This paper discusses the role of student loans in college access. Borrowing to pay for education is a sound decision for most students, and student loans are a vital part of college financing policy. There has been a considerable increase in student borrowing, and much of this results from the introduction of the Stafford Loan in 1993. Borrowing…

The U.S. Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report to help inform policymakers about the progress of education in the United States. Using data from across the center and from other sources of education data, "The Condition of Education 2015" presents 42 key indicators on…

A recent Education Department report reveals the nation's student loan default rate was the lowest ever in 1994, at less than half the rate of 1990. New enforcement power, improved collections, and an improving economy are credited with the change. However, high default rates threaten the right of over 300 colleges and universities to participate…

Many individuals with disabilities may have attempted college either before or after they became disabled. If prior college attempts were unsuccessful, the student may have defaulted on student loans. When the loans are secured by the federal government, the individual will not be eligible for further financial assistance, including all federal…

The use of Cohort Default Rate (CDR) as the primary measure of student loan defaults among undergraduates was investigated. The study used data extracted from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), quantitative analysis of Likert-scale survey responses from 153 student financial aid professionals on proposed changes to present metrics and…

This study examined the rate of participation in, and default on loans from, the Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) and the Federal Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) programs. In particular the study sought to know the volume of loans made to students or parents of students attending proprietary (trade) schools and other…

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…

Data on National Direct Student Loan Program borrowers at the University of North Carolina illustrate the use of a discriminant function analysis model and an alternative model identifying characteristics of borrowers who repay and borrowers who default. The alternative model--the Tobit technique--includes data on the magnitude of the default.…

To help inform policymakers and the public about the progress of education in the United States, Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report, "The Condition of Education." This year's report presents 42 indicators on important topics and trends in U.S. education. These…

This study used data from the 1996 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study to compare the demographic characteristics, income levels, educational costs, and financial need levels of Perkins loan and Stafford loan borrowers in academic year 1995-96. Major findings indicated the following: nearly 63 percent of undergraduate Perkins loan borrowers…

This report examines the extent to which correspondence schools participate in the Stafford Student Load Program and the rates at which students from these schools default on their student loans. It is revealed that the average borrower default rate for students attending correspondence schools was more than double the rate, 42.2 percent versus…

This brochure contains information about student loans for college applicants and students in Missouri. It is a resource to assist borrowers in making smart repayment decisions and in understanding the options to avoid delinquency and default. Things to consider before one borrows, how to increase one's resources, and how to decrease one's…

A discussion of debt burden, particularly for college students and graduates, looks at recent research, discusses borrower perceptions of debt burdens and excessive debt, analyzes debt-to-income ratios, and synthesizes these ideas into a universal model. Data from a 1990 state survey of borrowers by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission.…

Discussion of a ruling allowing state agencies to deny new educational loans to students with previous loans discharged in bankruptcy looks at the intent behind the Bankruptcy Code, specifically concerning the nature of educational loans and the "fresh start" policy. Potential conflicts between the state and federal statute is also…

Debtors seeking discharge in bankruptcy of student loans should be aware of certain arguments in their favor: that the burden of persuasion should remain on the creditor throughout; the standard of proof should be the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard; and that burden of production is, for the most part, the creditor's. Recent case law is…