June 28, 2026 to July 04, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning colleges, universities, campuses, international students, student housing, research initiatives, and federal research funding opportunities. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Education Department Finalizes Earnings-Based Direct Loan Eligibility Rule

The Department of Education published a final rule implementing the provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), substantially restructuring Title IV student aid eligibility for higher education programs. Effective July 1, 2027 for most provisions, all programs participating in the Direct Loan program will now be subject to an earnings accountability measure, replacing the former debt-to-earnings (D/E) metric with a revised earnings premium test. Programs whose completers fall below the earnings threshold in two of three years will lose Direct Loan eligibility, with new data reporting mandates and a Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) covering all sectors and credential levels. Exceptions include transition relief for programs primarily in tipped occupations. The rule also outlines specific appeal processes and new administrative capability standards for institutions based on program-level outcomes.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Department of Education Seeks Public Comment on Section 117 Foreign Gifts and Contracts Reporting

Federal Student Aid at the Department of Education issued a notice seeking public input on revisions to the Foreign Gifts and Contracts disclosure data collection as required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. The updated request maintains current annual response and burden estimates, and comments are due regarding necessity and burden reduction by June 29, 2026. Institutions must continue to report relevant foreign funding semiannually through the dedicated portal.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Recission of Title VI International Education and Fulbright-Hays Program Regulations

The Department of Education published a proposed rule to rescind regulations under Title VI and the Fulbright-Hays Act governing international education programs. The proposal aims to provide ED with greater flexibility in awarding grants under changing national priorities and to align with Executive Order 14192 calling for deregulation. The Department is soliciting comments on this rescission and its impact on program administration and grantees, with the comment period closing July 31, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Department of Education Seeks Comment on FLAS Fellowship Employment Survey Collection

A notice in the Federal Register requests comment on continuing the information collection associated with the Survey of Postgraduate Employment for the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program. The Department proposes minimal revisions and has updated the estimated total number of annual responses to 10,000, reflecting current usage. Public input is accepted until July 29, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Department Requests Input on Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Application Process

The Department of Education's Federal Student Aid office is seeking public comment on revised forms related to the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation process, necessitated by statutory updates under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The request details the revised burden calculation and application steps, with an invitation for feedback on form content and implementation submitted to OMB before July 30, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

To repeal the 90/10 rule as it pertains to proprietary schools under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Bill 9580 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. The bill would eliminate the 90/10 rule applied to proprietary institutions receiving Title IV funds.

Sources: www.congress.gov

To amend the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a prize competition program relating to artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.

Bill 9506 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The proposal mandates an AI prize competition program under OSTP to stimulate advancements in artificial intelligence.

Sources: www.congress.gov

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish name, image, and likeness investment accounts for student-athletes, and for other purposes.

Bill 9568 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. If enacted, the legislation would create investment accounts for student-athletes to manage and safeguard income from name, image, and likeness rights.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Community Schools and Health Equity Act

Bill 9513 was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. It addresses the creation of community schools and advancing health equity.

Sources: www.congress.gov

To establish a grant program in the National Endowment for the Arts to document the American experience.

Bill 9558 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. The measure would set up a new grant fund for documenting American life through the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Trump administration ties schools' federal loan access to earning power of graduates: Federal reforms link degree programs' loan eligibility directly to graduate earnings.
• Nursing and Other Graduate Students Get Higher Loan Limits: Graduate students in nursing and select fields receive increased federal loan caps this academic year.
• Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ is driving aspiring doctors to reconsider their careers: New loan restrictions under the WFTCA prompt some medical school applicants to reconsider plans.
• More foreign students stay home, leaving holes in U.S. college budgets: U.S. universities report program cuts and budget shortfalls due to declines in international student enrollment.
• Four Black women. Nine degrees. Not one steady paycheck.: Case study details persistent job search challenges for Black college graduates despite advanced degrees.
• The Graduate-School Dropout Toppling China’s Academic Stars: A U.S. graduate-school dropout finds success challenging the Chinese academic system.
• Opinion | How to Get School Policy Back on Track: Opinion discusses the paths forward for education policy after a period of disruption.
• Story from Acumen: Expanding opportunity through access to higher education: Sponsored content on programs expanding higher education access for diverse student populations.
• Story from Acumen: Empowering modern students to shape America’s future: Article explores new educational models and support systems for today’s students.

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