The Education Department issued fresh guidance and public warnings to colleges with high student‑loan nonrepayment rates, urging institutions to adopt best practices or risk sanctions that could include loss of access to federal aid. The agency framed the move as part of broader efforts to reduce delinquency and default as repayment metrics deteriorate nationally. Administration officials and the department told campuses that they expect schools to play a greater role in helping former students repay loans, and signaled heightened oversight ahead of major student‑loan policy changes scheduled for this summer. Critics argue the guidance shifts blame onto institutions while the federal government narrows borrower relief programs. Campus finance and compliance teams should prepare for increased reporting, borrower‑outreach expectations and potential formulaic consequences tied to cohort repayment measurements.