1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

One of the big proposals in the Republican budget reconciliation bill of 2025 to reform higher ed is to eliminate PLUS loans. If this were to take effect, a number of universities would face severe financial distress, and some may even close. There are a number of universities and colleges that are highly exposed financially to Parent PLUS borrowing, and many of these institutions are located in swing districts, and they represent a large or very large economic and employer base in those swing districts. Here’s the list of the Republican-held swing districts below, along with the institution most exposed to PLUS loan repeal that’s located in their district: 1. Chapman University – CA-40 (Representative Young Kim, R+2) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Chapman: $41,575 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Chapman as % of National Average: 256% 2. Drake University – IA-03 (Representative Zach Nunn, R+3) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Drake: $32,406 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Drake as % of National Average: 200% 3. University of Scranton – PA-08 (Representative Rob Bresnahan, R+4) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Scranton: $41,794 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Scranton as % of National Average: 258% 4. Michigan State University – MI-07 (Representative Tom Barrett, R+2) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Michigan State: $37,703 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Michigan State as % of National Average:  232% 5. Creighton University – NE-02 (Representative Don Bacon, EVEN) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Creighton: $39,968 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Creighton as % of National Average:  246% 6. Lehigh University – PA-07 (Representative Ryan Mackenzie, R+2) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Lehigh: $43,365 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Lehigh as % of National Average:  267% 7. Dickinson College – PA-10 (Representative Scott Perry, R+5) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Dickinson: $32,798 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Dickinson as % of National Average:  202% 8. Eckerd College – FL-13 (Representative Anna Paulina Luna, R+6) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Eckerd:  $40,818 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Eckerd as % of National Average:  252% 9. Hope College – MI-04 (Representative Bill Huizenga, R+5) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Hope: $36,940 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Hope as % of National Average:  228% 10. Delaware Valley University – PA-01 (Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, EVEN) • Median Parent PLUS Debt at Delaware Valley: $32,493 • Median Parent PLUS Balance at Delaware Valley as % of National Average:  200%  At the risk of stating the obvious, four of these towns are in Pennsylvania, and two are in Michigan.  At least half of the towns are smaller communities that would be devastated economically if one of the colleges above shut down. (Original article and research from Student Loan Planner) End the madness of trying to close the Dept of Education. Thank you for your work for the American people.