University tuition in the United States is notoriously expensive — so much so that Americans currently have over $1.6 trillion in student loan debt. But now, the routine process of taking out student loans has been overhauled as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law last week.

The new law eliminates some student loan programs and adds borrowing caps that could make it harder for people to earn advanced degrees. In some cases, it could make financing college more difficult.

“This bill makes monumental changes to the higher education system,” said Sarah Sattelmeyer, project director for education, opportunity, and mobility in the Higher Education initiative at the liberal think tank New America. “And a lot of the elements in the bill are going to make college more expensive or harder to access, especially for the lowest-income students, families, and borrowers.”

So what, exactly, is in this bill, and how will it impact student loan borrowers?

Borrowers will have fewer repayment options

On X, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that the president’s spending bill “simplifies the overly complex student loan repayment system.” In a way, she’s right. The law consolidates a variety of student loan repayment options.

Before, students could choose from........

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