Educational News

Student loan complaints hit record high, CFPB finds but the watchdog agency omits details

Federal student loan borrowers submitted a record number of complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from mid-2024 to mid-2025, a recent report from the bureau shows. But the government’s 21-page report, published in early January, omits details on the nature of borrowers’ complaints —…

Older workers with student loan debt have less saved for retirement, Fidelity finds

Student debt can make it more challenging to prepare for retirement — and that is reflected in the retirement balances of older borrowers, Fidelity data shows. Retirement balances are roughly 30% lower among employees over age 50 who currently have student debt, at…

Over 800,000 student loan borrowers remain in backlog for forgiveness, affordable repayment plans

More than 800,000 federal student loan holders remain stuck in a backlog of applications for an affordable repayment plan or debt forgiveness, a new court filing shows. As of the end of December, 734,221 borrower requests to transfer into an income-driven repayment…

Trump administration’s delay on student loan collections offers borrowers time to get current

Student loan borrowers in default got a reprieve last week: The Trump administration said Friday it would postpone forced collections, for now. The pause is an about-face for the Department of Education, which had announced in late December that it would start seizing defaulted borrowers’…

Bankruptcy success rate for student loan borrowers jumps to 87%, study finds

Student debt has long been considered difficult, if not impossible, to discharge in bankruptcy. But that hasn’t been the case in recent years, a new study finds. The success rate for student loan borrowers who attempt to discharge their debt in bankruptcy has “jumped” to…

Student loan forgiveness is taxable again: Start planning for the ‘tax bomb,’ CFP says

Student loan borrowers whose debt is canceled in 2026 or later may face a significant tax bill. A law that shielded student loan forgiveness from taxation at the federal level — part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — expired on Dec. 31, 2025. President Donald…

Trump officials move slowly on student loan forgiveness, repayment plan backlog: court filing

The Trump administration continues to move slowly in processing a massive backlog of applications from hundreds of thousands of student loan borrowers seeking debt forgiveness or an affordable repayment plan, a new court filing shows. As of the end of November, 802,730 requests to transfer into…

Some student loan borrowers pay ‘more than necessary,’ advisor says. What to know about relief programs

With many federal student loan borrowers struggling to repay their debt, consumer advocates and financial advisors say it’s crucial that consumers know about the U.S. Department of Education’s affordable repayment plans and forgiveness programs. Unfortunately, some don’t. “Many borrowers end up paying more than necessary simply because…

U.S. Department of Education Announces Agreement with Missouri to End Biden Administration’s Illegal SAVE Plan

Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced a proposed joint settlement agreement with the State of Missouri that would end the Biden Administration’s illegal ‘Saving on a Valuable Education’ (SAVE) Plan. The SAVE Plan was the Biden Administration’s third and…

Student loan borrowers including higher earners may qualify for lower monthly bills soon

Many student loan borrowers could soon have access to lower monthly payments, as the U.S. Department of Education finishes implementing changes to one of its repayment plans. Previously, borrowers needed to prove a “partial financial hardship” — or income below a certain level…