FAFSA eligibility concerns with Project 2025 education policies - what happens to my loans?

I work in financial aid at a community college and can provide some perspective. First, try not to panic about proposals that haven't been implemented. Current federal student aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans, PSLF) are established by federal legislation, not just department policy. Any major changes would require Congressional action.\n\nRegarding your specific concerns:\n\n1. Your existing loan terms should be protected by your Master Promissory Note\n2. PSLF is written into federal law and existing borrowers in the program have contractual protections\n3. The Department of Education can't unilaterally eliminate programs established by Congress\n\nHowever, it's always wise to have a backup plan. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your financial aid office to review your specific situation and create contingency plans for repayment.

Thank you for this info...it helps calm my anxiety a bit. I've been trying to get through to someone at the financial aid office but they're completely swamped right now with the new FAFSA rollout issues. I'll keep trying though.

omg i heard about that project 2025 stuff too and freaked!!! my SAI is already so high bc my parents make decent money but dont help me AT ALL. so unfair that the system thinks they should contribute when they wont. if they make loan forgiveness harder im screwed 😭

I'm in a similar boat with my SAI calculation. The FAFSA system assumes my parents contribute way more than they actually do. Have you submitted a special circumstances form? My financial aid advisor said changes to parent contribution expectations would likely be phased in gradually, not overnight, if they happen at all.

This is yet another reason why I ALWAYS tell students to minimize federal loans. I worked 30 hours a week during college, lived at home, and graduated with only $7,000 in loans. People take out way too much, get useless degrees, then expect taxpayers to bail them out. If you borrowed it, you should pay it back! The system is already too generous with income-based repayment plans lowering payments to practically nothing.

That's not helpful to those of us already in the system. Not everyone has parents they can live with during college or can work enough hours to cover rising tuition costs. My state university's tuition has gone up 35% since I started, and my parents live in a rural area 3 hours from campus. What am I supposed to do now?

This kind of bootstraps narrative completely ignores the reality that tuition has risen at rates far exceeding inflation or wage growth. What worked for you simply isn't mathematically possible for most students today. My parents paid $1,200/semester for their state university education in the 80s. That same university now charges $14,500/semester. Even adjusting for inflation, costs have tripled while wages have stagnated. The FAFSA formula hasn't kept pace with these economic realities.

Has anyone actually been able to get through to the Federal Student Aid hotline to ask about potential policy changes? I've been trying for WEEKS about a verification issue and keep getting disconnected or hitting endless hold times. So frustrating when you're trying to plan your financial future.

I was having the same problem until I tried Claimyr. They let you skip the FSA phone queue and have an agent call you back. Saved me literally hours of hold time when I had a similar verification issue last month. Their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and the website is claimyr.com. Worth it just to get actual answers from a real person at FSA.

Just looked it up - this actually seems useful. Did they handle your verification issue or just connect you to someone who could?

They just connect you with an actual FSA agent (the same people you'd eventually talk to if you waited on hold forever). But the agent I got was super helpful once connected and resolved my verification flag issue in about 10 minutes.

The policy document you're referencing is concerning, but I'd focus on what's actually in your control right now. Have you completed your 2025-2026 FAFSA? Many students haven't because of the rollout problems, but you should still submit it as soon as possible. More immediately practical advice:\n\n1. Document your PSLF employment certification forms meticulously \n2. Keep records of all communications with your loan servicer\n3. Consider refinancing options only as a last resort (you lose federal protections)\n4. Look into state-specific loan forgiveness programs as a backup\n\nThe financial aid landscape changes constantly even without major policy shifts. Focus on navigating the current system while staying informed about potential changes.

Thanks for this practical advice. I actually have been putting off the 2025-26 FAFSA because I heard so many horror stories about the new system. But you're right - I should get it submitted ASAP. I'll start working on it tonight.

My cousin works for a loan servicer and she told me they're already preparing for major FAFSA policy changes regardless of who wins the election!!! They expect forgiveness programs to be cut back significantly and stricter SAI calculation methods. She said students on income-based repayment should be prepared for higher monthly payments by 2026 at the latest.

Please be careful about spreading unverified information. Loan servicers don't have inside knowledge about future policy decisions, and these kinds of rumors only increase anxiety. Legislative changes to student loan programs require Congressional action, which takes time and involves public debate. If your cousin is hearing about operational adjustments, that's normal preparation for various contingencies, not confirmation of specific policy changes.

I recommend watching the Department of Education's public announcements closely rather than speculating based on think tank proposals. There's a significant difference between policy proposals and actual implementation. The current administration already made several changes to strengthen borrower protections and PSLF, and those changes would take time to reverse.\n\nFor example, the SAVE plan replaced REPAYE to make income-driven repayment more affordable. The new regulations are already in effect and would require formal rulemaking to undo, which typically takes 1-2 years.\n\nDon't let anxiety about potential future changes keep you from taking advantage of current programs you qualify for under existing regulations.

This is actually reassuring. I didn't realize there were so many procedural steps between a policy proposal and actual implementation. I'll focus more on current programs while keeping an eye on announcements from the Department of Education.

my friend said his financial aid office told him project 2025 wants to make it so only stem majors get fed loans!!! is that true??? im a communications major with like $28k in loans already!!

No, that specific claim isn't accurate. While there have been proposals to tie program funding to post-graduation earnings (which could potentially affect certain majors), there's no proposal to restrict federal loans only to STEM majors. This is an example of how misinformation spreads and causes unnecessary panic. I'd recommend getting information directly from official sources rather than friends who may have misunderstood what they were told.

If you're worried about potential policy changes, one concrete step you can take now is to submit your certification for PSLF if you've been working in qualifying employment. The Department of Education has a specific process for documenting your progress toward forgiveness, and having those records established now could be beneficial regardless of future changes.\n\nAlso, make sure you understand exactly how much you've borrowed and what your estimated monthly payments will be under various repayment plans. The StudentAid.gov loan simulator can help with this planning: https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/

I've only had internships so far, but I'll definitely use that loan simulator link. I honestly haven't looked closely at what my payments would be under different plans because I've been counting on PSLF. Time to get realistic, I guess.

Remember that the free market will adjust to whatever changes happen. If federal loan forgiveness becomes more restricted, private companies will step in with alternative solutions. Competition will force colleges to lower prices if federal funding dries up. It's basic economics - less

This perspective ignores how the higher education market actually works. When state funding for public universities declined over the past 20 years, tuition didn't decrease - it increased dramatically to make up the difference. Private loans typically have higher interest rates and fewer protections than federal ones. The idea that market forces alone will solve accessibility issues in higher education isn't supported by historical evidence or current economic research.