What’s in the CARES Act: Higher Education & Student Debt

The CARES Act includes urgently needed help for students, student loan borrowers, and colleges and universities, but it is only an important first step. Much more help will be needed in the weeks, months, and years to come.

Rocked by the coronavirus, the American economy is teetering. Temporary relief for the 20 million Americans making student loan payments would immediately relieve strain on household budgets and deliver a quick jolt to the economy.

Today, the Senate voted 53-42 to pass H.J. Res. 76, restoring stronger borrower defense protections. The borrower defense to repayment rule allows students to discharge student loans tied to fraud and other illegal conduct by their colleges. In September, the Trump Administration rewrote the rule, and it will require 97 percent of students cheated by their colleges to repay...

The introduction of earnings data by program and by college to the College Scorecard helps students and families make more informed college choices. However, the data is not a replacement for strong accountability rules, and a recent analysis using the College Scorecard data is likely to confuse – rather than clarify – the relative value of different colleges.

College affordability has become a top-tier issue in the 2020 presidential election campaign. From eliminating college tuition to canceling…

President Trump's budget fails the millions of students who are struggling to pay for college. The budget would make student loans costlier for students, eliminate SEOG scholarships, and halve work-study funding. While re-prioritizing student aid spending could make college more affordable for students who need it most, the Trump budget cuts our overall investment in college...