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The Best Student Loans: How to Borrow Smarter

The College Pod

So, if you find you can't afford college without some amount of loans, it’s important to consider how much you borrow because you’ll have to pay it back later, with interest. Think of student loans as a double-edged sword. Federal Student Loans Federal student loans are usually the best place to start when borrowing for college.

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Beyond Sticker Shock: Helping Families See the True Cost of College

Ruffaloni

How can colleges better reach, educate, and support these first-generation students about affordability to prevent them from ruling out institutions that could be a great fit financially and academically? How can colleges step in to provide the necessary counseling and education about affordability for these applicants?

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What is the FAFSA: A Complete Guide for Parents

The College Pod

The US Department of Education revamped the FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic school year to make this process less painful. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), now shorter than its predecessor, is a key part of getting money to help pay for your child's college education. What is FAFSA?

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How to Choose An Affordable College: 10 Key Factors to Consider

The College Pod

If loans are necessary, financial experts believe you should not borrow more than your child’s expected starting salary post-graduation. Student loan calculators can project monthly payments and loan payoff timelines, which vary by loan size, interest rates, and repayment terms. This helps prevent overwhelming debt.

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Does Applying for Financial Aid Lower Your College Acceptance Odds?

Great College Advice

Second, completing the financial aid forms might make your family eligible for the Federal student loan program, thereby enabling you to borrow some money (albeit a relatively small amount). If you can fund your education and you can show this, this ability to pay could tip the admissions scales in your favor. But be careful!

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What is Student Aid Index (SAI)?

The College Pod

However, many colleges might meet this "financial need" with a mix of financial aid that includes loans. These include Subsidized Loans (need-based) and Unsubsidized Loans (not need-based). Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) : Additional grants for students with exceptional financial need.

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Report: Education Dept. Illegally Took Wages From Student Loan Borrowers

BestColleges

Wage garnishments are withheld wages from loan borrowers who have defaulted. The report claims the Department of Education has lost control over the garnishment collection system, saying it is riddled with invalid addresses and gaps in contact information. Garnishment became illegal after the CARES Act of 2020. How Did This Happen?

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