Project on Student Debt Logo
about us
get updates
initiatives
take action
voices
publications
newsroom
resources

Obama Proposes IBR Improvements

President Obama's FY 2010-11 budget will include a provision to improve IBR, making student loan repayment more affordable for people who are struggling. The proposal would expand the number of people who are eligible for the program, and make it even more helpful for those who already qualify. This couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time, as so many Americans are still unable to find work and make ends meet.

See our statement about the new IBR proposal

See our statement on the entire higher education budget

Progress on Private Loans and CFPA

On December 11, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive financial products and services, including private student loans. The House bill includes two important amendments we supported -- one to give the CFPA oversight over all private student loans, including those made by colleges to their own students, and another that requires lenders to confirm with the school that the borrower is in fact a student and is eligible to borrow the requested amount. This gives schools the opportunity to counsel students before they take out a private loan. Thanks to all those who wrote to their members of Congress about this issue!

The financial industry is still lobbying hard against the CFPA in the Senate, and consumers need to keep speaking out.  Please tell your senators that we need a CFPA with the power to protect students and borrowers from dangerous private student loans.

Read Lauren Asher's statement about the House bill

900,000 Students Blocked from Federal Loans

Our new report, Getting with the Program: Community College Students Need Access to Federal Loans, finds that nearly one in 10 community college students in the U.S. has no access to federal loans because their school chooses not to participate in the federal loan programs. While many community college students can and should avoid borrowing, those who need to borrow should have access to the safest, most affordable option: federal student loans.

Read the report

Read the press release with a quote from Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter.

Hearing on Bankruptcy and Student Loans

On September 23 a House Judiciary subcommittee held the first ever hearing about student loans and bankruptcy, "An Undue Hardship? Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy." TICAS president Lauren Asher testified as an invited witness. 

Read Asher's testimony

Read the media alert about the hearing

Read the coalition letter signed by 18 student, consumer, college, and public policy organizations

See all private loan publications and resources from the Project on Student Debt.




IBR Info

join us on facebook!

A Borrower's Guide to 2009-10 Loan Terms explains important student loan-related changes that go into effect July 1, 2009.

The Top 10 Student Loan Tips for Recent Graduates provides useful information new graduates should know about repaying student loans. 

Student Loan Options in a Tight Credit Market helps prospective borrowers choose the right financing options. 

Student Loan Borrower Assistance is a comprehensive resource for consumers who are having any kind of problem with student loans.

Question: Did you take out federal or private student loans?

Only federal loans
Only private loans
Both federal and private
Not sure



view results all surveys
Creative Commons LicenseThe Institute for College Access & Successsitemapprivacy policyterms of usesite by Aeronet