U.S. Department of Education Releases Final Rule on Federal Student Loan Programs, Restructuring Repayment and Setting New Limits

The U.S. Department of Education has released its final regulations, codifying provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These changes establish new aggregate lifetime loan limits for students and restructure loan repayment systems. Notably, the Tiered Standard Repayment Plan will not qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and fields such as education, social work, occupational therapy, and nursing are excluded from the definition of "professional degrees," impacting their eligibility for higher borrowing limits.