Student Loans Get Privacy Tune-Up from Education Dept
Published Date: 4/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education is updating its National Student Loan Data System, which tracks student loan info to help decide who gets financial aid and to keep everything running smoothly. If you’re a student or work with student loans, this affects you! You can share your thoughts by May 22, 2026, before the changes officially kick in on April 22, 2026.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Transitional Rules for Legacy PLUS Borrowers
If you received a Graduate PLUS or Parent PLUS loan before June 30, 2026, the Department will keep records so you can remain eligible under the pre-2026 rules for the lesser of a transitional period not to exceed three academic years or until you finish your current program of study. This change becomes applicable on April 22, 2026.
New Lower Annual and Lifetime PLUS Caps
The NSLDS will record and apply new lower annual loan limits for students and parent borrowers of PLUS loans. The system will track and enforce revised aggregate limits including tiered unsubsidized caps for graduate and professional students, a gross lifetime limit for Parent PLUS borrowers per dependent, and a universal non-PLUS lifetime maximum; these changes are effective April 22, 2026.
Expanded NSLDS Recordkeeping (Contact Data)
The NSLDS will include and maintain additional records such as detailed legacy-borrower loan-limit data and customer contact interactions (chat transcripts, email, audio recordings, and screen recordings). These records are listed as part of the system and the modification is applicable on April 22, 2026.
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