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BAPCA

The law that made federal and private student loans generally non-dischargeable in bankruptcy, except in cases of "undue hardship", is the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). 

Here's a breakdown of the key changes over time:

• Before 1976: Student loans were generally dischargeable in bankruptcy like most other debts.
• 1976: The Higher Education Act introduced an "undue hardship" requirement for student loans less than five years old to be eligible for discharge in bankruptcy.
• 1978 (Bankruptcy Reform Act): The "undue hardship" rule was formally incorporated into the Bankruptcy Code under 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(8). This initially applied only to federal loans and those from non-profit institutions, according to Every CRS Report.
• 1990 (Crime Control Act): The waiting period for dischargeable loans, absent undue hardship, was extended from five to seven years.
• 1998 (Higher Education Amendments): This act eliminated the seven-year waiting period, making all federal student loans and those from non-profit institutions non-dischargeable unless the borrower could demonstrate "undue hardship".
• 2005 (Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act - BAPCPA): This is the key law that extended the "undue hardship" requirement to also include private student loans, making both federal and private loans generally non-dischargeable unless that high standard is met. 

In summary, while federal student loans became progressively harder to discharge in bankruptcy starting in the 1970s, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 specifically brought private student loans under the same "undue hardship" standard, making them also very difficult to discharge in bankruptcy.