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Syracuse University Admits First Budget Deficit in Years After Missing 2026 Enrollment Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Syracuse University Chancellor J. Michael Haynie told the community last week that it will not hit its undergraduate enrollment target for the fall and, as a result, will run a budget deficit "something the University has not experienced in quite some time."

His letter framed the shortfall as the product of national forces: a shrinking pool of 18-year-olds, fierce competition for students, and a drop in international applications tied to visa problems and federal policy.

While that backdrop is true, we believe it to be only partly responsible for Syracuse's downfall. Haynie's letter casts the deficit as the "new normal" for "even strong, well-resourced universities" — a framing that quietly recasts a Syracuse problem as everyone's problem.

Syracuse spent the past several years making a series of financial and communication decisions that alienated the very families it now needs. Plenty of peer schools face the same demographic and policy headwinds, but have been seeing record applications and normal enrollment.

The "new normal" is true and smaller private universities do face headwinds and risks, but much of what Syracuse is facing is self-inflicted.

SAVE Student Loan Plan Timeline Estimates: When To Expect To Leave Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

The future of student loan repayment for SAVE borrowers has been finalized by a court settlement, and the exodus will start on July 1, 2026 in tranches of individual borrowers.

According to the most recent communication from the Department of Education, student loan servicers will begin sending official notices to borrowers in SAVE starting July 1, 2026. These notices will come in tranches, roughly two weeks apart.

Once a borrower receives their notice, they will have 90 days to select a new repayment plan. The current available repayment plan options are:

Standard
Tiered Standard (launches on July 1)
IBR
RAP (launches on July 1)
PAYE (ends in 2028)
ICR (ends in 2028)

When pressed on the final end date for all borrowers, we couldn't get an exact answer.

This timeline aligns with our earlier expectation we placed of 70% likelihood that a move would happen July 1

The Latest Updates On Student Loan Changes Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Robert joined the Money Life Show with Chuck Jaffe to talk about the latest updates with student loans: new repayment plan changes and new student loan limits that go into effect this week.

If you have student loans, or are planning on borrowing student loans, here's what you need to know.

Check out the Money Life Show with Chuck Jaffe here.

States Push to Block New PSLF Employer Rule Before July 1 Deadline Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

A coalition of states is pressing a federal judge (PDF File) to halt the Department of Education's new Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) rule before it takes effect July 1, 2026. This comes after the Department moved to add a sworn attestation to the program's certification forms in a Federal Register notice (PDF File).

The new rule lets the Secretary of Education strip PSLF eligibility from employers (including state and local governments) that the Department decides have a "substantial illegal purpose." The form change would require employers to confirm, under penalty of perjury, that they have not engaged in such activity.

For more millions of public service workers, an employer's disqualification can mean losing access to loan forgiveness.

PSLF has canceled more than $85 billion in federal student loans for over one million borrowers since the program began. The Department estimates the revised certification form covers roughly 913,713 responses a year.

Department of Education Bumps Autopay Interest Discount to 1% — Here’s Who Wins Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. Department of Education announced that its quadrupling the interest rate discount for federal student loan borrowers who enroll in autopay, raising it from 0.25% to a full 1 percentage point starting July 1, 2026.

Borrowers who sign up for automatic payments (or who are already enrolled) will get a 1% reduction on their federal student loan interest rate. The discount is temporary: borrowers who enroll by September 30, 2026 (or are already enrolled) keep the benefit through June 30, 2028.

Already on autopay? You don't need to do anything. Loan servicers will automatically apply the extra 0.75% on top of the existing 0.25% discount.

House Democrat Files Resolution to Impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon Jun 27, 2026

Show notes

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced she will introduce a resolution to impeach Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, accusing her of illegally gutting the Department of Education by shifting more than 100 programs to other federal agencies without congressional approval.

The resolution alleges McMahon violated her oath of office, made false and misleading statements to Congress, and broke federal law by transferring the operations of multiple offices to agencies outside the Department — actions Bonamici says only Congress has the power to authorize.

Student Loan Servicers Are Robocalling SAVE Borrowers About the July 1 Switch Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Student loan servicers have started placing automated phone calls to SAVE borrowers, warning them that their loans will reenter repayment when the forbearance ends and that they'll need to pick a new plan or one will be chosen for them.

Some borrowers have begun shared transcripts of the messages online. One automated message from Nelnet tells borrowers their "loans will reenter repayment when the SAVE plan ends" and that they "will need to choose a new repayment plan. If you don't choose a plan, one will be assigned for you."

The call points borrowers to StudentAid.gov, notes that the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) "becomes available starting July 1st," and reminds those enrolled in auto-debit that payments will pull automatically even if they don't select a plan and default to Standard.

The Pros And Cons Of Socially Responsible Investing Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

In today’s world, a company’s bottom line doesn’t always mean its profit or loss for the year. Increasingly, investors are demanding that companies measure and improve their environmental and social impact along with their financial performance.

Triple bottom line investors care about people, the planet, and profits. If you’re interested in doing well by doing good, you may want to consider ESG investing. The acronym stands for environmental, social, and governance.

Can You Settle Federal Student Loans for Less? Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

The federal government does not have the legal authority to forgive all student loans through executive action. But in narrow circumstances, it can compromise — meaning settle, discharge, or write off — federal student debt on a case-by-case basis, and it can suspend or terminate collection on defaulted loans it decides aren't worth pursuing.

That authority matters more in 2026 than it has in years. Collections on defaulted loans restarted in May 2025 after a five-year pandemic pause, then the Department of Education hit pause again in January 2026 — postponing wage garnishment and Treasury offsets while it rolls out the repayment overhaul that takes effect July 1, 2026. At the same time, the Department has begun handing its defaulted loan portfolio to the Treasury Department, and roughly 9 million borrowers are now in default. For that group, understanding when — and whether — the government will settle a balance is no longer a fringe question.

Do Colleges Allow Pets? What To Know About Pet-Friendly Campuses Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

In recent years, many colleges and universities have adjusted their campus pet policies to meet the changing needs of students.

Having a pet in college was once a rarity, but pet-friendly campuses are now more common as colleges work to create a more supportive environment for their students.

That said, having a pet as a college student is a big commitment in terms of financial responsibility and time commitment. From explaining common pet policies to reviewing current trends on campuses, we break down the ins and outs of owning a pet as a college student to help you make the most informed decision for you and your pet!

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