iiBig's 17th Annual Education Finance & Loan Symposium 2-Day Event

The U.S. student loan system is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. Federal reforms enacted in 2025...

2-Day Event May 14th 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM & May 15th 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

The New Student Lending (Dis)Order: Strategies for a New Reality.

The U.S. student loan system is undergoing its most profound transformation in decades. Federal reforms enacted in 2025—and taking full effect in 2026 are fundamentally reshaping how higher education is financed, repaid, and overseen. Driven largely by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, these reforms redefine federal involvement in student lending, alter repayment structures, set new borrowing limits, and shift portfolio dynamics, prompting a strategic realignment across the entire education finance ecosystem.

The theme of the 17th Education Finance & Loan Symposium, "The New Student Lending (Dis)Order: Strategy for a New Reality," captures this pivotal moment. It reflects the dual nature of the current environment: disruption and opportunity. “Disorder” acknowledges the uncertainty and upheaval caused by policy shifts and systemic challenges, while “strategy for a new reality” emphasizes the proactive, forward-looking solutions that can emerge when we adapt with insight, innovation, and intention.

Critical Policy and Market Shifts in 2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduces sweeping changes that are redefining student finance:

• Streamlined Federal Repayment Options: Legacy income-driven plans are replaced by the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), reshaping borrower behavior and portfolio outcomes.
• Borrowing Limits and Program Eliminations: Grad PLUS loans are eliminated, and new federal borrowing caps accelerate demand for private, institutional, and hybrid financing solutions.
• Aggregate Loan Caps: A lifetime federal borrowing limit of ~$257,500 (excluding Parent PLUS) requires borrowers and lenders to rethink long-term financing strategies.
• Debt Collection and Enforcement: Resumption of collections, including wage garnishment, emphasizes repayment discipline and portfolio risk management.
• Regulatory and Tax Complexity: Changes to forgiveness eligibility and tax treatment of discharged debt introduce new challenges—and opportunities—for borrowers, lenders, and institutions.

Market Implications

As federal dominance diminishes, private lenders, institutional investors, servicers, and public-private partnerships are assuming a central role in education finance. This shift reshapes risk underwriting, borrower relationship management, and long-term value creation across portfolios. Leaders must carefully balance profitability with responsibility, innovation with compliance, and growth with sustainable borrower outcomes.

Implications for Higher Education Institutions

Higher Education Institutions face both challenges and opportunities in this transformed landscape:

• Revenue Planning & Tuition Strategies: With reduced federal lending, institutions must reassess tuition pricing, financial aid allocations, and enrollment strategies to remain competitive.
• Student Borrower Support: Colleges must enhance counseling, repayment guidance, and financial literacy programs to help students navigate new federal limits and repayment structures.
• Partnerships & Alternative Financing: Institutions can leverage collaborations with private lenders, public-private partnerships, and hybrid funding models to expand access while managing risk.
• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Universities must adapt internal systems and reporting practices to comply with new regulations on borrowing caps, collections, and tax treatments.
• Strategic Innovation: The evolving market encourages HEIs to adopt creative solutions—like income-share agreements or institutional loan programs—to maintain nrollment, retention, and long-term student success.

This symposium will explore how policy, technology, and market innovation are intersecting to redefine student lending. From alternative financing models and regulatory insights to strategies for risk management and student empowerment, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate—and shape—the future of higher education finance.

In a world where uncertainty is the new norm, the question is no longer what will happen, but how will we respond? This summit is designed to equip leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to thrive in this new student lending order.

The 17th Education Finance & Loan Symposium marks a strategic turning point for leaders navigating uncertainty and shaping the future of student lending. By convening senior executives, policymakers, investors, and innovators, the symposium provides a premier platform to:

• Gain actionable insight into policy developments and market trends
• Influence critical policy dialogues and sector priorities
• Identify emerging market opportunities
• Forge strategic partnerships that will define the next era of student lending