Public vs. Private Student Loans: Why the Differences Matter
College acceptance season is here, which also means it's time to think about how to pay for it. Student loans are practically a must, but there are big differences among them.
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5 Practical Money Tips for New Grads
Beyond the usual platitudes and cliches, commencement speakers should consider giving their audiences of eager graduates these five crucial pieces of advice.
Financial Advice for the Sandwich Generation
Between "boomerang" children moving home on the one hand and financially dependent parents on the other, the Sandwich Generation could use a break -- and some sound advice.
The High Cost of Higher Education Explained in One Simple Graphic
College costs in America have gone through the roof, rising far faster than the costs of housing or health care: Here, in one infographic, is the tuition explosion explained.
How Colleges May Be Helping Banks Rob Their Students
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has reason to believe colleges are letting their students get snookered by the banks the schools partner with, and it has launched an inquiry.
4 Tax Breaks Every College Student Should Know About
In 2009, Americans missed out on $800 million in education-related tax breaks. If you're paying tuition, make sure you get your share: Before you complete the take-home final that is your 2013 tax return, review the four most-lucrative tax breaks for college students.
Lower College Loan Interest Rates Won't Fix the Student Debt Crisis
People with student loans got some good news this weekend, as Congress extended a cut in the interest rate on federal Stafford loans for a year. That'll save borrowers some money now, but those low rates may just be compounding the student debt crisis.
Do You Have More Debt Than the Average American?
A new study shows that individual debt is falling at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years. But not everyone is contributing positively to that statistic, and many Americans are still struggling with overwhelming debt.
Feds Warn For-Profit Colleges: Do Better or Lose Student Aid
Former students in career-training programs at dozens of for-profit institutions have had so much trouble paying off their loans that the schools could lose access to federal student aid if they don't improve, the Department of Education reports.
529 College Savings Plans: What You Need to Know
What might be the most accessible and simplest way to save for college -- a 529 savings plan -- is also one of the most widely misunderstood financial tools among consumers. Let us clear up some of that confusion.
This Bright-Eyed Young Man Was Utterly Demolished By Student Loans
Even as total outstanding student debt rises to $1 trillion, lawmakers have yet to allow loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. Without an escape clause, these loans can strangle a person. Take 36-year-old Nick Keith, who remains $142,000 eight years after graduating from culinary school.
Why to Save for Retirement First, Your Kids' Tuition Second
One of the hardest decisions parents have to make is whether to put money toward their kids' college educations or toward their own retirement. But as emotionally charged as it may be, the answer is a no-brainer.
How I Went Bankrupt at 23
For as long as Amanda Chatel could remember, her dad had warned her about the dangers of credit cards. Then she got to college and began ignoring those warnings -- repeatedly.
What Happened When This Guy Paid His Student Loan in Cash
Last week, a Reddit user posted a photo of a $114,000 student loan bill-paid in cash-that elicited thousands of comments. Since then, the anonymous alum has stepped forward as Alex Kenjeev, a 2009 law school graduate of the University of Toronto.
How Low Interest Rates Could Push College Costs Even Higher
With so many young adults struggling with college debt, maintaining the current low 3.4% interest rate on Stafford loans sounds like a no-brainer. But former Education Secretary William Bennett thinks low rates will only lead colleges to become more expensive.