Student Loan Rule Changes Take Effect in July Amid Rising Delinquencies

As summer arrives, the federal government is adjusting the terms of student debt in ways that reveal both the fragility of the current system and the limits of incremental repair. Beginning in July, interest rate reductions tied to automatic payment enrollment offer a modest but meaningful lifeline to borrowers already struggling to stay current — a recognition that when millions fall behind, the consequences ripple outward far beyond individual credit scores. Yet the same moment that brings relief to existing borrowers may quietly raise the cost of entry for those just beginning their educati