Attending the 2025 NASFAA Leadership Conference felt like stepping into a whirlwind of financial aid challenges, policy shifts, and pressing workforce concerns. This year’s discussions painted a complex picture of the financial aid landscape—one filled with uncertainty, under-resourcing, and constant change. But amid all the challenges, there was also a sense of resilience and determination to find solutions.
The Big Picture: Financial Aid in Flux
One of the strongest themes at the conference was how under-resourced schools are struggling to keep up. Last year’s FAFSA process was rough, and financial aid professionals are still dealing with the fallout. Layer in ideological tensions around diversity and inclusion and a looming question mark over the Department of Education’s future, and you’ve got an industry operating under serious pressure. The biggest concern? A lack of resources—not just financial, but also human.
Workforce Woes: Talent Shortages & High Turnover
A common thread in conversations was staffing—finding skilled employees is tough, and keeping them is even tougher. Many schools are dealing with high turnover, which leads to higher training costs and disruptions in service. Remote work adds another layer of complexity, requiring new policies and technologies to manage hybrid teams effectively.
The challenge of building diverse, equitable workplaces also remains top of mind. Schools want to create more inclusive hiring practices, but doing so while balancing other pressing issues isn’t easy.
Gainful Employment & Financial Value Transparency
One of the biggest uncertainties is what will happen with Gainful Employment (GE) data if the rule is overturned. Schools are watching this space closely, unsure of how future policies might affect their reporting requirements and funding.
The Constant Evolution of Policy & Funding
As always, government policies shape the future of financial aid. Changes in leadership bring new regulations, budget shifts, and evolving approaches to loan repayment.
A major focus this year was the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) Plan, the Biden administration’s newest income-driven repayment program.
The key benefits include:
- Lower monthly payments – Undergraduate loan borrowers pay only 5% of their discretionary income (down from 10%).
- More income protection – Borrowers keep more of their earnings before payments kick in.
- No accrued interest – If your payment doesn’t cover the full interest, the government covers the rest.
- Faster loan forgiveness – Borrowers with original balances of $12,000 or less can qualify for forgiveness after just 10 years of payments.
While these changes make repayment more manageable for students, schools are still figuring out how to guide borrowers through the process effectively.
Competitive Shifts: Who’s Doing What?
The financial aid space is becoming more collaborative, with consulting firms and financial aid software providers working together to offer integrated solutions. NASFAA has announced that it is expanding its training offerings.
Final Thoughts
This year’s NASFAA Leadership Conference reinforced what many in financial aid already know—change is constant, and the challenges keep growing. But amidst the uncertainty, there’s a community of professionals committed to finding solutions, advocating for students, and adapting to an ever-evolving landscape.
If you are interested in more insights please contact Gregory Rinderle, McClintock and Associates Director of Compliance.
