As you may recall, last year, Congress voted on whether to raise the subsidized Stafford loan interest rate to 6.8%, or keep it at 3.4%.  Congress decided to prolong the decision for another year and keep the subsidized interest rate at 3.4%.  However, a year has gone by, and it is once again time for Congress to vote.  If Congress fails to come to a consensus by July 1, the interest rate on subsidized loans will automatically double to 6.8%.

In response to this impending decision, several politicians have put forth ideas of what they deem to be the best solution.  On May 1, Senator Elizabeth Warren proposed the Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act, which sought to lower the interest rate on subsidized loans to just under 1%, which she described as the equivalent rate for which banks qualify.
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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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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.

As you may have heard by now, the recent sequestration has huge implications for education across the board, and Higher Ed. is no exception. The budget cuts that took effect on March 1, 2013 will affect most types of federal student aid, including Federal Work Study (FWS), Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Service Grants, TEACH Grants, and the Direct Student Loan Program. Fortunately for many students, Pell Grants were specifically exempt from the budget cuts.

Here’s a brief overview of what to expect from student aid programs going forward:

Federal Work Study and FSEOG Programs

Budget cuts of $86 million do not only mean a reduction in the FSEOG program, it could also mean a loss of on-campus employment for as many as 33,000 students if colleges do not step in with funding. While these campus-based programs are funded through the remainder of this year, program cuts will take affect for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Iraq – Afghanistan Service and TEACH Grants

For both of these federal grants, funding has been reduced for any award first disbursed during the sequester. It should have no impact on grants first disbursed before the cuts took effect.
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Student loans can be scary! Paying off thousands in debt is no easy task, and repayment can creep up on you if you don’t have a plan. So to keep you on track, here are 8 ways you can keep your loans at bay.

1. Know who you owe

With lenders buying and selling loans, the first step to know where your loans are. For federal student loans, borrowers can track their servicer information through NSLDS.ed.gov. Your loan servicer will be your main contact for making payments and for the day-to-day handling of your federal loans.

For private loans, you should consult their original loan paperwork. If this is not an option, request your free credit report. Your credit report will list all of your creditors, including private loan lenders.

2. Keep in touch

Now that you know who you owe, stay in touch. At the first sign of repayment trouble, contact your lender to discuss your options. Ask about different repayment plans, or if deferment or forbearance options are available.
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1. Easier Repayment

If you have loans from many different lenders, staying on top of your payments can be tough. Consolidation can help to streamline the repayment process, so you only need to send one check, to one lender (two if you have both federal and private loans).

2. Better Discounts

Many lenders offer student loan discounts for a variety of situations. Discounts can include interest rate reductions for setting up automatic payments, or even for being a current customer of that bank. If your loan does not have any incentives like this, then consolidation may save you some money.
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Students who have received financial aid in the past know the drill – the financial aid office receives the funds, applies them to the student’s account for tuition, room and board, and other expenses, then returns the remainder to the student. In the past, students have been given the option of receiving the refund by check or direct deposit, but this year, there’s a new option across many campuses – a pre-loaded debit card.

The problem

These debit cards (often endorsed by the school) may seem like a great idea up front (easy, right?) but students are warned to be cautious if selecting this method. These cards can come with high fees that can eat into your federal aid funds! Not ideal for cash-strapped students. Fees include things like “$0.50 to swipe the debit card using a PIN number, inactivity fees of $10 a month starting as soon as six months and overdraft fees as high as $38 per transaction” according to the Huffington Post.
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You may have heard of Stafford loans, PLUS loans, and private student loans, but do you really know the differences between them? Is one type of loan really better than the other? Let’s find out.

Subsidized Stafford Loans: The Best of the Best

Subsidized Stafford loans are the best type of student loan, and should be taken out before any other type. Stafford loans carry a 3.4% fixed interest rate, and the federal government will cover your interest payments until graduation. Interest will start to accrue after graduation, but you will not be required to make your first payment until 6 months after graduation. As an undergraduate, you can take out a maximum of $23,000 in subsidized Stafford loans in your lifetime.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: The Next Best Thing

Unsubsidized Stafford loans are federal loans that have 6.8% fixed interest rate. Contrary to their subsidized counterpart, interest accrues for unsubsidized Stafford loans while you are enrolled in school. However, similar to subsidized Stafford loans, your first monthly payment will not be due until 6 months after graduation. In addition, unsubsidized Stafford loans are also need based, and not impacted by your credit score. As a dependent, undergraduate student, you can take out a maximum of $8,000 for undergraduate studies. Unsubsidized Stafford loan limits vary based on your education status.
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