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The First Big Test: Watching Expenses

Washington Post -- Getting that college tuition and housing bill under control is only the first step. Then comes the comforter and refrigerator and textbooks and -- well, the College Board has a list of 118 to-buy items on its off-to-college checklist. And don't forget the pizza money. The bill to outfit a freshman can run to thousands of dollars if you're not careful, financial advisers say. As recession losses have whittled down college funds and as part-time jobs have become more elusive, families are finding creative ways to stretch each dollar. (MORE)

July 1 Changes to Student Aid

A host of changes to student aid programs became effective on July 1. Many changes will lower the cost of student loans, increase grant aid for Pell Grant recipients and military veterans and provide new assistance for students with unmanageable education loan debt. This article from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFFA) summarizes some of the major upcoming changes to the student aid programs. (MORE)

 Charter One Offers New Student Loan Program

Charter One is spearheading a new student loan program that gives borrowers options about how to pay back the money. The TruFit loan can be repaid immediately, on an interest-only basis, or can be deferred. Borrowers who pay automatically from a Charter One account will receive a one-half point interest rate deduction. (MORE)

GI Bill Transferability Has Some Quirks

Users of one of the most popular features of the Post-9/11 GI Bill – the option to transfer benefits to family members – will find a few quirks in how Congress designed the transfer provisions as they take effect in August. (MORE)

New Loan-Repayment Program Allows Student Borrowers to Pay as They Earn

Genevieve Grabman borrowed $85,000 to pay for law school at Georgetown University. Over the past six years, she has whittled her debt to $75,000, which is about equal to her annual salary as a policy adviser for two nonprofit groups. On her current repayment schedule, she will still be paying off her student loans a quarter-century from now. (MORE) 

Scholarships for College Dwindle as Providers Pull Back Their Support

Students looking for college scholarships are going to have a harder time this year as providers, hammered by falling investment returns and declining philanthropic support, cut back. (MORE)