college loans

The student debt crisis isn't just an issue for fresh-faced Gen Y'ers. Thanks in part to the Great Recession, an older cadre is finding itself buried under the weight of billions of dollars in unserviceable loans.

Collegians are having to become more careful consumers, as high-quality jobs become scarce and interest rates on student loans are set to increase. A comparison of the average return on investment for over 1,200 American colleges and universities offers some clues on how to choose.

With student loan default rates rising due to persistently high unemployment rates, it's easy to vilify the seemingly endless monthly payments that follow graduation. But take a closer look, and you'll find that the news about student loans is more good than bad.

I know what a daunting task it is to pay for college. But it's not impossible -- even on a paperboy's income. I did it, and hopefully some of what I learned on the route to college graduate will help inspire you, your kids, or your local paper carrier.

Recent graduates from private colleges and universities walked away from commencement with an average of $28,100 in student debt, according to The College Board. But not every school leaves its alumni so far in the hole.

A report released on Thursday by the Institute for College Access & Success's Project on Student Debt shows that members of the class of 2010 who took out loans to finance their educations owed an average of $25,250 in student debt at graduation -- a 5% increase from the year before.

The Obama administration estimates that close to 8 million borrowers will be affected by its new student loan initiative. That's not even a quarter of those paying down college debt, but with nearly $1 trillion owed, it's still a big deal. Here's what you need to know about the plan.

Members of the Class of 2011, you're about to be tossed head first into the real world, and -- surprise -- you probably need a little more education about how to handle your personal finances. Here's a Cliffs Notes crash course in Money 101.

My friend, Larissa, tells a story about a collections agent who called while she was working at an entry-level job for a non-profit and having a hard time making payments on her student loans. "You can't use your degree if you can't pay for it!" the woman almost shrieked at poor Larissa. Even...

As many college students look forward to graduating this spring, one thing many of them aren't looking forward to is starting to pay off their student loans. Staying current on college debt payments is serious business, especially since defaulting on a student loan can result in a host of...