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4.30.26 | |

Top Six April 2026 Announcements for Higher Education Institutions

Here is a summary of the top six April 2026 U.S. Department of Education (ED) and other announcements, plus updated guides, webinar recordings, and additional helpful resources for higher education institutions:

Upcoming Title IV Requirements 
  1. Preparing for the Inevitable — Leadership Strategies for a July 1st One Big Beautiful Bill Implementation – Financial aid offices are preparing for changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that go into effect on July 1, 2026. This Higher Education Assistance Group article highlights the significant changes impacting federal loan programs, borrowing limits, and institutional accountability measures.
  2. FSA Electronic Announcement GRANTS-26-02, 2025–2026 Verification Reporting and Verification Status Code “W” Warning Message – For the 2025–26 Pell Grant award year, institutions must report a verification status (“W,” “V,” or “S”) to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System for students selected for verification. ED began warning schools of any remaining “W” codes on April 23, 2026, and all such disbursements will be reduced to $0.00 on May 14, 2026, unless the status is updated.
  3. In Major Shift, ED Proposes New Earnings-Based Accountability Measures – ED has proposed a new Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability framework under the OBBBA that would apply a single earnings-based test to all academic programs, replacing prior financial value transparency and gainful employment rules. As this NACUBO article notes, programs that fail the earnings test in two of three years could lose access to federal Direct Loans and potentially to Title IV aid, including Pell Grants. Comments on the proposal are due May 20, 2026. You can comment here.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Announcements
  1. FSA Electronic Announcement LOANS-26-05, One Big Beautiful Bill Act NSLDS Eligibility Processing Updates – The OBBBA introduces new aggregate loan limits and other federal student loan changes effective July 1, 2026. To support implementation, ED began updating the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) on April 26, 2026, and has issued technical guidance to help institutions and vendors prepare while final regulations are in development. For more information on these updates, see this March 9, 2026, Electronic Announcement. For more information about the COD system, see this April 23, 2026, Electronic Announcement.
  2. FSA Electronic Announcement APP-26-03, FAFSA Real-Time Fraud Detection – ED is implementing new anti-fraud measures for the FAFSA in response to recent fraud and feedback from financial aid administrators. Beginning April 26, 2026, a real-time identity fraud detection process will screen applicants during FAFSA completion, allowing most students to proceed normally while requiring additional identity verification for higher-risk submissions.
  3. FSA Electronic Announcement ANN-26-04, 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook – Application and Verification Guide Now Available – This Dear Colleague letter announces the release of the 2026–27 Application and Verification Guide, the first volume of the 2026–27 Federal Student Aid Handbook. The guide supports financial aid administrators and counselors in assisting applicants with FAFSA submission, verification, and corrections.
Additional Resources
  1. FSA Electronic Announcement ANN-26-03, Live Internet Webinars – One Big Beautiful Bill Act Webinar Series Begins April 2026 – FSA’s new OBBBA Webinar Series started in April. Recordings and transcripts are now available on the FSA website.
  2. One Big Beautiful Bill Act Updates – As noted above, significant changes have been made to federal student aid programs as a result of the OBBBA. While some went into effect immediately, others will take effect in 2026 and beyond. This FSA update provides multiple example scenarios illustrating how these changes may impact borrowing.
  3. In a Reversal, ED Says Graduate PLUS Loans Will Count Toward New Lifetime Borrowing Limit – ED has revised its previous guidance on Graduate PLUS loans, which will now be included in the $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit introduced by the OBBBA. This limit will go into effect on July 1, 2026. This NASFAA article has additional details.
  4. Rethinking Compensation and Staffing in Financial Aid–From Data to Action – Workforce data confirms that inadequate staffing, inequitable pay, and high counselor-level turnover among financial aid professionals now pose clear operational and compliance risks. This Higher Education Assistance Group article notes that institutions must move from awareness to accountability by aligning compensation, staffing models, and workplace culture with the strategic importance of financial aid work.
  5. White House FY27 Budget Request Necessitates Advocacy and Action From Higher Education – President Trump’s FY27 budget proposal would hold the maximum Pell Grant award flat while cutting overall ED funding by $2.3 billion and eliminating or significantly reducing several key higher education aid programs, including Federal Work-Study, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), TRIO, and GEAR UP. As this NACUBO article notes, the budget also proposes significant cuts to federal research agencies that support university-based research.
  6. FASB Overview and 2026 Nonprofit Accounting Overview – Join Carr, Riggs & Ingram for two upcoming webinars. The FASB Overview webinar on May 4, 2026, will provide knowledge of recent Accounting Standards Updates issued by the FASB, and you can register here. The 2026 Nonprofit Accounting Overview on May 5, 2026, will discuss relevant nonprofit topics. You can register for the webinar here.

Please contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss how these announcements apply to your institution.

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