its 2028 phaseout.
College Students Expect $80,000 Starting Salaries — The Real Number Is $24,000 Less
College students expect $80K starting salaries but actual average is $56,153 — a $24K gap that directly affects student loan repayment plans.
New Parent PLUS Limits Take Effect July 1 — What Families Need To Plan For Fall
Parent PLUS loans will be capped at $20,000/year and $65,000 lifetime starting July 1, and Grad PLUS ends. Here’s what families with fall 2026 students need to know.
Trump’s TrumpIRA Executive Order Rebrands Biden’s $1,000 Saver’s Match
Trump’s executive order launches TrumpIRA.gov by 2027, but the $1,000 federal match it promotes was created under Biden’s SECURE 2.0 Act in 2022.
Students Pick Work Over College As AI Rewrites Career Plans
EAB’s 2026 survey shows 67% of students who skipped college blamed cost of living — up from 51% — as AI uncertainty reshapes major and career choices.
SAVE Borrowers Have 90 Days After July 1 to Switch Plans
The Department of Education will give SAVE borrowers 90 days after July 1 to pick a new plan — or be auto-enrolled in standard repayment. Here are the options.
Pitt Launches Free Tuition for Pennsylvania Families Earning Under $75,000
The University of Pittsburgh will cover full tuition at its Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville campuses for PA families earning under $75K.
53% Of College Students Feel Pressured By Social Media To Overspend
WalletHub’s new student money survey finds 53% of college students feel social media pressure to overspend and 28% question their tuition’s value.
This Week In College And Money News: May 1, 2026
The Education Department finalizes new student loan rules effective July 1. Plus: 15 HBCUs launch a research coalition, a $10K AI degree is announced, and a court blocks admissions data collection at 170+ colleges.
Department of Education Finalizes Loan Limits and Repayment Plan Changes
The Education Department finalized new student loan limits, ended Grad PLUS, and launched two new repayment plans. Here’s what changes July 1, 2026.
Idaho Approves Largest Tuition Hike in Three Years
Idaho’s State Board approved 4.4-4.7% tuition increases (the largest in three years) signaling a broader increase in public college costs.