A change to federal student loan eligibility included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could make it harder for some part-time college students in Connecticut to pay for school, with Goodwin University officials warning the impact could be significant for working adults and parents.

Impact on Goodwin University Students

Beginning this month, the law reduces how much part-time students can borrow through federal student loans. Students taking half of a full course load will now qualify for only half of the loan they could have received previously. At Goodwin University in East Hartford, where more than 80% of students attend part-time, university leaders say the change could leave some students without enough money to continue their education.

The federal loans help cover more than tuition, including expenses such as lab kits and textbooks. Goodwin University President Mark Scheinberg said many of the school’s students are nontraditional learners who balance college with jobs and family responsibilities and are unable to attend full time.

Scheinberg said the university is already working individually with students to identify possible solutions, including scholarship opportunities or adding more classes if it is financially and academically possible. For Goodwin University senior Ari Espada, the policy change adds another challenge to balancing college with a full-time job while pursuing a professional studies degree.

Despite the financial uncertainty, Espada said he believes access to higher education should remain a priority. “I think that investment in education should always be a priority,” he said.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.