Student Life & Campus — 2026-05-10
Student loan borrowers are facing urgent deadlines as new federal rules reshape repayment options ahead of a July 2026 cutoff, with some borrowers discovering their supposed loan payoffs were secretly transferred to third parties. Meanwhile, the private student loan market is bracing for a major expansion, and at least one university is bucking tuition trends by cutting costs.
Student Life & Campus — 2026-05-10
Campus News
Private Student Loan Market Poised to Double
According to a May 8 roundup from The College Investor, the private student loan market is preparing to roughly double in size — a significant shift that could affect how future students finance their education. The same report notes that faculty buyouts have become a "sector-wide trend" across higher education, and at least one university is going in the opposite direction by cutting tuition rather than raising it.
UK Student Finance Deadline Approaching
The UK Government reminded new students this week that the student finance application deadline is approaching, warning that missing the deadline could delay funding at the start of their course. Students are urged to apply immediately to ensure their funding is in place for the autumn term.
Student Life
No major breaking campus culture or housing stories were published in the past seven days with verifiable dates within the coverage window. The College Investor's May 8 weekly roundup remains the most comprehensive source for campus-level developments this week, pointing to institutional belt-tightening (faculty buyouts) and tuition experimentation as the dominant themes shaping student experience right now.
Money & Debt
Borrowers Urgently Warned to Act Before July Deadline
Newsweek (published approximately May 6) is urging millions of student loan borrowers to act immediately before a looming deadline. New regulations finalized by the U.S. Department of Education will soon reshape the federal repayment system, and borrowers who fail to switch plans in time could lose access to certain income-driven options.
Borrowers Told Debts Were Cleared — Then Sued
Two separate Business Insider reports published this week (May 6–7) expose a troubling pattern: student loan borrowers who fell behind were told their balances had been paid off, only to discover later that the loans had been quietly transferred to third parties — and that lawsuits were now being filed against them for the full balance. The reports describe a "maze of confusing communications with private lenders" that is ensnaring borrowers who believed they were debt-free. The confusion is contributing to a broader rethinking of whether college is worth the financial risk.
Forbes: Income-Based Repayment Restricted Under New Plan
A May 4 Forbes analysis clarifies one of the more consequential details in the Omnibus Budget and Better Borrowing Act (OBBBA): the income-based repayment (IBR) plan will only remain available to borrowers who finished borrowing before July 1, 2026. New borrowers after that date will not have access to IBR, a shift that Forbes warns will significantly narrow options for graduate students and future undergraduates.
Money.com: 5 Big Changes to Watch This Summer
A recent Money.com piece (published within the coverage window) outlines the five most significant shifts hitting federal student loan borrowers starting this summer: new caps on total borrowing, new rules specifically for graduate school loans (Grad PLUS), fewer repayment plan options, changes to loan forgiveness timelines, and tighter eligibility criteria across the board. Borrowers with loans already in repayment are advised to verify their plan status before July 1.
PAYE Closing Fast for Borrowers Exiting SAVE
The College Investor's May 8 weekly report also flags that the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) repayment plan is closing quickly for borrowers who are transitioning out of the now-curtailed SAVE plan. Borrowers in this situation are urged to act before that window shuts entirely.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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