Americans are anxious about rapidly rising levels of student debt. They wonder whether payments are affordable and if financing college with debt will pay off in the end. But recent news suggest another issue is increasingly on borrower's minds: bad customer service and shoddy advice during loan repayment. This can leave borrowers feeling confused…

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program makes several types of federal student loans available to individuals to assist them with financing postsecondary education expenses. This report presents a comprehensive overview of the terms and conditions that apply to federal student loans made through the Direct Loan program. It…

The Secretary amends title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations to establish regulations for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program. The TEACH Grant program is a non-need-based grant program that provides up to $4,000 per year to students who are enrolled in an eligible program and who agree to…

On June 23, 2008, final regulations were published in the "Federal Register" to establish regulations for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program. That document inadvertently included several minor technical errors. This document corrects the final regulations. These corrections are effective July…

This compilation of federal regulations concerning student aid includes changes through December 31, 1998, that apply to all regulations published in the "Federal Register." An introduction offers suggestions for understanding regulations. The regulations, with original dates and change dates, cover the following parts of Title 34 of the…

This report addresses concerns raised by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the U.S. Senate on : (1) the number and cost of trustee arrangements providing student loans and their shared characteristics; (2) the benefits and protections afforded the federal government through use of trustee arrangements; and (3) the effect…

A study was conducted to determine: (1) whether federal savings could be expected by replacing Stafford student loans with direct loans under a direct loan program proposed by the National Association of State universities and Land Grant Colleges; and (2) what consequent administrative responsibilities would accrue to educational institution and…

This guide for student first-time borrowers presents the basic facts about subsidized Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loans. Components of the guide include: (1) a section providing such information as amounts that can be borrowed, interest rates, loan fees, the various repayment plans, and loan…

Colleges risk losing eligibility for government student loan programs, because of tightened loan-repayment requirements for participating institutions. Economic factors and some data-processing errors are blamed for high student default rates. Default rates are charted by state, lender, institution type, and guarantee agency. Colleges threatened…

This guide is designed to help school financial aid administrators provide effective entrance counseling for first-time student borrowers of subsidized Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loans. A section on what is required for entrance counseling specifies both regulatory requirements and the…

This study examined student loan default rates at 98 of the 104 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. About 3 percent of all federal students loans made in fiscal year (FY) 1995 were made to students at HBCUs, a percentage that has remained steady from FY 1991 through FY 1995. For FY 1993, the average loan…

The financing of guarantee agencies under the U.S. Department of Education's Guaranteed Student Loan Program was reviewed to determine whether, in the aggregate, the agencies are accumulating, retaining, and using reserve funds in accordance with legislative requirements and federal regulations. It was found that reserves exceed the risks…

As the Guaranteed Student Loan Program became a necessity for a substantial portion of students at many schools, statutory provisions were revised authorizing the Office of Education (OE) to regulate institutions participating in the program. Implications of this regulatory responsibility are discussed. (LBH)

A study was done by the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to determine specific legislative, regulatory or administrative sources of complexity and burden in student loan programs under Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and to recommend enhancements that will have positive effects on loan delivery and collection systems…

The "Student Financial Aid Handbook" explains the policies and procedures required for institutions of higher education to administer federally funded student financial assistance programs properly. This volume clarifies a school's responsibility with respect to Stafford and PLUS loans. These loans are offered through two delivery…