Federal Regulations
Description
Regulations are legally binding rules issued by administrative agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Education, Department of Justice, and Veterans Administration, to implement federal statutes.
For The Tracker, the focus is primarily on Department of Education regulations implementing Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
Critical Federal Regulations
STATS and Earnings Accountability
Description:
Federal regulations establish institutional and programmatic accountability, including revisions to the 2024 versions of the Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency regulations in accordance with the directives of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, formerly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) Act. Effective July 1, 2027, with some exceptions.
Workforce Pell
Description:
The federal regulations establish new requirements for Pell Grant and Workforce Pell Grant eligibility, including provisions for eligible short-term workforce programs, program approval, workforce alignment, student outcomes, reporting, and ongoing accountability. These regulations implement the higher education provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, formerly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Definition of Professional Degree Affecting Graduate and Professional Degree Loan Limits
Description:
A regulation defining professional versus graduate degrees to establish differing loan-limit regulations was released as final on May 1, 2026, to be effective July 1, 2026. The regulatory definition of a professional degree is temporarily stayed pending further direction from the court. Loan limits implementation is not affected.