What Will Students and Parents Do This Fall?

What Will Students and Parents Do This Fall?

From Student Loan Planner by Travis Hornsby

February 17, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 414

About this episode

This episode discusses the financial implications of changes in student loan policies for students and parents as Fall 2026 approaches.

Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a financial aid cliff. If you're a grad student, parent of a college student, or a current professional school attendee, the shifts in borrowing limits, repayment plans, and the fate of Grad PLUS loans could seriously affect your finances and your future. Listen in as I answer listener questions and then pivot to the big question: what happens if you (or your kid) take out even one new federal loan after July 2026? Key moments: (00:42) PSLF Buyback: Which tax years might determine your payment? (05:48) The tax-extension strategy to keep a lower IDR payment for another year (11:53) Taking out just one loan after July 2026 blocks you from everything but the RAP plan (15:18) Parents borrowing on behalf of a child face especially bad news (18:23) Should you gamble your financial future? The "retire with defaulted Parent PLUS loans" strategy Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the newsletter Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free…

Topics covered

  • financial aid
  • student loans
  • Grad PLUS loans
  • repayment plans

Keywords

  • PSLF Buyback
  • IDR payment
  • Parent PLUS loans
  • financial future

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Grad PLUS loans

More episodes of Student Loan Planner

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Student Loan Planner podcast page.