The Future of Student Loans: Inside HR1 With NCHER’s Alex Ricci

The Future of Student Loans: Inside HR1 With NCHER’s Alex Ricci

In this episode of The Post Podcast, we sit down with Alex Ricci, President of the National Council of Higher Education Resources (NCHER), to unpack the sweeping changes coming to higher education under HR1. Alex breaks down the new definition of professional degrees, why the shift matters, and how it will reshape borrowing limits, workforce pathways, and institutional strategy. From proration of loan amounts to employer-led repayment benefits, Ricci offers a rare inside look at negotiated rulemaking and what schools, students, and policymakers should expect as July 1, 2026 approaches.

Accountability, ROI, and the Future of Student Loans with Preston Cooper

Dr. Preston Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins host David Kafafian to unpack the sweeping higher education reforms under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill'. They discuss what new accountability measures mean for colleges, how students are “voting with their feet,” and why some programs may lose access to federal loans. Plus, Preston shares insights on student loan delinquency, college ROI, and how institutions can adapt in this new era of accountability.

Fixing the Talent Pipeline: Kristi Henderson on Tuition Support, Not Student Debt

As healthcare braces for the ripple effects of new federal funding shifts and mounting workforce shortages, one thing is clear: the old model isn’t working. In this episode, Confluent Health CEO Kristi Henderson unpacks how the “one big, beautiful bill” moment could accelerate the move from sick care to well care—redirecting dollars and attention toward prevention, outcomes, and access.  She connects policy to practice: expanding conservative care like physical therapy (including telehealth), cutting administrative friction that fuels clinician burnout, and—critically—fixing the workforce pipeline through accelerated, hybrid university programs and employer-backed tuition or loan repayment initiatives. As Kristi puts it: “Debt should not be the price of admission for a healthcare career—and I’m just trying to change that.” She explains why closing the “last-dollar gap” for students is now a strategic necessity for both patient access and system sustainability.

Run Don’t Walk: Phil Hill On How Universities Should Prepare Post OBBB

In this episode, we’re joined by Phil Hill, one of the most insightful voices in higher education and ed-tech. With the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) ushering in a new era of accountability, Phil and David dig into the central debates shaping higher ed today: how to measure value through the earnings premium, what to expect from negotiated rule-making committees, and, most importantly, what university administrators should be doing today to prepare.

The New Accountability Era: Michael Itzkowitz On Data, Value, and the OBBB

Michael Itzkowitz, founding director of the College Scorecard and head of the HEA Group, joins us to unpack how the conversation around value in higher education has evolved. From the early days of measuring cost and graduation rates to today’s 2,000+ data points, he shares how transparency, ROI, and new federal requirements are reshaping what college means for students, institutions, and the workforce.