If you're struggling to make your monthly student loan payments on your measly first-job salary, you're not alone. The good news is, the government is taking notice -- and changing the game to make sure monthly payments don't cripple college grads. Even better, whatever you haven't paid off after 25 years may be forgiven. With this new option, instead of calculating ...

On July 1st, borrowers who have federal loans with a variable interest rate will be able to take advantage of the lowest interest rates in the history of student loan programs through loan consolidation. Borrowers who consolidate will not only save themselves a lot of hassle but a great deal of money as well. The new interest rates will save borrowers ...

Sallie Mae and Gallup just released the results of a survey of how American families save for college. The survey found that most parents are continuing to save for college despite the economy and that saving for college slightly trails saving for retirement. More than 9 in 10 of the parents (92%) think that it is likely or very likely that ...

My husband earns about $125,000 in salary and I am a stay at home mom. My husband just changed jobs and got his deferred salary and his retirement from 25 years of employment, so last year's income looks huge when it really wasn't. We also have a 19-year-old child with autism who lives in a group situation with social and living ...

If you’re thinking about consolidating your variable-rate federal student loans now — don’t. At least not until July 1, 2009. Starting in July, the interest rates on these education loans will drop to a historic low — which will save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of your loan. But the new rates are only available on federal ...

In a statement today, the Obama Administration announced sweeping changes to the FAFSA. Families filling out the FAFSA will no longer have to go through such a painstaking process just to see if they qualify for aid. With the new changes, the online FAFSA will see a drop from 30 screens of questions to 10, according to CNN. The goal, according ...

A faltering economy, the student loan crunch and rising tuition are making it increasingly harder to pay for college. But there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel for those in the know. The yearly phenomenon known within the financial aid community as the "summer melt" is working in students' favor -- this year more than ever -- ...

President Barack Obama has vowed to make education a top priority. But what does that mean for you? According to Education.com, America lags behind many nations in the world when it comes to making college affordable. To make college more affordable for Americans, Obama plans center around two goals: his American Opportunity Tax Credit and freeing up more money for aid ...

I am currently a single parent with a daughter receiving financial aid. However, I plan to marry and am curious how that affects my child’s financial aid. Will his income be considered when completing the FAFSA next year even if we don’t share financial responsibility for her or commingle our bank accounts? — Terri S. If a dependent student's custodial parent ...

If she wanted to save money on tuition, Erin Patterson had to make some money quickly. As an out-of-state student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Patterson needed to earn a certain amount on her W-2 in order to claim residency and thus lower her tuition bill. “I had no intention of becoming a resident of Missouri when I started college, but ...

This is a cautionary tale of the consequences of defaulting on education debt, based on the experiences of seven borrowers of federal and private student loans. The stories are all true, but names and inconsequential details have been changed to protect the borrowers. Education debt is a necessary evil. Most students graduate from college with debt. For example, seven out of ...

Even though the bailout bill has been passed, most Americans are still wary of future financial woes. Students are especially worried, seeing as their funding for college is tied up in private loans and may have been affected by the recent sub prime mortgage crisis. Mark Kantrowitz, a leading financial aid expert and publisher of FinAid.org, has a few tips to ...

You may already know about federal aid for college, but did you know your state could help out as well? Most states offer financial incentives to residents as well as awards based on academic merit and financial need. In-state Assistance States have a lot of reasons for offering grants to students who attend in-state colleges and universities. "We want to keep ...

When you want to know what something costs you check the price tag, right? But sometimes it's not so simple. Compare going to a big-ticket school with attending a college with less expensive tuition. You might think it's easy to figure out which will cost you more. But in fact, every school figures out your financial aid package differently. And that ...

We asked FastWeb members whether they would consider staying in their home state after graduation if it meant they wouldn't have to pay back their student loans and here's what they had to say: "I definitely would stay in my home state for loan forgiveness. I have personally already been a college graduate for a year and see this as ...

The stock market’s in a slump. The economy isn't rebounding. Jobs are hard to come by-- and so are student loans. But you’re not sure how — or if— any of it affects you. Chances are it will. And while you may not be feeling the effects of it yet, that’s simply because it hasn’t trickled down yet. When it comes ...

The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard can offer a lot of assistance for students heading to college. Whether you're a veteran, a child or spouse of a veteran, or a student planning a career in the military, there are programs that can help fund your college career. Funding for Veterans and Veterans' Dependents To repay service in ...

We recently had an addition in the family. Not a new sibling, but my mother's mom is now living with us. She's great and we love having her, but she's not free. Should I change any info on my FAFSA because of this? — Sana B. If your grandmother lives with and receives more than half her support from your parents, ...

To fully understand your student loan options, it helps to understand some basic loan terms. You'll find them scattered throughout loan materials and in conversations with financial aid advisors. Use this glossary to get the terms straight on your loan. Accrued interest: The interest that accumulates on the unpaid balance of a loan. Annual percentage rate (APR): The interest associated with ...

Unfortunately, federal aid isn't distributed on whether or not your parents want to pay for your education; it all depends on if they can. Parents have many reasons for not contributing to their child's education: can't afford it; it's the child's responsibility; sticky divorce. But your parents refusal actually hurts you more than they may know. Regardless of your parents' reasons, ...