New Delhi, Dec. 2 -- The United States' student loan system is on the cusp of one of its most sweeping overhauls in decades, with a series of major reforms scheduled to begin unfolding within weeks.

As the Education Department races to implement provisions of President Donald Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), millions of borrowers will see their repayment options and eventual loan-forgiveness pathways radically reshaped - and some benefits will disappear entirely.

One of the first changes arriving before the end of December is a significant expansion of the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan. Previously, borrowers were required to demonstrate a "partial financial hardship" to qualify. Trump's "big beautiful bill" eliminates ...