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Federal Student Aid Releases Updated 2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide for Financial Aid Professionals

Federal Student Aid Releases Updated 2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide for Financial Aid Professionals

Federal Student Aid (FSA) has released updated volumes of the 2026–27 FAFSA Specifications Guide. Specifically, Volumes 4A, 4B, 5, and 6, along with the Excel version of the ISIR record layout, have been revised. The FAFSA Specifications Guide serves as a comprehensive reference for financial aid administrators, programmers, data processing staff, and other FSA partners. Its purpose is to facilitate the integration of electronic FAFSA functionality into institutional systems and enable electronic communication with the FAFSA Processing System. The guide provides detailed FAFSA-related processing information and guidance across multiple volumes. Users are advised to review the 'Change History Table' in each updated volume and the 'Changes' column in the Excel file for complete information on the revisions. The guide is an essential resource for those involved in processing federal student aid applications.

Federal Student Aid Updates Training for Foreign Schools on Direct Loan Program Administration

Federal Student Aid Updates Training for Foreign Schools on Direct Loan Program Administration

Federal Student Aid (FSA) has released its 2026–27 update for 'FSA Training for Foreign Schools,' an online program designed to assist foreign institutions in understanding and managing federal student aid programs. This self-paced training is particularly focused on the participation of foreign schools in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The updated training consists of six modules that cover the fundamental aspects of federal student aid administration. Institutions can complete individual courses based on their specific training needs or undertake the entire program. For the 2026–27 update, FSA has incorporated new interactive learning activities into several courses, including 'Completing the FAFSA Form,' 'Types of Charges,' 'Enrollment Reporting,' and 'R2T4 for Modules.' The training also features real-world scenarios, instructional videos, and knowledge checks to reinforce key concepts. Access to the updated training is available through the FSA Training Center, where users can log in...

University of St. Thomas Launches $1 Billion Fundraising Campaign for Student Access and Academic Excellence

University of St. Thomas Launches $1 Billion Fundraising Campaign for Student Access and Academic Excellence

The University of St. Thomas has publicly launched its largest-ever fundraising initiative, 'Be Brilliant. Be Bold. The Campaign for St. Thomas,' with a goal of $1 billion. The campaign has already secured nearly $800 million in commitments from over 20,000 donors. This comprehensive campaign aims to significantly expand scholarship opportunities, invest in faculty and academic excellence, and create more transformative learning experiences for students. The university emphasizes that the campaign reflects growing confidence in its mission to educate graduates who combine professional excellence with a commitment to the common good. Volunteer co-chairs for the campaign include Andrew and Kathleen Cecere, Rory and Rhonda O’Neill, and Patrick and Ann Ryan, all of whom are members of St. Thomas’ Board of Trustees.

California Ranks Among Lowest in Student Debt Burden Nationally

California Ranks Among Lowest in Student Debt Burden Nationally

A new analysis by WalletHub indicates that California has one of the lowest student debt burdens in the United States, ranking 49th least-indebted among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Only Hawaii and Utah fared better. This finding is notable given California's high cost of living. The primary reason attributed to this low debt burden is that an overwhelming 83% of college-age students in California choose to attend public colleges and universities. The state's extensive public higher education systems—the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC)—comprise approximately 150 institutions. These public institutions offer reasonable in-state tuition fees, which significantly reduces the need for students to take out large loans. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, freshmen in California are 44% less likely to take out a loan compared to students in other states. Less than 40% of freshmen at UC and CSU campuses take out loa...

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Donde Plowman launches her $3.5B vision for University of Tennessee growth | Exclusive

Donde Plowman launches her $3.5B vision for University of Tennessee growth | Exclusive

"When it stops being fun, I’ll be out of here," Chancellor Donde Plowman told Knox News. "But I'm having a ball here."

Augusta University Launches First Undergraduate Public Health Degree

Augusta University Launches First Undergraduate Public Health Degree

Augusta University's School of Public Health has received approval from the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents to offer its first undergraduate degree: a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH). This new program aims to prepare students for careers focused on community wellness and health sciences. While the School of Public Health has previously offered graduate degrees, the BSPH marks its inaugural undergraduate offering. Graduates of the program will be equipped for roles such as health educators, environmental health specialists, or healthcare administrators in various settings, including government agencies, nonprofits, and hospitals. The university plans to integrate this new degree with its existing health science programs for physicians and nurses, and is exploring a 'four-plus-one' pathway to allow BSPH students to begin master's degree work during their senior year.

Einhorn Collaborative Donates $10 Million to Citizens and Scholars for College Civic Preparedness Initiative

Einhorn Collaborative Donates $10 Million to Citizens and Scholars for College Civic Preparedness Initiative

Einhorn Collaborative has announced a $10 million gift to Citizens and Scholars (C&S), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering engaged citizenship among college students. This significant investment will support C&S’s College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative, a coalition of 140 university leaders committed to integrating democratic principles and practices into campus life. The goal is to equip the next generation with essential civic learning skills, such as perspective-taking, constructive disagreement, and collaborative problem-solving. The initiative aims to reach 4.5 million students across 400 institutions over the next five years, transforming campus civic culture and preparing students to navigate complex societal challenges. This effort comes as a response to observations that America's social fabric is frayed and that higher education has largely failed to prepare students with the tools to engage in civil discourse and address polarization.

West Virginia State University Exceeds Capital Campaign Goal, Raising Over $26.4 Million

West Virginia State University Exceeds Capital Campaign Goal, Raising Over $26.4 Million

West Virginia State University (WVSU) has successfully completed its 'State of Tomorrow' capital campaign, surpassing its initial goal of $25 million by raising over $26.4 million. The campaign saw contributions from 3,403 donors, with more than $11.9 million specifically allocated to student scholarships. A significant portion of the donors, 1,092 individuals, were first-time contributors to the university. The achievement was celebrated with a student-focused event on the campus quad, featuring live entertainment from Grammy-nominated rapper Petey Pablo, music by WVSU alumnus DJ ActRight, and performances by WVSU students and the Dance and Cheer Team. Free lunch was also provided to students, faculty, and staff from local vendors.

Minnesota University Receives $82 Million Donation for First-Generation and Low-Income Student Programs

Minnesota University Receives $82 Million Donation for First-Generation and Low-Income Student Programs

The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota has announced an $82 million donation from the Ciresi Walburn Foundation and the Michael V. and Ann C. Ciresi Foundation. This gift is the largest in the private Catholic university’s 141-year history and is part of a larger $1 billion fundraising campaign. The funds will be used to establish a Center for First-Generation Students and a Center for Leadership. Additionally, the donation will perpetually fund the existing Ciresi Walburn Leadership Fellows Program, which supports low-income students. The fellowship program, initially created in 2022 for Black male students, now accepts students of any race and gender, aligning with changes implemented by many colleges and universities under pressure from anti-DEI lawmakers. The primary criteria for Ciresi fellows are demonstrated financial need and a commitment to service and social justice, rather than a specific GPA or field of study. Fellows can receive up to $17,500 in scholarship money per year, totaling $70,000 ...

The Augusta Chronicle

Regents OK first Augusta University undergrad degree in public health

Regents OK first Augusta University undergrad degree in public health

Augusta University is launching its first undergraduate public health degree to prepare students for health careers.

Springfield News-Leader

Missouri State University dedicates new arts complex, honors impact

Missouri State University dedicates new arts complex, honors impact

Made possible by the largest one-time donation in Missouri State University's history, the new Performing Arts Complex will open in spring 2027.

David Eccles School of Business Launches $37 Million Fundraising Campaign with Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Challenge Grant

David Eccles School of Business Launches $37 Million Fundraising Campaign with Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Challenge Grant

David Eccles School of Business Launches $37 Million Fundraising Campaign with Emma Eccles Jones Foundation Challenge Grant