Preparing for the 2027-28 FAFSA? We Can Help!

The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available! Students and families can complete the FAFSA to apply for federal, state, and institutional financial aid for the 2027-2028 academic year. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid and may also be used to determine eligibility for state and institutional aid. 

Students planning to attend college during the 2027-2028 academic year are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Completing the FAFSA is an important first step in exploring financial aid options.

We’ve included our Financial Aid Prep Checklist to help you prepare to complete the 2027-2028 FAFSA.

Sweet v. McMahon: Latest Case Updates from Project on Predatory Student Lending

July 17, 2026 – Following an appeal by the Department of Education (ED) seeking to extend key post-class borrower defense deadlines in the class-action lawsuit Sweet v. McMahon (formerly Sweet v. Cardona and Sweet v. DeVos), a Ninth Circuit three-judge panel unanimously denied the request. The rejection left the district court orders (previously reported in our December 2025 Edition 006) in place, upholding the right to full settlement relief. Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL) notes in their Case Timeline, over 170,000 post-class borrower applications were not decided on time and ED is now required to provide relief to these borrowers.

PPSL has additionally filed a motion on August 18, 2026, on behalf of an additional 807 members of the Sweet class whose loan discharges or refunds have not yet been provided by ED, with some waiting more than a year and a half. PPSL is asking the court to either enforce the settlement or set a firm deadline for providing relief and additionally has file a motion asking the court to “hold [ED] in contempt and impose sanctions to force it to comply with prior court orders.”

SAVE Plan Borrowers: Reminder to Choose Your New IDR Plan

Borrowers who received notification from their loan servicer on July 1, 2026, to exit the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan and pick a new Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan have until Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to enroll in a different IDR plan. Borrowers who do not enroll in a different IDR plan will automatically be enrolled in the Standard Repayment plan. 

Borrowers with questions on exiting the SAVE plan are encouraged to review Federal Student Aid’s Office of Consumer Education and Ombudsman SAVE plan FAQ. 

Temporary Interest Rate Reduction Enrollment Period Extended for Borrowers Who Enroll in Auto Pay

There’s still time to apply! The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today (9/29/2026) they have extended the enrollment period of a temporary interest rate reduction for borrowers who enroll in auto pay by an additional three months. ED introduced the temporary rate reduction in June 2026, advising that borrowers who enroll in auto pay will see a reduction from 0.25% to 1%. The reduction will run through June 30, 2028, as long as borrowers remain in auto pay and continue repayment on their federal student loans. Borrowers already enrolled in auto pay do not need to apply and will see the reduction automatically applied.

The deadline for enrollment is now 11:59 pm Eastern time on December 31, 2026. Borrowers interested in applying can clink on the link below to head on over to StudentAid.gov for more information. 

Meet Us Online: October Webinar Save the Date!

Join our office next month as we partner again with Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) for an upcoming FREE webinar. We're talking about what happens when a student or parent loan borrower is about to enter repayment.

We look forward to seeing you there! Details below.

Federal Student Aid

Federal Student Aid (FSA) is the definitive resource on all federal student loans, including repayment and forgiveness options, servicer information, and more.

Office of the Student Loan Ombudsperson

Bookmark our webpages to stay informed on recent and upcoming changes to student loan administration and to access helpful student loan repayment resource guides.

Connecticut Office of Higher Education

The State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education (CT OHE) includes helpful Connecticut based financial aid resources and programs including the Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program.

FinAid

FinAid has been a trusted guide to college financial aid for over 30 years, helping students and families navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, grants, loans, and more.

Check Your Repayment Status

Log on to Federal Student Aid to understand whether you are in default, delinquent, or in a repayment plan — and check if wage garnishment or tax refund offset notices apply to you.

Explore Alternative Repayment Plans

With SAVE ending and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) options changing, consider whether Income-Based Repayment (IBR) or other plans suit your income and goals.

Plan for Potential Tax Liability

If you’re nearing forgiveness under an IDR plan, consult a tax professional about the impact of taxable forgiveness in 2026.

Stay Informed on Processing Delays

Because of legal challenges and plan revisions, applications and forgiveness processing may be delayed — stay in close contact with your servicer.

Check Your Inbox for SAVE Plan Emails

SAVE Plan borrowers should watch for emails from their student loan servicer with important information about choosing a new repayment plan and any required next steps.