In the Media
Key Takeaways:
- The Washington Post reports LRAP adoption is accelerating. Undergraduate programs using Ardeo’s LRAPs have increased approximately 20% over the past year.
- Colleges are using LRAPs to grow and shape enrollment. LRAPs address concerns about student loan repayment and post-grad earnings that traditional financial aid may not fully resolve.
More colleges are offering Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) to help students overcome borrowing concerns and enroll with confidence.
That’s the trend highlighted in a recent Washington Post article, “More colleges are helping pay back loans for grads with modest incomes.”
Published in October 2026, the article explores how LRAPs, once primarily offered by law schools, are gaining traction in undergraduate education as colleges confront demographic changes, fluctuating federal policies, and growing concerns about the value of a degree.
How Colleges Are Using LRAPs
The Washington Post highlights two Ardeo partners using LRAPs to address affordability concerns.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota recently expanded its LRAP offering to incoming first-year and transfer students. Saint Mary’s offers its Cardinal Pledge LRAP to all incoming first year students, promising loan repayment assistance if students graduate and make less than $60,000 annually.
Michael McMahon, Vice President for Enrollment Management, told The Washington Post that LRAPs give students greater confidence to pursue careers in education, nonprofits, and other service-oriented fields.
Belmont University offers LRAPs to students in select academic programs associated with traditionally lower earnings.
Chris Gage, Vice President for Enrollment Services, told The Washington Post that LRAPs are a complement to Belmont’s existing financial aid investments.
A financial safety net, LRAPs operate similarly to insurance. The program helps repay federal, parent PLUS, and private loans if income after graduation is modest, typically $55,000.
By addressing concerns about borrowing and future earnings, LRAPs help students and families feel more confident enrolling. Colleges can offer LRAPs broadly to all incoming students or target specific academic programs or other student populations.
Discover what LRAPs could mean for your institution. See custom projections for your institution with Ardeo’s Growth Calculator, which will give you a realistic idea of what LRAPs could do.
