Last year at this time, the big issue in the news was the impending doubling of student loan interest rates. The interest rates of Subsidized Stafford Loans were set to double from 3.4% to 6.8%. Before this could happen, Congress stepped in, temporarily lowering them for another full year.

That extra year of low rates is now coming to a close, and rates are once again set to double. This is why Senator Elizabeth Warren has introduced the Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act. This act would allow students to borrow at the same rate as banks, which is about “one-ninth the amount that students are asked to pay”.

Here is a quick list of what this bill seeks to do:

• The bill would charge students a rate equal to the rates banks are getting from the government (for subsidized loans only)—a rate of less than 1%.
• Loans would be funded through the federal reserve, with administration by the Department of Education

Senator Warren gives an excellent overview in her introduction of the bill to the Senate Committee. Watch it below.

Parent PLUS loans are just one option for parents to help cover the costs of college. To help you decide if this is a good option for your family, take a look at the following tips on applying for and managing your Parent PLUS loan.

1. Determine if it’s the right choice for you

What I mean by this is, Parent PLUS loans are solely in the name of the parent, and cannot be transferred to the student. Before applying, make sure you know that you’ll be responsible for paying it back. If you’d rather be a cosigner on a loan in the student’s name, then your best option would be for your student to apply for a private student loan.

2. Don’t stress about credit

PLUS loans have minimal credit requirements when compared with private loans. The check does not take credit score into account, and only looks back 5 years to determine if there are any adverse credit issues during that time.

If you did have an issue during that time, don’t fret! You have the ability to appeal a declined PLUS loan if you have extenuating circumstances. For more on what constitutes an extenuating circumstance, read A Parent’s Credit and PLUS Loans.

If you’re still declined for credit reasons, your student becomes eligible for more Direct Stafford Loans, increasing to the independent student loan limits.
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Mistake #1: Not comparing college costs

Colleges all write their financial aid award letters differently. Some count student loans as self help, others may include it in your financial aid total. Comparing your awards, item to item, can give you a better picture of where you stand financially with a school. Feeling ambitious? Figure out how much student loan interest will accrue over 4 years at each school to see how your choice can affect you when you graduate.

Mistake #2: Not applying for scholarships throughout college

The biggest student loan mistake you can make is taking out more than you need to. Many students stop searching for scholarships after their freshman year, but by applying regularly, you’re more likely to win money for school and need to take out less loans over your college career.
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Families everywhere are currently sweating over financial aid award letters, trying to decipher aid and make the huge decision about which school is the right choice for both the student, and family finances. However, once the college decision is made, there is still a lot to do, including applying for student loans!

To help families through this award letter season, here is a breakdown of how and when to accept—or apply for—all types of student loans.

Perkins and Stafford Loans

When to Accept: April-May for Fall semester
How: For these loans, students can simply accept their loan amounts through the financial aid office. To finalize the acceptance and before they can receive the loan funds, students must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) online at StudentLoans.gov and complete an entrance counseling session as directed by the school.
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As a parent, you are faced with one of life’s greatest challenges: preparing your child for financial responsibility. When your child leaves home for college, they will explore their independence in more ways than one. Learning the financial facts of life can be confusing and can take years. You can help prepare your child for financial independence by sharing these important lessons.

1. Create a budget
The first step to financial responsibly is by making sure you do not spend more than you have. You can empower your child by helping him/her establish a budget for college. Consider how much income the student has (including loans, scholarships and financial aid), then add up the items you are budgeting for to see if the student can afford them. Here are some things to consider budgeting for:

• Tuition
• Food
• School supplies
• Laundry
• Phone
• Entertainment
• Transportation (cabs/bus)

Managing and sticking to a budget will teach your child to make good financial decisions and will provide them with a sense of control.

2. Keep track

Creating a budget is half the battle – sticking to it can be the hardest part. A good tip to share with your child for sticking to their budget is to keep track of all spending. There are a variety of tools available besides bank accounts that can help with money management. Mint.com and LearnVest are two great tools that allow you to organize your finances, set a budget and alert you when you’re getting off track.

3. Be smart about plastic

If your child does not already have his/her own bank account, this will be the first step. Once they establish their own checking account, they are ready to determine how they will pay their bills. There are a variety of different payment options. The most commonly used payment method for college students are debit cards, since there is debt risk associated with credit cards. Take the time to explain the advantages and disadvantages to using both:

Learn more about student banking at studentplatinum.com.

3. Pay bills on time

It is important to explain to your child that not paying bills on time can have a negative impact on their financial future. Explaining the importance of establishing a good credit history early in life is an invaluable lesson.  Your child will need to have good credit history in order to qualify for a private student loan if they need more funds for college, buy a new car, apply for a job or take out a mortgage for a house later in life. It is important to explain to your child that in order to establish good credit, they must pay their bills on time and in full.  Even a late phone bill can negatively affect their credit score.

5. Borrow what you need

If your child has taken out a loan for college, it is important to stress that they will need to pay back that money, along with the interest accrued, once they graduate.  With that said, it is key to emphasize that they should only borrow what they need or they will quickly find themselves under mountains of student-loan-debt situation after graduation. If your child finds him/herself in a situation where they need more money for school, there are other ways to fund their education than borrowing such as finding a job and applying for scholarships. If they do borrow, make sure to exhaust all federal loan options first, especially subsidized Stafford loans, which do not accrue interest while a student is in school.

2012 Interest Rate Increase

Last year around this same time, a hot story in the media was the impending interest rate increase for Federal Direct Stafford Loans. Subsidized loans were at 3.4%, and with legislation running out, were set to double to 6.8% — the same as their unsubsidized counterparts. Luckily for students, Congress extended the lower interest rate for another year.

Projected Rates for 2013–2014

Once again, subsidized student loan interest rates are facing an impending increase, and are still up in the air. Without action, students may see an increase to 6.8% for the 2013–2014 academic year. This means that the only difference between subsidized loans and unsubsidized student loans would be that the former will not accrue interest while in school or in a grace period.

At this time it is unclear what actions may be taken to prevent student loan interest increases. We could see another one-year extension of the lower rate, or a system overhaul may even be possible. However, if nothing is done by July 1, 2013, students can expect to see the higher rate take effect for all new subsidized loans.

The Future of Federal Student Loan Rates

Private student loan rates are currently based on an index rate (such as the Prime or LIBOR indeces) plus a set margin. This allows for flexibility based on the current market. Federal student loan rates do not follow this structure, and are not tied to any economic factors, making it difficult to set competitive and affordable rates for borrowers.

To rectify this, organizations such as the New America Foundation have submitted proposals for better ways to handle federal loan interest rates. The proposals include tying interest rates to 10-year treasury notes and securities. Rates would be determined similarly to private student loans, with a variable base, plus a proposed margin of 3.0%.

While it is unclear which, if any, of these proposals will be enacted, it’s possible that borrowers could see more affordable rates in the near future.

For more information on interest rate proposals, read Solving the Interest Rate Quandary: Two Feasible Proposals on NASFAA.org.

The financial aid process can be tough to navigate, and like many students out there, you may not know all of the ins-and-outs. To help you make the most of your financial aid, we compiled a list of some noteworthy facts.

1. You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To stay eligible for financial aid, there are certain criteria you have to maintain. Many students know about the qualitative measures such as minimum GPA, but there are also quantitative criteria students must meet. For example, a student must not exceed 150% of the credits required for their program of study, and this includes attempted credits. This means that too many withdrawals, failed, or incomplete courses can impede your eligibility for financial aid. Make sure you know your school’s SAP policy to keep your financial aid on track or check out this example from the University of Minnesota.

2. Males must register with the Selective Service

Some students don’t realize this until it’s too late, but in order to receive financial aid, male students 18 and older must register for selective service. If you don’t register by the time you’re 26, you will be unable to receive federal financial aid funds. After that, it’s incredibly difficult to regain eligibility, if at all.
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You can refinance your mortgage, but can you refinance your student loans? The short answer is: possibly. Let me elaborate.

Refinancing is a tool commonly used by borrowers in the housing industry to lower interest rates. In regards to student loans, refinancing options are not widely available and depend on the type of loan you have.

Consolidating Federal Student Loans

Federal student loans (such as Stafford Loans) are not able to be refinanced but they can be consolidated. For federal loans, you must consolidate them through a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan which determines your new interest rate as a weighted average. Unfortunately, weighted averages do nothing to lower your rate.

However, there are still some benefits to consolidating your loans, such as:

• It lowers your monthly payment by extending the term of the loan
• It makes managing your repayment easier by combing multiple federal loans into one

Probably not the answer you were hoping for, but consolidation can be helpful to those struggling with high monthly payments.
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Earlier this week, President Obama talked about the new College Scorecard tool in his State of the Union Address. This new tool provides college data to students and families going through the college selection process and aims to provide some statistics that allow families to assess the return on investment.

Tool Features

The College Scorecard allows users to evaluate colleges on:

• Costs
• Graduation rate
• Loan default rate
• Average borrowing
• Employment outlook

While historically, many families have chosen schools based on social environment, location, and academic programs, college costs are now a driving factor. The College Scorecard allows families to make better decisions around college expenses, by providing average borrowing and default rates of schools.
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Happy Veterans Day, and National Military Family Month! In the words of Maya Angelou, “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” To thank all of the military men, women, and families who serve our nation, here are some resources to help veterans everywhere take advantage of their education benefits.

Funding Education

Scholarships for Veterans and Families

There are hundreds of scholarships out there to help veterans and their families receive a college education. Whether you’re a veteran, or the spouse or child of a soldier, there are lots of scholarships to take advantage of. Here are just a few:

• Veterans Tuition Awards
• Military Service Recognition Scholarship
• Regents Award for Children of Veterans
• Veteran, Spouse of One Disabled From Service Scholarships
• Military.com Scholarship Finder
• Tillman Military Scholarships
• Leave No Veteran Behind

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