Advice on navigating student loan options

September 1, 2020

CNBC — The coronavirus-induced economic recession may have more Americans turning to student loans for college these days. The good news is that, if you have to take out a federal student loan, the interest rate is a favorable 2.75%, said Stacey MacPhetres, a college coach with Bright Horizons.

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President Trump signs executive order suspending student loan payments

August 19, 2020

CNBC — On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed several executive actions aimed at addressing the financial impacts the coronavirus pandemic has had on the U.S. economy after Congress failed to pass a new stimulus package.

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Report: Public Service Loan Forgiveness program falling short of intention

August 19, 2020

FORBES — A new report paints a bleak picture of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, and raises fresh concerns that the program is failing millions of student loan borrowers who were promised relief.

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Trump administration considers executive order for student loan relief

August 12, 2020

INSIDE HIGHER ED — President Trump said in a tweet Thursday that he is looking into using his executive powers to continue providing help for those with student loans during the pandemic. It’s unclear if he has the authority or if it was simply a move to try to break the logjam in congressional negotiations

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Higher education groups advocate for continuation of student loan payment relief

August 4, 2020

INSIDE HIGHER ED — Several associations representing the nation’s colleges and universities on Wednesday urged congressional leaders to continue excusing student loan borrowers from having to make payments until at least after next Tax Day in April.

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Senate education committee head proposes simplifying student federal aid applications and postponement of loan payments

July 29, 2020

INSIDE HIGHER ED — Nearing the end of his tenure in Congress, Senator Lamar Alexander, the chairman of the Senate education committee, proposed excusing those with no income from making student loan payments, as well as enacting one of his longtime goals: simplifying the forms used to apply for federal student aid.

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Advocacy groups call for increase in college student Pell Grants amid recession

July 29, 2020

INSIDE HIGHER ED — Amid concerns the recession has made it harder for students to save for college, advocacy groups are calling for doubling the size of Pell Grants.

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State Attorneys General file lawsuit over US Department of Education borrower-defense rule

July 22, 2020

INSIDE HIGHER ED — The attorneys general of nearly half of the nation’s states filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, trying to do what Congress couldn’t — end Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s new borrower-defense rule, which makes it more difficult for students who have been defrauded, particularly by for-profit colleges, to have their student loans canceled.

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Congress begins to plan second stimulus package

July 20, 2020

FORBES — Congressional discussions regarding a potential second stimulus package continue, and the timeline for when new or extended relief may pass is becoming clearer.

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Opinion: Second stimulus package should include suspension of student loan payments and forgiveness

July 20, 2020

FORBES — Congress is considering another round of stimulus and coronavirus relief this month. Negotiations are said to pick up after the holiday break. They’ll likely discuss more money for states, unemployment benefits, a possible stimulus check, student loans, and more.

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