A court ruling in the Girardier v Webster College case, that a college or university may validly refuse to issue transcripts to former students who have not repaid their educational loans and who have discharged those obligations through bankruptcy, is discussed along with some related cases. (Author/MLW)

This article analyzes "skyrocketing" student debt levels, discussing debt burden, borrowing trends among student subpopulations, and why debt is increasing. It asserts that to reverse these trends, particularly among low-income and minority families, Congress must increase grant aid, lower the cost of borrowing to students, and make repayment less…

The rule of 78 is used by banks and loan companies to compute the amounts due when installment loans are paid early. Describes an unexpected case of negative amortization when the rule is applied. Presents an actual problem and discusses the case. (YP)

A survey administered to student loan recipients at their exit interview provided information about their characteristics (college of graduation, gender, race, grade point average, and age), post-graduation plans, anticipated annual income, estimated time for loan repayment, total debt, and monthly payment. (MSE)

Data from three national databases were used to investigate the relationship between college student characteristics and college characteristics and patterns in loan repayment and default. Analysis suggested that repayment/default behavior can be predicted by precollege, college, and postcollege characteristics of individual borrowers but not by…

Discusses the mathematics involved in comparing the purchase of an automobile with cash versus with a loan. Investigates two scenarios: (1) if a loan is taken out and the cash price is invested at a fixed rate, and (2) if cash is paid and monthly payments are invested over the period of the loan. (MDH)

This article summarizes the current pattern of finance of higher education in Ghana, gives a brief history of student loans in Ghana, and describes a new program, which is administered by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust and is expected to result in a higher rate of loan repayment. (Author/DB)

A proposed change in federal student loan policy from providing loans through lending institutions to providing loans directly to students is of enormous importance to higher education, with major implications for colleges and universities. There are powerful arguments pro and con. Institutions must ensure they and policymakers understand the…

Colleges risk losing eligibility for government student loan programs, because of tightened loan-repayment requirements for participating institutions. Economic factors and some data-processing errors are blamed for high student default rates. Default rates are charted by state, lender, institution type, and guarantee agency. Colleges threatened…

Student loan debt levels are discussed in relation to borrowing patterns, educational opportunity, and cost-effectiveness of a college education; and common concerns about debt level are examined. It is concluded that while student indebtedness is high, these concerns are out of proportion to reality and reflect inappropriate assumptions about…

The fourth Nellie Mae survey of student loan borrowers in repayment reveals that education debt burdens remain manageable for most borrowers. A clear majority of those in repayment report that the benefits of the educational opportunities made possible through borrowing are well worth any problems associated with paying off the loans. There are,…

A study of internal medicine residents examined patterns of educational indebtedness, effects on their training and career decisions, frequency with which they begin loan payments during training, extent to which they moonlight and the reasons for doing so, and their opinions about the effects of moonlighting on house staff training. (MSE)

A series of steps by the Education Department and Congress to crack down on loan defaulters are discussed. Several factors have put defaults in the spotlight, including a study listing default rates at all postsecondary institutions and hard-hitting newspaper editorials. (MLW)

Because college costs will continue to increase dramatically, educational loan programs will become more important in the financial package. An efficient, national student loan program that will guarantee access, choice, and fairness is what is needed. (MLW)

Participants in the tuition-setting process lean toward "aggressive" pricing strategies because they want to maintain or improve quality, assure continued vitality, and keep the campus in good repair. Recent trends in tuition pricing are reviewed and some elements of budgetary strategies predicted on tuition increases above inflation are examined.…