This month, approximately 4 million college students will leave campus for good, taking away diplomas, friendships, and an average of $23,000 in federal student loans. The first shock of life after college may not be the workforce for many graduates, though. On July 1, 2006, graduates with federal Stafford loans will be facing a significant [...]

Analysts say a student with a $20,500 Stafford loan can save $3,245 by consolidating before July.
Students and parents who’ve borrowed to cover college costs should consider consolidating their loans by June 30 because interest rates rise 2 percentage points July 1.
The reason: The deficit-reduction act Congress and President Bush OK’d this year changed the rules for [...]

Interest rates on student loans are set to rise again in July by almost two points, making this month an important time for borrowers to consolidate and save money.
Student loan interest rates will climb 1.84 percentage points July 1, one of the largest increases in the history of the program, according to Pat Scherschel, vice [...]

There’s a lot Kristin Bolig has to be nervous about now that she’s graduated college. Will she find a job both satisfying and well-paying? Will making friends be easy? East Coast, West Coast or somewhere in between? Buy or rent?
One thing is overshadowing the typical worries that come with beginning a new chapter in life. [...]

If you have a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, known as a PLUS loan, think about consolidating it.
PLUS loans are federally backed loans that help parents pay for college costs that aren’t covered by financial aid. The loans are in the parents’ names and are their responsibility. Most lenders let parents defer repaying the loan [...]

Sometimes all it takes is a helping hand to make great things happen. In announcing the recipients of the 2006 DRIVE YOUR FUTURE Scholarship Program, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) aims to help first generation college-bound students achieve their academic goals and become part of the next generation of business, community and global leaders.
Additionally, this year MBUSA [...]

Nearly two of every three undergraduate students are going into debt to go to college, owing an average of more than $19,000, most often to the government.
Among a dozen states sampled, New York students averaged the largest loans, while those in Oregon and Minnesota were most likely to have borrowed.
About 65 percent of students who [...]

As the weather breaks and graduation approaches, many students begin to sort through financial aid offers.
Not all offers are the same, and Scott Anderson, author of “STOP! Everything You Thought You Knew About Paying For College Is Wrong!” offers three tips for evaluating college awards.
A third party, objective evaluation of the costs for colleges is [...]

Student loan interest rates will rise almost 40 percent when they are reset on July 1, according to the results of the 91-day U.S. Treasury bill auction on Monday.
The U.S. Department of Education will officially announce the change in the near future, according to Nelnet, the education finance company based in Lincoln.
The jump in interest [...]

Millions of dollars are at stake for several thousand area high school students who are due to graduate soon and move on to higher education.
Keeping these students focused on pursuing scholarships or financial aid is a year-round task for Laureen Cardoza, the Merced Union High School District’s college admissions, financial aid and scholarships counselor, and [...]