Student Loans and the Credit Squeeze

Despite the turbulence in the credit markets, students will be able to get loans for college this fall.  Our consumer guide helps families identify their best options, and a fact sheet describes the market situation and the programs that are in place to ensure access to loans. 

  Understanding the Credit Squeeze and Student Loans

Loan Access at Community Colleges

At least one million community college students lack access to federal loans, not because of the credit crunch, but because their schools don't participate in the federal loan programs. This can push students who need to borrow to resort to risky private loans, payday loans, and credit cards, or to drop out or reduce their course load. Our issue brief, Denied: Community College Students Lack Access to Affordable Loans, also finds significant gaps in loan access between racial and ethnic groups. 

  Read the brief

  Read the press release

Relief for Borrowers

IBRinfo.org is a new web site that provides independent, reliable information about Income-Based Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, two new federal programs to help make student loan repayment fair and manageable. The site explains the programs and will be updated as new information becomes available. Users can register to get updates on important developments as the U.S. Department of Education finalizes regulations and creates the systems for managing the new programs.

Progress on Private Loans

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act that includes many of the reforms laid out in our Private Loan Policy Agenda. While not everything we hoped for was included in the bill, we feel that this legislation is a significant step in the right direction.

  See our email update to the Project on Student Debt mailing list

Comparing Student Loan Discounts clarifies the relative value of common discounts offered on student loans.

Questions to Ask About Private Loans so prospective borrowers understand what they're getting into.

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

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

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