The College Investor Audio Show

U.S. citizens are eligible for U.S. federal student aid regardless of where they live. This means that expats can qualify for federal student loans. But there are a few complications and opportunities when borrowing and repaying federal student loans for expats. Here's what you need to know if you're a U.S. citizen living abroad and you're hoping to take out federal student loans for yourself or for your children.

You have graduated college and are getting ready to start paying off your student loans.You are getting the check ready to start the process of paying off your student debt when it hits you that you don’t actually know who owns your student loans or how much you owe exactly?What to do?The first step to becoming financially free is figuring out the exact amount of debt you are carrying so you can work towards paying it off.And since student loans are a debt that affect lives greatly, it is important to know who owns those loans and how much you owe.How you do that is the topic of this post.

You are ready to go back to school and so you go to apply for a student loan with the best rate.The problem?Someone already took out student loans in your name and now you, the real you, cannot take out any more money for school.Education is expensive enough when you take out loans on your own! And now you have to deal with a mess somebody made when you were not looking?Unfortunately, student loan identity theft is a real problem that happens and continues to happen. It's hard to prevent because so much personal information about you is already "out there".Let's talk about what you can do to prevent this from happening in the first place and what you can do if you find out someone took out student loans in your name.

If you've recently graduated college and started full-time employment, you will start entering the repayment phase of your student loans. Even though payments on many student loans were paused during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is wise to make sure that you are ready for when student loan payments unpause.Hopefully you were able to minimize your use of student loans for living expenses while you were in college. Now it's time to take a look at how to handle your living expenses as you start to repay your student loans.The good news is that there are plenty of options to fit your student loan payments into your ongoing budget. The important part is to make sure that you are proactive and reasonable about how you will handle your basic living expenses during your student loan repayment.

There are a variety of programs that can provide non-profit student loan forgiveness for individuals working for a 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit organization.By participating in these programs, eligible borrowers can have their student loans forgiven or significantly reduced after meeting specific requirements. However, the onus is always on the borrower to make sure they find, apply, and maintain eligibility for these programs.Here’s what you need to know about the different ways to get nonprofit student loan forgiveness.

Two weeks ago, I was chatting with a reader who was researching low cost index funds. I was so excited because he wanted to learn about expense ratios, commissions, fees, and more. Although I talk about finance all the time, it's still rare to have someone interested for long periods of time.After chatting for a bit, I got around to asking him what made him so interested in the topic. He seemed like he was doing well enough. He definitely had some investable funds, was on his way to retirement, and everything seemed good.He told me - "I feel like my advisor isn't steering me in the right path based on what I read online on sites like yours." I asked him to elaborate a little bit for me.He said - "My advisor consistently talks about how he's the top performer in North Carolina. However, everywhere I read online says to invest with low cost Vanguard funds. When I mention that to him, he changes the subject or diverts to other topics. It makes me feel off..."Beyond the fact that you shouldn't feel this way with a financial advisor, I firmly believe that your financial advisor should be very transparent with costs for you. When this reader shared his portfolio with me, I was so sad...

Savvy investors are always looking for ways to reduce their tax burdens. Although no one can completely avoid taxes, harnessing the power of tax-loss harvesting is one smart way to save.No one buys an investment with the expectation that it will lose money. But tax-loss harvesting provides a unique opportunity to benefit from downturns when they occur. Through tax-loss harvesting, you can use losing investments to offset your realized capital gains and/or some of your ordinary taxable income. Keep reading to learn all about how it works!

If you’re a recent college graduate with limited cash flow, paying off student loans can feel like an insurmountable task. It’s easy to feel trapped, as you feel the pressure to pay off your student loans as quickly as possible.But while eliminating your student loans is an admirable goal, some sacrifices aren't worth it. For example, if you’re considering using your 401(k) to pay off your student loans, you may want to reconsider.In this article, we cover the various 401(k) taxes and penalties, and present some alternative ways to eliminate your student loans.

The average student graduates college with over $30,600 in debt. If you went to a 4-year nursing program (or its equivalent), you have probably accumulated around this amount as well.Tack on grad school costs in case you want to advance your nursing career and you could be looking at around $60,000 in student loan debt.Even if you do get a well-paying job as most nurses tend to get once they are out of school, a $60,000 loan hanging over your head is still stressful considering that paying back student loans will not be the only responsibility you have after you graduate.If you are a nurse or healthcare worker who would really like those pesky student loans gone for good, this post is for you. In today’s post, we will provide you with some great resources that will help you get most if not all of your loans forgiven.This guide is specific to nurses, but you might also find this guide helpful: 80 Ways To Get Student Loan Forgiveness. Let's dive in!

It should be a simple question - does the government profit off of student loans? But depending on who you ask, the federal government either earned a profit or lost money on federal student loans prior to the pandemic. The answer depends on political and accounting perspectives. During the pandemic, however, the payment pause and interest waiver has caused the federal government to lose money on federal student loans, regardless of the method used to calculate the subsidy rates. By forgoing nearly $5 billion a month in interest, the federal student loan program swung from a profit to a loss even in the most optimistic of projections. Let’s take a tour of how the federal government’s budget calculates the subsidy rates for various federal programs. But, before we do this, let’s review the concept of net present value accounting.

Choosing the right school for you can be difficult. Not only does the decision come while you’re still fairly young, but it can also be heavily influenced by external factors that end up not aligning with what you want. Take it from someone who’s been there.In fact, about one-third of college students transfer schools at some point before finishing their degree. And total transfers represented over 13% of all continuing and returning undergraduates last year.This article walks through the top reasons students choose to transfer, how to identify when the time is right, and what to do to set yourself up for success at a new school.

Older workers nearing retirement have long enjoyed a valuable benefit: the ability to make additional, tax-deferred contributions to their workplace retirement plans. But under a new federal rule taking effect in 2026, that benefit is changing for many.Beginning January 1, 2026, employees age 50 or older who earn more than $145,000 in the prior year will no longer be able to make pre-tax catch-up contributions to 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) plans. Instead, these contributions must go into a Roth account, meaning they’ll be taxed upfront but grow and withdraw tax-free later.The change stems from the SECURE 2.0 Act, which included dozens of provisions designed to expand retirement savings and modernize plan administration. The Roth catch-up rule was one of the most debated, prompting the IRS to delay its start date from 2024 to 2026 to give employers time to update payroll systems and plan documents.In fact, just this month we've seen solo 401k plan providers update their plans to provide more options as well!

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program requires 120 qualifying monthly payments while working for an eligible employer. But many borrowers are falling short because months spent in deferment or forbearance (even while employed full-time in public service) did not count. This is specifically harmful because of the SAVE forbearance, which found 8 million borrowers in forbearance due to court rulings outside of their control.The buyback provision was introduced to address this gap. It allows borrowers to make a lump-sum payment covering past periods of deferment or forbearance, effectively turning those months into qualifying payments. For someone sitting at 117 or 118 payments, buyback could push them over the forgiveness threshold.In theory, it’s a practical fix for years of technical disqualification. In practice, the process is opaque and there's currently a backlog of 74,000 PSLF buyback requests while the Department of Education is only processing about 5,000 per month.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) has long been a lifeline for teachers, nurses, social workers, and other public sector employees carrying student loan debt. But the rules around consolidation (the process of combining multiple federal loans into one Direct Consolidation Loan) have shifted over time, often leaving borrowers confused.Under earlier rules, consolidating wiped out your progress entirely, resetting your PSLF payment count to zero. Then came a one-time PSLF waiver, which let borrowers lock in the highest count from any loan - a major win for those with older debts.That waiver ended in 2023. Now, as of Sept. 1, 2024, the Department of Education has adopted the weighted average rule as the default. This new rule assigns a weighted average of your PSLF payment count to your new consolidation loan.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), representing 1.8 million members, has escalated its legal battle with the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Earlier this year, the union sued ED and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, alleging the agency unlawfully froze access to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans after a court blocked parts of the Biden-era SAVE plan.Last month, AFT filed an amended complaint seeking to certify the case as a class action, potentially extending relief nationwide to impacted borrowers. If granted, the preliminary injunction could force ED to resume processing applications and cancel loans under longstanding repayment and loan forgiveness programs.Meanwhile, the Department insists its pause was necessary to comply with litigation, and earlier this week began processing IBR-based student loan forgiveness again.

Student loan scams are surging in 2025. Policy changes, repayment restarts, and nonstop headlines give fraudsters the perfect chance to trick borrowers. Every day, fake “debt relief” companies and government impersonators are stealing money - or worse, hijacking borrower accounts.Before you get overwhelmed, remember three things:You never have to pay to manage federal student loans. Enrollment in student loan repayment plans or loan forgiveness programs is always free at StudentAid.gov.Never share your FSA ID. That login is your digital signature. Handing it over is like giving someone power of attorney on your finances.Verify everything at the source. Ignore texts, ads, or calls. Log in at StudentAid.gov or call your loan servicer using the number listed in your secure dashboard.This guide breaks down the most common scams in 2025, the red flags to watch for, and exactly what to do if you think you’ve been targeted.

Cash App, a popular mobile financial services platform used by millions of Americans, has prevented more than $2 billion in potential scam payments since launching a real-time scam warning alert in August 2020. In partnership with Cash App, let’s break down the most common types of banking scams, how people are falling victim, and how Cash App is helping users stay safe.With artificial intelligence and machine learning analyzing transactions almost instantly, the app's system flags suspicious activity and provides users with immediate alerts. It's a safeguard that has helped Cash App users avoid losses that often result from peer-to-peer payment scams.

For the first time in nearly a year, federal student loan borrowers are seeing their balances forgiven under the Income-Based Repayment plan. On Tuesday September 30, 2025, the Department of Education sent out a wave of approval notices to borrowers who had crossed the 20- or 25-year repayment threshold under IBR.The emails, which many borrowers referred to as “golden letters,” confirmed that the borrowers had met the timeline required for loan forgiveness, and that the Department of Education would begin the process of loan forgiveness. 

At first glance, banks and credit unions look alike. Both offer checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and certificates of deposit. But the difference lies in their structure.Credit unions are cooperative financial institutions owned by their members — the people who use their services. Instead of aiming to generate profits for shareholders, they return earnings to members in the form of lower loan rates, reduced fees, and sometimes higher savings rates.Membership is typically based on a “common bond.” This can mean working in a certain profession, living in a specific area, or being related to someone who is already a member. In practice, eligibility requirements are broad, and many people can qualify without difficulty.Like banks, credit unions are safe. Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per account by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) (unless you happen to be in one of these states that allow credit unions NOT to be NCUA insured), just as banks are covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Federal student loan borrowers are under intense financial strain as serious delinquencies hover near record levels, according to new data released by TransUnion this week.In July 2025, 29% of federal student loan borrowers in repayment, or about 5.4 million people, were at least 90 days behind on payments. While this figure is slightly lower than the April 2025 peak of 31%, it marks the fifth consecutive month with more than five million borrowers past due.The modest improvement suggests that some households are managing to catch up, but the overall level of delinquency remains historically high. For comparison, delinquency rates prior to the pandemic hovered around 10% to 15%, depending on income and loan type, according to The College Investor's Student Loan Statistics.“While the percentage of federal student loan borrowers who are seriously delinquent has slightly subsided in recent months, it continues to remain decidedly elevated,” said Michele Raneri, vice president and head of U.S. research and consulting at TransUnion, in a statement. The proportion of borrowers in serious delinquency is extremely elevated, and once they reach 270 days, they will be in default and face wage garnishments, tax offsets, and more. This comes right before tax season, when millions of Americans will be depending on their tax refunds.

For months, federal student loan borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan have faced a decision: should I leave SAVE now, or should I wait out the forbearance longer?The Department of Education, of course, has been very forceful in their messaging encouraging borrowers in SAVE to change repayment plans now. On the other hand, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) gave a more measured timeline - possibly until 2028 to make the switch. Furthermore, the OBBBA implemented a new repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), but that doesn't go live until 2026.Nelnet, one of the major loan servicers, has even started moving borrower's SAVE forbearance dates out until 2028.The uncertainty has left many borrowers asking the same question: should I leave SAVE now, or wait to see what happens? For most, the choice depends on financial circumstances, forgiveness timelines, and long-term repayment goals. But it would be rare for any borrower to want to stick around until 2028. Most should have a clear path no later than mid-2026.

It seems more likely that we will see a government shutdown on October 1. It's clear our government is mismanaged, but what does that mean for you and your student loans?There have been 20 "funding gaps" and 4 full government shutdowns in the last 50 years. The last shutdown happened in December 2018 and January 2019. But the threat of a shutdown seems to loom every budget cycle.Well, it really depends on what happens. For short government shutdowns (which might last the weekend or a few days into the week), nothing. For longer shutdowns (like we saw in 2013 or 2018), all the good stuff our government offers - like national parks, military death benefits, etc - stop, but all the "bad stuff" our government does, like collect taxes, and deal with student loans, keeps on keepin' on.In fact, the Department of Education has a detailed government shutdown contingency plan (PDF File) because this happens often enough. This is from the last potential shutdown, but we would expect a similar plan this year.As of right now, the last day that the government is funded through is September 30, 2025. So the earliest the government would shut down is October 1, 2025. As of today, it appears this might happen.If you're curious about how the government shutdown will affect your investments, check out this article. However, one area that has not been discussed at great length is the impact that this shutdown will have on your student loans.

Ever wonder which schools are considered "Ivy League", and where the term came from?Ivy League schools are an elite group of eight private universities based in the northeastern U.S., best characterized by their historical campuses, rigorous academic programs, and strong alumni networks.From explaining the term “Ivy League” to discussing the current global influence of this network of schools, we’ll walk you through the history of Ivy Leagues over time, including how they’ve impacted higher education and how relevant they are in the current age of expanding access to college.

Want to gain control of your cash? Then you probably need to learn how to create a budget. A budget is still the best tool to help you control your spending and achieve your financial goals.But getting started with budgeting can feel intimidating. Between your bills, subscriptions, and in-person purchases, how in the world do you go about tracking all your expenses throughout the month? Learning how to create a budget may seem like more work than it’s worth.But don’t give up on budgeting before you even start. With the right strategy and budgeting tools, building a budget may be a lot easier than you think. In this guide, we give step-by-step instructions on how to create a budget that actually works.

The 529 plan was designed specifically for education savings, offering tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses. Many states also provide tax deductions or credits for contributions.Despite these advantages, some families hesitate to commit. Concerns about what happens if a child does not attend college, limitations on investment choices, or uncertainty about future expenses push some parents to explore other options.Alternatives such as UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts, Roth IRAs, or savings bonds can provide more flexibility. However, each comes with tradeoffs that influence financial aid eligibility, tax treatment, and long-term wealth planning.Here are the main 529 plan alternatives, along with the pros and cons of each.

529 plans were originally created to help families save for higher education with the benefit of tax-free growth. Over the years that definition has expanded, but it still calls into question: what happens when you're done with education and have an unused balance?Reasons range from children receiving scholarships, choosing lower-cost schools, finishing degrees early, or even deciding not to attend college at all.While funds in a 529 plan don’t expire, spending them on non-education costs generally triggers taxes and a 10% penalty on the earnings portion. Some states may levy a penalty as well! The good news is that families now have more ways than ever to use extra funds without losing the tax advantages.

For months, income-driven repayment processing has been a source of frustration for student loan borrowers. In August, the Department of Education reported (PDF File) that it processed 305,641 IDR applications. That figure marks one of the best months since courts required public updates earlier this year.The backlog now stands at 1,076,266, down significantly from nearly 2 million in the spring. For borrowers, this means faster processing of applications that determine monthly payment amounts and eligibility for long-term student loan forgiveness.PSLF buyback processing also saw it's best month yet, with 5,400 PSLF buyback requests processed. However, the backlog of buyback requests still grew, highlighting that progress on this front is slow.The improved processing signals that the Department may be allocating more resources to address longstanding delays. Still, over a million cases remain undecided, and how quickly the agency can sustain this pace remains a pressing question, especially as new repayment programs such as the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) are set to launch in 2026.

The American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.8 million members, has intensified its legal challenge against the Department of Education and Education Secretary Linda McMahon. In an amended complaint filed this week (PDF File), the union seeks class action status on behalf of millions of borrowers it argues are unlawfully being denied access to income-driven repayment (IDR) programs and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).The filing follows a timeline in which the Department froze processing of IDR applications for months, leaving a backlog that started at two million borrowers, but still is blocking more than one million borrowers. The AFT argues that even as processing resumed, the Department has effectively blocked forgiveness by halting loan forgiveness under IDR plans and allowing a separate PSLF Buyback backlog to climb above 74,000 applications.The complaint alleges these delays and denials violate federal statutes that require the government to offer affordable repayment options and cancel loans after 20 or 25 years of repayment, or after ten years of public service. The union is pressing the court to enforce these obligations before the end of the year, when the student loan tax bomb resumes.

For high school seniors looking to pay for college, scholarships and grants can make the difference between affordability and long-term student loan debt. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has opened new ways to streamline the search process. Platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity can help students brainstorm possible scholarships, draft essay outlines, or build spreadsheets for tracking deadlines.But do NOT treat AI as a final authority. AI systems can “hallucinate” - inventing scholarship names, deadlines, or amounts that don’t exist. That risk makes verification essential.Students should always cross-check opportunities against reliable scholarship search tools, such as the College Board’s Scholarship Search, Fastweb, Scholarships360, or state higher education portals.Used correctly, AI can save hours of sifting through generic search results. Used carelessly, it can mislead students into chasing fake or outdated programs, or even get you disqualified from scholarships you might have earned.

Actor Chadwick Boseman became a household name after his role as King T’Challa in Marvel’s “The Black Panther.” The breakthrough film put Boseman front and center in Hollywood, and when he passed away at age 43, many fans were in disbelief. Boseman was insanely private, keeping his illness within his tight circle of friends and family. He even married his wife in a secret ceremony before his passing. One thing the star did not do, however, was file a will or trust. 

We all hope terrible situations will never hurt us or our loved ones. But making practical plans for your eventual death will make your passing easier. That’s true whether you die unexpectedly at a young age or you live to be 140 years old.Here are the six key estate planning documents that most people will eventually need. You might think all you need is a will, but once you understand how everything works, you'll see why you need all these documents and how they work together to ensure your family's needs and your final wishes are met. Remember, you don't want to end up like Chadwick Boseman's family.If you don’t have a robust estate plan, keep reading to find out what you need.

It can be confusing to understand whether you're a dependent or independent student for FAFSA and financial aid purposes.Given the current cost of higher education, college students need all the help they can get when paying for college. There are a variety of different ways to pay for college, including paying your own way, scholarships, grants, and student loans.Nearly all forms of financial aid start with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that is made available by the U.S. government. And one of the key sections of the FAFSA form is determining whether you are a dependent or independent student.Here's what you need to know.

You've probably heard of the student loan interest deduction. But what you may not know is that this is just one of several tax breaks for tuition and student loans that are baked into the U.S. tax code.There are also federal income tax advantages for saving for college through 529 college savings plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, and the Education Savings Bond Program. And some states provide state income tax deductions or tax credits based on contributions to 529 plans.Going to college is getting more expensive every year. But by taking advantage of as many tax breaks for tuition and student loans as you can, you can effectively reduce the overall cost of your post-secondary education. Here are the credits and deductions that you should be aware of.

Today we're talking about a tough subject: what happens when you die? Specially, what happens to your student loans when you die?Do your student loans die with you (meaning your family is free and clear), or will someone else have to experience the burden of your student loan debt? Are student loans forgiven at death?It's important to know what will happen — because if you don't follow these steps, your family could be liable for your student loans.

Check out Robert's interview on Money Life with Chuck Jaffe, where he breaks down the latest on student loan repayment plan options.

President Trump generally does not support student loan forgiveness and would likely seek an end to some student loan forgiveness programs. But can the President claw back student loan forgiveness that has already been granted?It's sparked a lot of concern in recent weeks, especially as President Biden has continued to propose new student loan forgiveness plans and already has set a record during his presidency for the most student loan forgiven.As of November 2024, President Biden has provided $175 billion in student loan forgiveness for 4.6 million borrowers, more than any previous president. For borrowers that have already received forgiveness, the question looms:Could Trump claw back student loan forgiveness that has already been granted? The answer is generally no.Let's break it down and learn why past loan forgiveness is likely protected, but future loan forgiveness could be in jeopardy.

It really is possible to make money in one hour.You've heard of money making ideas like starting a blog or starting a business, but those ideas take time. While they have great long term potential to earn extra money, sometimes you need to earn that extra money fast. And it can be hard to find ideas where you can actually do that.Maybe you have a bill coming due, or you're looking for some extra cash pretty quick to do a fun activity. No matter what the reason, you need to remember that there are ways to make money quickly. And if you like quick money, make sure that you check out our guide to How To Get Free Money (yes, potentially $1000s).However, when it comes to quick money, you should know that it's not great money. These ideas are real, they work, but they won't make you a millionaire by any means. They will help you close a small gap in your budget or earn a little extra when you need it.You can also check out our 10 Best Money Making Apps if you want mobile access to making money!

The only way I see myself escaping my student loan debt is to kill myself.I want you to read that again: The only way I see myself escaping my student loan debt is to kill myself.Reading that sentence gets me emotional. I can sense the pain. I can feel the despair in the words. It creates a tightness in my chest as I hold back tears thinking about what that means. You can sense the burden that is on her shoulders thinking that the only way out is to end her life. Isn't that the most horrible thing you've read?You want to know something, though? I've read that sentence twice this year talking to readers here on this site.And the truth is that there are many more people out there than the two readers that reached out to me. People that we haven't necessarily connected with, but maybe will find this article and feel a little weight lifted off their shoulders.Let's talk.If you are feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.

What is a grandparent-owned 529 college savings plan? How do they work? What do you need to know about them and what changes should you know about? A grandparent-owned 529 plan is a type of 529 college savings plan where the account owner is a grandparent, as opposed to a parent. The grandchild is the beneficiary. Another alternative would be a custodial 529 plan account, where the grandchild is both the account owner and beneficiary, but the grandparent serves as custodian. There is no limit on the type of 529 plan where grandparents can make contributions. Grandparents can contribute to grandparent-owned 529 plans, custodial 529 plans, and parent-owned 529 plans. Keep in mind that grandparent-owned 529 plans have a different impact on eligibility for need-based financial aid than parent-owned 529 plans. Here's what you need to know if you're interested in a grandparent-owned 520 plan. 

As the cost of college continues to rise, more students and families are turning to employer tuition reimbursement programs as a way to fund education without debt. These programs, offered by companies ranging from fast-food chains to tech giants, provide employees with financial support for accredited degree programs, professional certifications, and even graduate degrees like getting your MBA.For workers, the appeal is straightforward: earn a paycheck while receiving substantial help with tuition. For employers, tuition assistance programs are a recruitment and retention tool in a competitive labor market.The average annual benefit is about $5,200, with some companies covering 100 percent of tuition. Starbucks, Walmart, and Papa John’s reimburse all eligible tuition at partner universities. Others, like Microsoft and Goldman Sachs, provide up to $10,000 per year.

Student loan debt is one of the most complex financial products in the United States, shaped by constantly changing federal programs, complicated repayment plans, and rules that differ based on the year you borrowed, income, marital status, and type of employment. In today's world, so many people default to “just ask ChatGPT” for quick answers. But what happens when you do?I posed two scenarios to ChatGPT. The first was straightforward: $20,000 in federal student loans, with a borrower earning $52,000 a year as a teacher. The second was more complicated: $220,000 in loans across undergraduate, graduate, and private loans, with a $120,000 income as an architect.The results revealed the pitfalls of using artificial intelligence as a financial resource. While the tool offered a basic repayment overview, it also recommended outdated programs and struggled to provide clear answers on loan forgiveness programs like PSLF. Even when it recommended questions to help personalize the output, the questions weren't enough to provide a better answer.

After several years of delayed rollouts, the U.S. Department of Education has confirmed that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available on time this fall. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon certified to Congress that the 2026-27 FAFSA will launch by the statutory October 1 deadline, restoring a timeline that families had long relied upon when apply for financial aid.The Department began beta testing of the form in early August, describing it as the "earliest testing phase in FAFSA history". According to officials, more than 1,000 students have already submitted applications during this period, with thousands more expected before the public launch.For families eager to finalize their college financial aid plans, beta testing provides a chance to get an early start on the FAFSA.

If you drop a class or drop out of college, you may have to repay all or part of the financial aid you received. How much depends on the type of financial aid and when you dropped the class or left school. Even though the Federal Pell Grant is a grant that normally does not need to be repaid, you may have to repay all or part of it in certain circumstances. And let's face it, even the best students may drop a class here and there. So here's what you need to know about the impact on your financial aid if you drop a class or even drop out.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is one of the most sought-after federal student loan forgiveness programs, promising debt cancellation after 120 qualifying payments for borrowers who work in government or nonprofit jobs.But this program has also been plagued by years of confusion, regulatory changes, and uneven implementation. The whiplash for some borrowers has been intense. With AI growing in popularity, some student loan borrowers are using it to get answers to technical questions.But can AI actually be trusted to explain a program as complex as PSLF?To find out, we posed a series of questions to four leading AI platforms (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity) ranging from the most basic definition of PSLF to more detailed scenarios. While all four tools correctly explained the basics, most stumbled when asked about nuanced issues such as whether the SAVE plan’s administrative forbearance counts toward forgiveness, whether the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) qualifies, and whether a borrower’s loan must be serviced by MOHELA.The results show that AI may be useful for simple answers but cannot yet replace official resources or expert guidance when it comes to navigating student loan forgiveness.

As student loan borrowers brace for the full impact of the OBBBA to take effect, questions are swirling about whether forgiveness has been completely suspended across the board. Some headlines suggest that no one is getting debt relief. The reality is more complicated.Whether student loan forgiveness is processing or not depends on the loan forgiveness program you're waiting on.The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is still processing applications, even as a PSLF buyback backlog grows. The Income-Based Repayment plan, or IBR, is temporarily paused for "system updates", but not due to a court order. Student loan forgiveness under SAVE, PAYE, and ICR is blocked by a federal injunction. And even disability discharge is delayed for system updates.The fact that so many issues are arising around student loan forgiveness processing is leading many to question what's happening. Are "system updates" really happening, or is the new administration slow-walking their legal mandates to provide loan forgiveness for eligible borrowers? It's concerning a lot of borrowers.

The Department of Education has confirmed that it will transfer an unspecified number of student loan accounts away from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, better known as MOHELA, by the end of the year. This was revealed in a letter to Senator Elizabeth Warren (PDF File), who was asking for information from the Department of Education about the current status of repayment and forgiveness programs. While the department has not provided details about how many accounts will move or which servicers will take them, officials did say that this will include some of the PSLF portfolio. “FSA is prioritizing efforts to improve customer service,” Sarah Ursprung, Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, wrote in a letter to Senator Elizabeth Warren.For borrowers, the news brings both relief and apprehension. A change in servicer might resolve long-standing frustrations, but the process of transferring accounts has often been messy in the past.

The future of student loan repayment for SAVE borrowers is now caught between a pending court ruling and how quickly the Department of Education can execute on the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) that just passed.Borrowers in administrative forbearance under the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan know the future now, but they don't know when. The OBBB makes it clear that borrowers in the SAVE forbearance will migrate to amended IBR, or have an option to enroll in the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) in 2026. But the question as to when remains.When will the SAVE forbearance officially end and borrowers be required to make payments again? Note: This isn't about interest accruing - that's starting back on August 1 and no payments are still due. This is about when payments may resume.Several scenarios are on table for SAVE repayment resumingED forces SAVE borrowers into repayment before July 2026: The Department of Education could return borrowers to repayment as soon as December 2025, then still force them to move repayment plans between July 2026 and June 2028. The Department of Education keeps borrowers in forbearance until migration in mid-2026: The Department of Education simply migrates all borrowers on SAVE to amended IBR by July 2026, coinciding with the RAP plan beginning.Other Timelines: Literally any timeline could happen between December 2025 and June 2028. But it would be rare to keep borrowers in forbearance until 2028, and logistically it would be a nightmare for loan servicers NOT to coordinate with the other changes happening.The fastest option could see payments start again is the very end of 2025, though it's the least likely, because SAVE is enjoined they cannot simply restart SAVE payments. Our opinion is the highest probability of payments resuming is mid-2026 for SAVE plan borrowers.Here's a more in-depth look at these three scenarios.

Barely weeks after Republicans secured passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) is calling for a follow-up effort. Its memo, circulated among congressional staff, recommends that lawmakers use another reconciliation package to reshape parts of higher education and financial regulation. This comes after a House member announced a working group to explore another bill.The group’s proposals include creating a new family savings account, fully defunding the CFPB, and eliminating Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), a program that forgives federal student loan debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments.Supporters of the push are calling it “OBBBA 2.0,” positioning it as an extension of the first package, which was framed by Republicans as a landmark fiscal and cultural win. But the think tank’s ideas face procedural and legal barriers.

The Department of Education has issued new guidance (PDF File) clarifying how colleges should use Federal Work Study (FWS) funds. The updated guidelines emphasize placing students in jobs that offer hands-on, career-relevant experience tied to their studies, while prohibiting the use of FWS wages for voter registration or election-related activities.The FWS program, created to provide part-time employment for students with financial need, has long given institutions discretion in shaping job opportunities. As recently as 2024, the Department of Education allowed colleges to use FWS employment for voter registration drives or other non-partisan political activity. But the new Dear Colleague letter rescinds the previous directives, and makes clear that federal officials expect schools to connect students with work that helps build skills and experience for future employment.

College meal plans are a way to prepay for your meals while on campus. This can be a convenient way to get food, as most college dorm rooms do not have kitchens. Depending on the college, they may offer a variety of different college meal plans, ranging from pay as you go to an all-inclusive meal plan that covers all of your meals.However, meal plans are an added expense, so understanding how college meal plans work and whether or not your student will use it is key.