New Court Filing: Student Loan Processing Delays Continue

The Education Department’s latest court-ordered status update shows some progress on one front of the student loan system — and continued delays on another.In a court filing submitted January 14 (PDF File), the department detailed activity from December 1 through December 31, 2025, offering the clearest picture yet of how repayment and forgiveness systems are functioning after months of disruption tied to litigation and a government shutdown.The report was filed in federal court as part of a lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Teachers, which alleges widespread delays in student loan processing.

As federal student loan collections resume, millions of borrowers who fell behind during the pandemic-era pause are again facing wage garnishment, tax refund seizures, and damaged credit. For borrowers already in default, the path back to good standing matters more than ever.One option stands out for many: student loan rehabilitation, a program that allows borrowers to remove the default from their federal loans (and credit report) after a series of on-time payments. Compared with student loan consolidation, rehabilitation can offer long-term credit benefits, but it also comes with strict rules and timelines that borrowers need to understand before enrolling.

When Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it changed a central feature of how graduate education in the United States is financed. For nearly two decades, federal policy allowed graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance through the Graduate PLUS loan program. That option will end in June 2026.A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Consumer Finance Institute (PDF File) offers one of the clearest pictures yet of what that change could mean for students, families, and lenders.The analysis finds that millions of future graduate students may face a new financing gap — and that private lenders may not be ready or willing to fill it.

Curious how to become a billionaire? It's a question that got me thinking...Earlier this year, I was browsing social media and came across an interesting post. Someone asked a pointed question, which seemed particularly relevant as I was in Las Vegas at the time. “What do you need to do to become a billionaire?”With all of my personal finance and business knowledge, I began to ponder what my top advice would be. I came up with two answers pretty quickly. Here are my thoughts on how to become a billionaire.

The thought of going back to business school appeals to those who want to boost their income and advance in their career. However, business school can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000 per year, so it is critical that the benefits of business school will outweigh the costs. Even the average cost of $60,000 is too expensive to "find yourself".If you're thinking about going to business school to get your MBA, you should do so with specific purpose and be working to realize specific benefits. You need to have a specific ROI on the investment in your education.Is going to business school and getting an MBA worth it? Maybe.I received my MBA and I can honestly tell you that it was only worth it because it was partially-paid for by my employer. The true out-of-pocket cost of $80,000 would probably not have been worth it.With that being said, these are the questions that you should answer before pursuing an MBA.

Is college worth it? The answer depends on how much you spend. That's it. If you spend too much on college, it's not worth it because your lifetime earnings will never recoup the cost you spent so early in life.While the thought of incurring student loan debt makes many prospective students reconsider pursuing post-secondary education, the impact of a degree can still outpace the pain of loan debt on future financial well-being as long as the amount is minimized.A college degree can represent a sound investment in your future earnings. The financial return over a lifetime can make an undergraduate education a good investment - but only if you don't spend too much for it. Yes, college graduates, on average, earn 84% more over their lifetimes compared to just high school graduates.But what if your career earnings are only $400,000 more than if you didn't go to college, and you spent $100,000 in total on college? Making that extra $300,000 over 40 years of working was a really poor use of that original $100,000. That $100,000 would have grown to over $1,000,000 over that same 40 years if you never spent it on education...But on the flip side, if you only spend $20,000 in total on college, and earn an extra $400,000 over your lifetime, now, that investment is worthwhile. You basically have doubled your future potential earnings ($20,000 would only grow to $200,000 normally - but your education grew it to $400,000).

Ready to start using the best budgeting app to tackle your finances and track your net worth?Organizing your financial life is the first step to growing wealth, and technology can help you move in the right direction - specifically using budgeting apps and money tracking apps. But with the number of apps mushrooming each day, it can be tough to know which to use.After testing and using dozens of apps, we’ve got a comprehensive view of what budgeting apps are worth downloading, and which you can safely ignore.Plus, it's important to think about what you need for a budgeting app or spending tracker? Do you need hard-core budgeting tools, or investment tracking? Are you looking for your credit score? Every budgeting app focuses on a specific niche, and we break down the best budgeting apps we've found any why you should consider using them.

Federal student loans are a critical component in how families pay for college.Beginning in 2026, new laws will change how much students and parents can borrow and how those student loans are repaid. The changes are significant, especially for graduate students, professional programs, and families that rely on Parent PLUS loans to close college funding gaps.Student loan repayment also faces one of the biggest shifts in history.For families planning for college or graduate school, or those already in repayment on student loans, the next year will be another wild one with updates and changes.

Americans may be heading into the largest tax refund season on record - even though it may be one of the latest start tax refund seasons in recent memory.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that recent tax law changes could result in tax refunds that are “$1,000 to $2,000” larger for many households when they file their 2025 returns in early 2026.The White House has echoed that claim, pointing to estimates from Piper Sandler, suggesting the average refund could rise by roughly $1,000 compared with the 2025 filing season. That would put the typical tax refund at about $4,150.If those projections hold, millions of taxpayers will see more money returned by the IRS - not because taxes suddenly fell during the year, but because they paid too much along the way.

As families juggle decisions about housing, orientation dates, and class schedules, one area that often gets overlooked is life skills. The transition from high school to college is one of the biggest changes a teenager will face. And while some schools may offer a session study habits, far fewer address what it takes to function day to day.The cost of not being prepared can be high. Students who don’t learn how to manage stress or money early may be more likely to drop out or take longer to finish their degree. Parents often assume their kids already know these skills or will figure them out along the way. But being proactive helps students feel more confident from day one.