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.
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.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17239, Education Department General Administrative Regulations
The Secretary of Education proposes to amend the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and other provisions in 2 CFR parts 3474 and 3485 to update the regulations and better align them with other U.S. Department of Education (Department) regulations and procedures, and to include technical updates from the Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024. The Department intends to finalize these regulations in late 2026.
2026-17001, Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: The Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions
The Department proposes to revise the existing accrediting agency recognition regulations at 34 CFR part 602 to implement the directives set forth in Executive Order 14279, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, and other Administration priorities, align the regulations more closely with statute, and reduce regulatory burden.
2026-15019, Rescinding Portions of the Department of Education Title VI Regulations To Align With the Statutory Text and Conform to Executive Order 14281
The Department of Education is changing its rules to stop punishing unintentional discrimination under Title VI, focusing only on intentional discrimination instead. This update, effective July 24, 2026, will make things clearer, cut costs for schools and organizations getting federal money, and follow a new executive order about fairness and opportunity. If you receive federal funds, these changes affect how you follow civil rights rules.
2026-13286, Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand- Driven Workforce Pell: Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability
Starting July 1, 2027, colleges must prove their programs help students earn enough money to keep getting federal student loans. This new rule affects schools offering Direct Loans and aims to stop loans for programs where graduates don’t make enough. Some parts kick in earlier on August 31, 2026, so schools better get ready to show they’re helping students succeed in the workforce!
2026-10013, Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants
Starting July 20, 2026, students and schools will see new rules for Pell Grants thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Now, some other grants won’t count against Pell Grant eligibility, and a new Workforce Pell Grant will help students in short, job-focused programs get financial aid. This means more chances for students to get money for education that leads straight to good jobs!
2026-08556, Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations
Starting July 1, 2026, new rules will change how federal student loans work for grad students, parents, and professionals. The Grad PLUS loan is being phased out, and repayment plans are getting simpler with a fresh new income-driven option. Plus, folks who’ve defaulted before get a second chance to fix their loans and get back on track.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-07816, Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies
Bank companies want to join forces or buy banks, and the Federal Reserve is checking their plans to keep things safe and fair. If you care, you’ve got until May 22, 2026, to share your thoughts. This process affects companies like GEBSCO, Inc., and could change who controls some banks, but no big money moves are announced yet.
Next: 2026-07818, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 4.21 (Series of FLEX Options)
Cboe Exchange wants to update its rules for FLEX options on ETFs, making it easier for new ETFs to qualify for cash settlement based on recent trading activity. They’ll also set clear rules for what happens if an ETF stops meeting requirements during reviews and remove the current 50-ETF limit for cash-settled FLEX options. These changes could open up more trading opportunities soon, with no immediate cost impact for traders.