A new provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will limit federal student loans for part-time students, making it harder for nontraditional students to afford higher education. Starting July 1, part-time students will only be eligible for loans proportional to the number of credits they take.

Impact on Nontraditional Students

Many part-time students, including those working part-time or taking care of children, rely on federal student loans to cover their education costs. The new rule may force them to abandon their dreams of a new degree or take on private loans with higher interest rates.

Goodwin University president Mark Scheinberg expressed concerns about the new rule, stating that most part-time students aren’t taking a reduced course load by choice. He added that the cost of education for part-time students includes additional expenses such as transportation, daycare, and apartment costs.

Personal Stories

Melvis McMillan, a part-time student at Goodwin University, shared his story of how federal student loans helped him pursue his education while dealing with health challenges. He emphasized that the new rule will be a major obstacle for future part-time students.

Kemba Francis, another part-time student, also shared her experience of balancing work and school while relying on federal student loans. She expressed concerns that the new rule may limit access to higher education for nontraditional students.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.