This or That: NASFAA 2026 Edition

Financial Aid Priorities Heading into NASFAA 2026

The Attain Partners team is looking forward to attending the 2026 NASFAA National Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, June 29 through July 2.

With so many timely topics on the conference agenda, our team compared a few of the conference’s “This or That” choices and shared which sessions we would prioritize and why.

The selections below reflect many of the issues institutions are actively navigating today, including federal funding uncertainty, FAFSA implementation, compliance, artificial intelligence, enrollment strategy, system modernization, and student success.

Tuesday, June 30: Carmin Cobb’s Picks

10a Concurrent Session

I would prioritize Federal Funding in Flux: Navigating a Transformative Year for Higher Education and Student Aid Spending because financial aid offices are continuing to navigate significant uncertainty related to federal funding and regulatory change. As I prepare for upcoming packaging cycles and operational planning at my Institution, staying informed on potential policy and funding shifts is essential.

While the graduate aid session would offer valuable perspective on a specialized area of student funding, the broader federal funding discussion would likely provide more immediate applicability across both undergraduate and graduate aid operations given the current higher education landscape.

11:15a Concurrent Session

As financial aid continues to play a larger role in institutional strategy, I think it is becoming increasingly important for leaders to understand how to use data not just for compliance, but to support decision-making, advocate for resources, and improve student outcomes.

At the same time, New R2T4 Regulations and the Culture of Care is also an important and timely session. With ongoing regulatory changes and increasing attention on student experience, discussions around balancing compliance with empathy and support are incredibly valuable for financial aid professionals across all institution types.  

1:45p Concurrent Session

I’d lean toward attending Redefining the Narrative: Positioning Financial Aid as a Strategic Partner in Enrollment Management because it really speaks to the direction our profession could be heading. In my role as an Interim Director of Financial Aid I have partnered closely with the Admissions Office. Financial aid professionals can help bring valuable insight into recruitment, retention, and student success, and I appreciate sessions that focus on strengthening our voice in institutional strategy and leadership conversations.

That said, Emerging Trends in Higher Education: Costs, Financial Aid, Student Debt, and Payoff would also be incredibly worthwhile. Conversations around affordability, student debt, and the value of higher education continue to shape the experiences and concerns of both students and institutions. Staying informed on those broader trends is essential as we help students navigate increasingly complex financial decisions.

3:30p Concurrent Session

I would be especially interested in attending Integrating Basic Needs Support with Financial Aid because it focuses on an area that continues to have a direct impact on student success and persistence. I have found that the financial aid office is often one of the first places students turn when they are struggling with challenges like housing, food, transportation, or childcare. I’m particularly interested in learning how institutions are connecting financial aid with broader basic needs initiatives in ways that are both effective and sustainable for students and campuses.

At the same time, Return to Repayment by the Numbers (And Other Variables) is also a very important session, especially as borrowers continue adjusting to repayment after years of disruption and policy changes. Understanding repayment trends, borrower behavior, and repayment outcomes is critical for financial aid professionals as we help students make informed decisions about borrowing and long-term financial wellness.   

Tuesday, June 30: Meghan Sutton’s Picks

10a Concurrent Session

I’d probably go with Audit Survival Guide, mostly because I’ve lived it! Between managing audits and working through prior findings, I’ve seen how much these processes can either stabilize an office or completely overwhelm it if the right controls aren’t in place. For me, sessions like this are always practical; I’m thinking about what I could bring back immediately to help a team feel more prepared and less reactive.

That said, fraud prevention is getting harder to ignore. With everything happening at the front end—applications, verification, conflicting information—I’ve seen firsthand how issues upstream can create a ton of downstream work. It really feels like offices are being pushed to think about both at the same time: tightening controls early while still surviving audits on the backend.

11:15a Concurrent Session

Having stepped into interim leadership roles, I’ve realized pretty quickly that you can’t just rely on process knowledge; you need to understand the story your data is telling and how that connects to bigger enrollment and institutional goals.

At the same time, it’s hard to ignore how fast AI is coming into this space. Working across different Student Information Systems, I’ve seen how much manual effort still exists in financial aid. There’s a real opportunity to streamline, but it has to be done thoughtfully. What I’ve been seeing more and more is that offices aren’t choosing between data and technology, but rather they’re trying to figure out how the two actually work together.

1:45p Concurrent Session

In a lot of my work, especially when partnering with enrollment leadership, I’ve seen what a difference it makes when financial aid is brought in as part of the strategy, not just execution. When aid is aligned with enrollment goals, it changes the conversation completely.

But I’d be lying if I said change management isn’t just as important. With system implementations and transitions, I’ve watched teams struggle not because the strategy was wrong, but because the rollout didn’t stick. For me, this is a constant tension in financial aid right now: offices are being asked to think more strategically while also navigating major system and process changes at the same time.

3:30p Concurrent Session

I’d almost definitely go to Financial Aid System Conversions. Having been deeply involved in Workday Student implementations, I know how complex these transitions are, not just from a system perspective, but from a people and process standpoint too. There’s always something to learn from how other schools approached it (and what they’d do differently).

That said, the conversation around equity and professional judgment is becoming more central to the work. With all the changes tied to FAFSA simplification, I’ve seen offices rely more on judgment calls than ever before. It’s another example of how financial aid teams are balancing two big shifts at once, modernizing systems while also rethinking how aid decisions are made and communicated.

Wednesday, July 1: Seth Schader’s Picks

11a Concurrent Session

Developing a strategic plan that is evidence-based and actionable seems to be top of mind in our current regulatory climate. This is the aim of the Financial Aid Strategic Plan You’ll Actually Use. With recent changes in statutes and increased need for student-centric policies, clear direction will help the Financial Aid Office promote student success while maintaining compliance. I’m excited to learn some practical tools I can use to assist financial aid offices in aligning with their goals and mission.

With that in mind, Flipping the Financial Aid Offer Script would probably be a great session to focus specifically on consumer information and cost transparency. This is just one place where the Financial Aid Office can support enrollment and retention efforts while helping students and families feel confident in their choices. Having worked in higher-cost institutions, I have seen students and families willing to pay the cost because they understood the value.

1:30p Concurrent Session

I would probably be more interested in Filling the Gap because it’s such a timely session. With recent changes to PLUS funding, students may have more difficulty covering their costs. This session will be exploring the options available to parents and graduate students that financial aid professionals can add to their repertoire for student support.

That said, the Power of Service seems like it will offer creative strategies to strengthen customer service and extend that beyond students. Engaging with colleagues and campus partners builds trust and fosters relationships. Enrollment periods, payment deadlines, and disbursement dates can be some of the most stressful moments for everyone involved, but when the campus community comes together, they can be much smoother.

3p Concurrent Session

I would probably choose the Classic Case of a “Case-by-Case Basis.” Determining homelessness can feel like an overwhelming process for students, not to mention the high emotions that come with it. It’s a process that can be filled with bias, distrust, and anxiety. The goal of this session is to review case studies and discuss nuances and best practices to best serve students and build staff confidence.

Staying in Love with Financial Aid would also be a great session to attend. Our industry has been facing unprecedented challenges for multiple years. Unfortunately, this has led to high turnover in financial aid offices across the nation. Remembering the mission and impact along with fresh inspiration, everyone will hopefully leave this session with a personalized strategy to re-engage with a fresh vigor.

4:15p Concurrent Session

Leading with Dignity would probably win out for me. When someone feels seen, appreciated, and heard, they grow into their best selves. Often the challenges that surface in the financial aid office result from feelings of apathy, degradation, and stress. I’m interested in incorporating these principles to foster greater confidence in the staff that I support.

That said, How to Write an Audit Corrective Action Plan is such an important skill. Audits can feel stressful, not to mention when there is a finding. Writing a clear and actionable response with accountability to address those findings is the aim of this session. While this is something you never hope to need, this can be a great opportunity to familiarize yourself without the pressure of the Department.

Wednesday, July 1: Jessika Smith’s Picks

11a Concurrent Session

This is a tough choice because AI is a major focus across the industry, but execution remains one of the biggest challenges. Strong strategic planning helps institutions prioritize resources, align teams, and navigate constant change. I am interested in how leaders are developing practical, actionable plans that move beyond theory and support sustainable progress in their offices.

1:30p Concurrent Session

Compliance updates are always essential, but I am especially interested in conversations about what happens if traditional financing pathways become more limited. Institutions are already grappling with affordability challenges, changing borrower behavior, and increasing pressure to demonstrate value. Exploring innovative approaches to financing could provide important insight into how colleges can continue supporting access and persistence in a rapidly evolving landscape.

3p Concurrent Session

Scholarships are one of the most effective tools institutions have to shape enrollment and support student success. I am interested in how colleges are aligning scholarship strategy with broader enrollment goals while making the process more transparent and student-friendly. This session stands out because it connects operational efficiency with meaningful student impact.

4:15p Concurrent Session

I would choose this session because it speaks to the evolution of the financial aid profession and the importance of preparing the next generation of leaders. Our offices cannot succeed without successors, and students cannot succeed without knowledgeable, supported staff. I am interested in how cross-generational teams can learn from one another, preserve institutional knowledge, and strengthen the profession for the future.

Key Themes Emerging Across NASFAA 2026

Across all of these sessions, what stands out to me is how much financial aid offices are juggling right now. From compliance and audits to system implementations, to playing a bigger role in enrollment strategy, it’s a lot. Based on what I’ve seen working with different institutions, the teams that are doing this well aren’t treating these as separate priorities. They’re finding ways to connect them, which is really where the impact happens.

Connect with Attain Partners at NASFAA 2026

Attain Partners is exhibiting at the 2026 NASFAA National Conference. If you’ll be attending, visit our team at Booth #512 to discuss financial aid operations, compliance, technology modernization, data strategy, and student success initiatives.

Attain Partners – Specialists in Financial Aid Strategy and Student Aid Operations

Financial aid offices continue to balance regulatory change, technology modernization, enrollment priorities, and student support. Attain Partners works alongside institutions to strengthen financial aid operations, improve compliance readiness, support system transformation initiatives, and align aid strategy with institutional goals.