Federal financial‑aid rules set to take effect in July will curb access to billions in student loans, retool repayment pathways, and expand grant funding for short‑term career training. Education Department negotiations with expert panels have finalized many provisions, leaving institutions and families to adapt to tighter borrowing windows and new eligibility rules. Policy changes are paired with consumer guidance: government and advocacy groups are urging borrowers who are delinquent or struggling to seek help now as relief options narrow in 2026. Colleges will need to update financial‑aid counseling and communications to reflect altered borrowing limits, new grant programs, and revised repayment frameworks.