Student loans remain the most popular student-assistance program, because loans let lawmakers stretch federal dollars. Students have lost ground in the battle to keep up with rising tuition, etc. As an example students at the University of Illinois (Chicago) are borrowing three times as much as they did five years ago. (MLW)

This study examines attitudes of Americans toward borrowing to finance educational expenses over the period from 1959 to 1983. The study finds that Americans have had a consistently favorable view toward educational loans. People from low-income backgrounds are less likely to have a positive attitude toward borrowing. (Author/MLW)

Creating separate student-aid programs for the proprietary and nonprofit sectors of higher education will be one of the most bitterly debated issues in the upcoming reauthorization of higher education law. A major point of contention is the matter of hugely disproportionate default rates among students in the different sectors. (MLW)

A regional survey of 1,442 student loan borrowers currently in repayment (nondefaulting, high debt/low income nondefaulters, and prior defaulters) investigated attitudes toward student loan debt. Results revealed those with greater debt perceive it as more burdensome, but debt level has little impact on consumption patterns. (Author/MSE)

This survey concludes that, overall, student debt has not caused most borrowers to make lifestyles changes nor regret their educational investment. Discussion analyzes borrower debt levels; payment-to-income and debt-to-income ratios; noneducation debt burden; student perceptions about borrowing and debt; effect of borrowing on decision making;…

Reviews recent data on cost trends in professional (especially legal) education, including interest costs, repayment mechanisms, and the issue of foregone wages. Also examines placement data and the ability to repay and refinance college indebtedness, as well as the developing relationship among college cost, credit cards, and consumer finance.…

This report examines the four program activities that account for two-thirds of delinquent debt owed to the Federal government: the Department of Education's Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) with $20 billion and the housing programs of the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and Agriculture that…

This report briefly summarizes Alaska's student financial aid programs and the participation levels for 1991-92. After introductory remarks, more detailed sections focus on the following specific programs: (1) the Alaska Student Loan Program; (2) the Alaska Family Education Loan Program; (3) the Alaska Teacher Scholarship Loan Program; (4) the…

This report discusses recent changes in federal aid to postsecondary students enacted by Congress during 1992-93, focusing on the 1992 Amendments to the Higher Education Act and the 1993 Federal Direct Student Loan (DL) Program. The report reviews recent issues surrounding federal aid to postsecondary students, such as program accountability and…

This study reviews the financial soundness of the Perkins Loan Program, a federal program that provides low-interest loans to financially needy students through postsecondary institutions, and identifies ways to make the Perkins program less financially dependent on additional federal appropriations to cover operating costs and default losses.…

This publication is intended to accompany the official cohort default rate notification letters sent to postsecondary schools each year and to be used by the schools in preparing materials used for appeals. The guide covers the Federal Family Education Loan Program and/or William D. Ford Direct Loan Program cohort rates and does not contain…

These proceedings include five papers presented at a symposium on issues related to the increasing amounts of student borrowing and resulting student debt. Also included is a synopsis of a roundtable discussion addressing core questions framed by the symposium, as well as several public policy options for addressing student loan debt burden. The…

This guide describes Federal student aid programs, how to apply for them, and what these programs entail. Guidelines are provided on the ways to find out about student financial aid that is available and how to choose a school carefully. Additionally examined are student eligibility requirements, financial need rules, dependency status, steps in…

Four aspects of the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) Program are compared with credit policies on other loans made by consumer installment lenders. The four aspects are: (1) the planning, screening, monitoring, collecting, and write-off policies on GSLs versus uninsured loans; (2) the importance of the Student Loan Marketing Association in providing…

Federal student financial aid programs were compared with programs proposed by the Reagan Administration in the Department of Education's fiscal year 1988 budget. Of concern were: total aid received by a student, the portions provided as grants and loans, and the portion of the student's postgraduation income that would be required to repay the…