A study of the rate of growth in Stafford student loan debt levels compiled average indebtedness figures for graduate students, undergraduate students, proprietary students, and students enrolled in community colleges and other 2- and 3-year institutions. The study also attempted to develop payment stress indicators by tracking payment status data…

This handbook explains the "how to's" of financial aid, focusing on private colleges in New York state. The first section discusses financial aid, explaining that a student who needs financial aid is very likely to receive it. The aid process is outlined, step by step. This section also explains the types of federal and other aid…

This paper uses data from the 1979 and 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth cohorts (NLSY79 and NLSY97) to estimate changes in the effects of ability and family income on educational attainment for youth in their late teens during the early 1980s and early 2000s. Cognitive ability plays an important role in determining educational outcomes…

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…

This pamphlet provides basic facts about the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Loan Program for students. These loans include Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans. The pamphlet's sections are: (1) "The Direct Loan Program: What Is It?";…

Analyzed data from the 1992-93 and 1995-96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) and found that the 1992 amendments to the Higher Education Act were associated with an increased tendency to borrow at the federal limit, particularly among undergraduates from middle-income families. (EV)

Federal Student Aid's core mission is to ensure that all eligible Americans benefit from federal financial assistance--grants, loans and work-study programs--for education beyond high school. The programs administered comprise the nation's largest source of student aid: during the 2007-08 school year alone, approximately $83 billion in new aid was…

On September 7, 2007, Congress enacted H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which will raise the maximum Pell Grant to $5,400 over five years and halve interest rates on subsidized student loans. The act is part of the budget reconciliation process, which secured billions of dollars for increasing Pell Grants and for reducing…

2Futuro is a new "Spanish-first" college-financing program rolled out by Sallie Mae and USA Funds. The pilot version of 2Futuro launched last summer and is, say its partnering agents, "the only fully bilingual college-financing and outreach program that enables Hispanic parents and students to apply for college loans in Spanish. By the end of the…

There are numerous financial planning and money management handbooks, but few focus on the needs of young adults between 16 and 25 years of age. Colleges and some high schools are increasingly offering courses covering money management, but the materials are more "economics-focused" than "real-world" focused. Young people are huge consumers who…

College students are leaving their higher education institutions with more educational loan debt than ever before. From academic year 1994-1997 to 1999-2000, the amount postsecondary education students borrowed through federal student loan programs jumped from $24 billion to $33.7 billion, and total debt for borrowers who received master's and…

In November 1999, the U.S. Department of Education began offering a 0.25% interest rate reduction to borrowers under the Direct Loan program who agree to have their monthly loan payments automatically withdrawn from a bank account through its electronic debit account (EDA) program. The Department of Education submitted a justification to the…

Using data from the 1993-1993 and 1999-2000 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:93 and NPSAS:2000), this study examined the most recent trends in net price of college. Changes in net price were analyzed for higher education as a whole and within each type of institution for students with various levels of income and financial need.…

This book presents information on two major federal loan programs: the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP). It is designed to provide information on borrower and lender activity, presenting factual and statistical data on the various FFEL program and FDLP loan components that…

This booklet contains answers to questions that students may ask about financial aid for college. The booklet describes the usual costs of college, and suggests ways students can pay for a college education. The types of financial aid available are described, and the application process is outlined. The booklet offers tips for comparing different…