College Aid Services

No Secrets Here: Consumer Information Explained (Part 1) – Webinar (Recording)

Alex Fuentes — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:54:08 +0000

Consumer Information requirements outline what information needs to be readily available to current and potential students and the public. Join us for part 1 of our Consumer Information Series as we break down the requirements relating specifically to financial aid administration. We will discuss the required notices, review acceptable dissemination formats, and provide tips and… More »No Secrets Here: Consumer Information Explained (Part 1) – Webinar (Recording)

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Comment Request: Income Driven Repayment Plan Request for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loan Programs

Alex Fuentes — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:00:25 +0000

On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education published a Federal Register notice requesting public comments on proposed updates to the Income‑Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan Request Form used for William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Programs. “The Department is updating the currently approved IDR Request Form that is… More »Comment Request: Income Driven Repayment Plan Request for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loan Programs

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Maximum HEAL Program Interest Rates for Quarter Ending June 30, 2026

Alex Fuentes — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:23:57 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education has published the maximum Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program interest rates for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. These updated rates are now available in the “Current Maximum Interest Rates” section of the HEAL Interest Rates page of the HEAL Information area on the FSA Knowledge Center website. Alongside the current rates, the… More »Maximum HEAL Program Interest Rates for Quarter Ending June 30, 2026

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NPRM Published for AHEAD: Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability

Alex Fuentes — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:54:48 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education has published in the Federal Register the second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) initiative. This NPRM focuses specifically as it relates to Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability. Under the proposed rule, if the typical… More »NPRM Published for AHEAD: Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability

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2025–26 Verification Reporting and Verification Status Code “W” Warning Message

Alex Fuentes — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:55:33 +0000

The Department of Education released guidance reminding schools to resolve 2025 to 26 verification records, with a specific focus on students still reported with verification status code “W.” A “W” status indicates the school made an interim Pell Grant disbursement to a student selected for verification but has not yet completed the verification process. This… More »2025–26 Verification Reporting and Verification Status Code “W” Warning Message

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Comment Request: Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Application

Alex Fuentes — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:36:32 +0000

The Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act (JCLSA), amended the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) to allow joint consolidation co-borrowers to apply to separate an existing joint Direct Consolidation Loan or Federal Consolidation Loan into individual Direct Consolidation Loans. The HEA, as amended by the JCLSA, requires joint consolidation loan borrowers to apply… More »Comment Request: Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Application

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Comment Request: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan Program) Promissory Notes and Related Forms

Alex Fuentes — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:34:53 +0000

Section 455(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the HEA) requires the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) to develop, print, and distribute a standard promissory note to schools that participate in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan Program). The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on… More »Comment Request: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan Program) Promissory Notes and Related Forms

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FAFSA Real-Time Fraud Detection Launching April 26 with a set of New Comment and Reject Codes

Alex Fuentes — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:44:08 +0000

The U.S. Department of Education continues to ramp up efforts to combat widespread financial aid fraud by introducing real-time fraud detection within FAFSA processing. This latest update represents a major shift from post-processing flags to immediate identification of suspicious applications, allowing institutions to intervene earlier and prevent improper disbursements. Starting on April 26, 2026, the… More »FAFSA Real-Time Fraud Detection Launching April 26 with a set of New Comment and Reject Codes

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2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide (April 2026 Update)

Alex Fuentes — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:15:01 +0000

The FAFSA Specifications Guide has been updated with new reject and comment codes as a result of the FAFSA Real-Time Fraud Detection that is launching on April 26, 2026. Updates are available to the following volumes: Volume 1 – Summary of Changes Volume 5 – Edits and Rejects Volume 7- Comment Codes Access the guide… More »2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide (April 2026 Update)

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Comment Request: Application for Approval To Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs

Alex Fuentes — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:37:25 +0000

Section 487(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended, requires that the Secretary of Education prescribe regulations to ensure that any funds postsecondary institutions receive under the HEA are used solely for the purposes specified in and in accordance with the provision of the applicable programs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA),… More »Comment Request: Application for Approval To Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs

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