As of March 14, 2026, updates on federal and private student loans for the year are being tracked, with new policy changes and court decisions being highlighted. This page will be updated regularly with date-specific information.
Later in March 2026, the Department of Education (DOE) is anticipated to announce final RISE initiative regulations. These may confirm or alter the RAP structure, the $257,500 cap, and potentially reclassify certain programs as Professional Degrees, which would increase the borrowing limit to $50,000 annually. Updates will be released via DOE press statements.
New Jersey’s Assembly Bill A4592 is under consideration by the Higher Education Committee. If passed, this bill would expand NJCLASS loan eligibility by allowing cosigner income to be considered, potentially easing financial constraints for graduate students facing federal borrowing limits.
April 1 is the suggested deadline for submitting Parent PLUS Direct Consolidation applications to ensure eligibility for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans before the July 1 transition. Failing to meet this deadline risks losing access to IDR options.
As of March 14, 2026, the DOE is reviewing over 81,838 public comments on the RISE initiative with final rules expected later in March. There is ongoing advocacy for the inclusion of nursing, social work, physical therapy, and MBA programs under the Professional Degrees category.
On March 10, 2026, New Jersey introduced Assembly Bill A4592 to allow combined cosigner income for NJCLASS loans, following a similar initiative by Connecticut. The bill is currently with the Assembly Higher Education Committee, while another bill, NJ S3777, proposes loan deferment for new parents.
Rust Consulting has issued the highest volume of checks for the Navient settlement as of March 10, with eligible borrowers receiving between $100 and $2,000. Those expecting a payment should check the settlement portal or contact Rust Consulting.
The public comment period for the RISE initiative concluded on March 2, with advocacy groups urging the reclassification of certain degrees. The DOE is expected to announce any changes to RAP or borrowing caps by late March.
On February 13, 2026, the DOE released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the RISE initiative, and Navient settlement payments began distribution. New federal borrowing limits were also introduced, with a lifetime aggregate cap of $257,500 for federal loans, excluding Parent PLUS loans, applicable from July 1, 2026.
Connecticut proposed Senate Bill 85 to establish a graduate loan program in response to new federal caps, with the bill currently under review. Advocacy continues regarding the exclusion of certain health fields from the professional degree category.
The new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace SAVE, PAYE, and ICR for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026. Borrowers should compare plans using the Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator to prepare for the transition.
Original Source: studentloansherpa.com
