Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Opinion”
Getting married often hurts borrowers repaying federal student loans. In some cases, the marriage penalty is negligible or non-existent. In other cases, the marriage penalty is significant: monthly payments increase significantly, and some borrowers may miss out on student loan forgiveness. For many couples, the marriage penalty makes repayment significantly …
Editor’s Note: As part of the Student Loan Sherpa Debate Series, this article contains the arguments on why college should be considered a privilege and not a right. For the opposing view, check out the article on why college is a right for all. A college degree has arguably never …
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the argument for student loan forgiveness depends upon empathy. Student loan borrowers can make a strong case that forgiveness is good for the economy or even the right thing to do. However, if people don’t care about helping student loan borrowers, student …
Editor’s Note: The initial lender reviews for this article took place on August 3rd, 2020. If a refinance company takes steps to provide better guidance to borrowers, its grade will be updated accordingly. Businesses love to brag about how they do the right thing and put consumers first. Sadly, this …
Each year, borrowers on income-driven student loan repayment plans are required to certify their income. In most cases, borrowers authorize the Department of Education to access their most recent tax return. This information is used to calculate monthly payments for the next year. While the income certification process is relatively …
Both federal student loan consolidation and private student loan refinancing have significant advantages. These two processes can easily save borrowers thousands of dollars when done correctly. However, both federal consolidation and private refinance come with significant risks. The potential dangers are part of the reason that I hate to see …
Income Share Agreements (ISAs) have increasingly been touted as a potential solution to the student debt crisis. In theory, it sounds like a good idea. Rather than paying huge sums of money towards a dreaded student loan, students who used ISAs are only required to pay what they can afford. …
Throughout the 2020 Democratic primary process, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has positioned himself as the moderate of the field. The Buttigieg plan for student loans is no exception. Unlike candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who are promising massive student loan forgiveness, Buttigieg’s approach is to make life with student debt …
As we approach the 2020 election, it seems as though Donald Trump’s re-election chances are fading with each news cycle. Mass protests have broken out across the country, and the government response to Coronavirus has disappointed many. If Trump is going to win another election, he will have to take …
One of the best tools for borrowers in repayment is the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The NSLDS is so useful because it provides borrowers comprehensive records of their federal student loans, including amounts borrowed, servicer names, and balances. Tracking down this same information for private loans is considerably …
