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☆ Federal Student Aid head Richard Cordray, tasked with FAFSA rollout, to step down
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —The head of the Federal Student Aid office, which has faced criticism for the botched rollout of this year’s college financial aid form, will be stepping down. The announcement of Cordray’s departure comes as his office has been under fire for problems with a new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, released late last year. “If there was a financial aid director, or even a college president, that delayed financial aid on their campus for up to six months, the professional price that would be paid for that would be pretty steep,” Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told lawmakers. Cordray’s tenureAs the head of FSA, Cordray oversaw not only the FAFSA but also the entire $1.6 trillion federal student loan system. It also sued Navient, one of the biggest federal student loan servicers, for allegedly processing payments incorrectly.

Persons: Richard Cordray, Cordray, Justin Draeger, Virginia Foxx, Miguel Cardona, Cordray’s, Rich Cordray’s, ” Cardona, “, Rich, Obama, ” Cordray, Pell, Biden, Trump, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Navient, “ I’m, ” Warren Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Aid, CNN, Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Education, Workforce, National Association of Student Financial, Republican Rep, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Democratic, National College, of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Massachusetts, Corinthian Colleges Locations: North Carolina, Ohio

☆ Elizabeth Warren is asking a major student-loan company to cancel debt for borrowers with 'decades-old predatory private' loans. Here's how.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A major private student-loan company is leaving the servicing industry. But before that happens, a group of Democratic lawmakers want it to give some borrowers debt relief. On Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren led eight of her Democratic colleagues in sending a letter — first reviewed by Business Insider — to Navient's CEO David Yowan, requesting that the company cancel "decades-old predatory private student loans" using a consumer protection law established by the Federal Trade Commission. AdvertisementBut there might be an avenue to still get those borrowers debt cancellation. "Navient should stop making borrowers apply for relief and instead automatically cancel student debt using information the company already has about whether borrowers attended schools that would entitle them to relief," they wrote.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, David Yowan, Navient, Warren, Holder Organizations: Service, Democratic, Business, Federal Trade Commission, Family Education, Education Department, Minnesota Attorney Locations: Minnesota, MOHELA, Navient

☆ 2.7 million student-loan borrowers' accounts will be switched to a company that the Education Department previously punished for poor customer service
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Tuesday, Navient announced plans to outsource servicing of its private student-loan portfolio and commercially held loans in the Federal Family Education Loan program to MOHELA, one of the largest federal student-loan servicers. AdvertisementA Navient spokesperson told Insider this change will impact 2.7 million student-loan borrowers with loans currently owned and serviced by Navient. Outsourcing servicing responsibility to MOHELA could spark concern for some borrowers, given how the company has fared since federal student-loan payments resumed in the fall. In January, the department withheld varying amounts of pay from the remaining federal servicers for the same reason. It's unclear how soon Navient borrowers will begin communications with MOHELA.

Persons: —, Navient, David Yowan, MOHELA, Elizabeth Warren, John Remondi, Warren Organizations: Service, Family Education, Business, Navient, Outsourcing, Education Department, Democratic, MOHELA Locations: Sen

☆ Thousands of student-loan borrowers have one week to file a claim for $16 million in relief from a major private lender. Here's how.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Those borrowers could be eligible for $16 million in relief if they submit a claim by November 20. AdvertisementAdvertisementThousands of student-loan borrowers have one week to benefit from a recent settlement with a major private lender. In July, Navient agreed to a $198 million settlement with private student-loan borrowers who claimed the lender continued to collect on debts that should have been discharged in bankruptcy. Navient denied any wrongdoing when it agreed to $182 million in debt relief for impacted borrowers, along with $16 million in cash for a settlement class of 4,607 borrowers. AdvertisementAdvertisementBorrowers included in the settlement class have until November 20 to take part in the $16 million in cash relief.

Persons: Navient, — Organizations: Service, Navient, Court, Eastern, of Locations: of New York

☆ Student loan borrowers hit snags as payments resume: 'It's a challenging environment,' head of loan servicer group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"These student loan borrowers had the reasonable expectation and belief that they would not have to make additional payments on their federal student loans," said Education Department Undersecretary James Kvaal said in a court filing last year. Former President Donald Trump first announced the stay on federal student loan bills and the accrual of interest in March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. New SAVE payment plan leads to billing errorsTo ease the transition for borrowers, the Biden administration worked quickly to implement a new payment plan option, which it describes as the "most affordable repayment plan ever." Yet many borrowers who've signed up for the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan, complain they've gotten incorrect bills. According to Kantrowitz, student loan servicers seem, in some cases, to be using the 2022 poverty line to calculate borrowers' payments instead of the current 2023 figure.

Persons: Joe Biden's, James Kvaal, Kvaal, Donald Trump, Biden, who've, they've, Mark Kantrowitz, he's, Kantrowitz, servicers, Ella Azoulay, Buchanan Organizations: Creatas, Getty, U.S . Department, Valuable Education, U.S . Department of Education Locations: U.S

☆ A student-loan company agreed to pay a $700,000 fine after being accused of hiring discrimination — and nearly 2,000 impacted applicants are getting money back
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Student-loan company Navient reached a settlement with the Labor Department over hiring discrimination allegations. Impacted job applicants will be notified they are eligible to receive back pay from the settlement. The Labor Department announced on Monday that it reached a settlement with student-loan company Navient to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination at its Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas locations. Advertisement Advertisement Watch:Navient agreed to pay $700,000 in back pay and interest to resolve the allegations. Navient exited the federal student-loan servicing industry in 2021 and continues to service privately-held student loans.

Persons: Navient, Paul Hartwick, Samuel B, Maiden Organizations: Labor Department, Service, Labor, Navient Corp, Atlantic Regional Locations: Wall, Silicon, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas

☆ Student loan payments restart in October — here are changes borrowers can expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A new servicer, for someMillions of federal student loan borrowers will have a different servicer when payments resume in October. Impacted borrowers should get emails about the change, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. Borrowers previously with FedLoan should be transferred to MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he said. Another repayment optionFederal student loan borrowers can now sign up for the Biden administration's new loan repayment plan, and they could be enrolled in it by the time the bills resume. If your student loan servicer can't process your application for the SAVE plan by the time payments resume, it should place you in a temporary forbearance.

Persons: Julia Amaral, they'll, Granite State —, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, FAFSA, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, servicer, Biden, they're, Joe Biden Organizations: Istock, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Student Loan, Alliance, Finance, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, EdFinancial Services, Lakes Higher, Federal Services, Biden, Valuable Education, Public, Education Department Locations: That's, Pennsylvania, Granite State, MOHELA, Missouri, StudentAid.gov

☆ When student loan payments restart, many borrowers may have a different servicer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mementojpeg | Moment | Getty ImagesLook out for notices about the changeScott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, said impacted borrowers should get emails about the change. Higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz has been tracking the transfers. Borrowers previously with FedLoan should be transferred to MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he said. Accounts with Great Lakes Higher Education, Kantrowitz said, should be managed by Nelnet going forward. Also, Kantrowitz said, "whenever there is a change of loan servicer, there can be problems transferring borrower data."

Persons: Scott Buchanan, servicers, Buchanan, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, You'll Organizations: Student Loan, Alliance, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, EdFinancial Services, Lakes Higher, Federal Services Locations: MOHELA, Missouri, Granite State, StudentAid.gov

☆ ‘I’ve had this black cloud looming over me’: How private lenders have left millions of college students with no hope for the future
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

We both do DoorDash, and probably when those federal student loans start up, it'll be more of a necessity to do that." While private debt makes up just about 10% of the $1.7 trillion student-debt mountain in the US — about $136 billion — the industry has exploded over the past decade: the amount of outstanding private debt has jumped an estimated 47% since 2014. "Regardless, the student loan debt that was supposed to be an investment in their futures is dragging them down." To be sure, some private servicers do disclose benefits private borrowers could lose should they choose to refinance. Moran said he didn't regret taking out private student loans because it allowed him to pursue his desired nursing career.

Persons: Brianne Jones, Jones, she's, We're, it'll, Michele Shepard, they've, it's, Shepard, Suzanne Martindale, —, Anna Anderson, you've, It's, Navient, Martindale, Ryan Moran, Moran, Moran isn't, Joe Biden, I've, Anderson, forbearance, Steve Cohen, didn't Organizations: Eastern Michigan University, West, Federal Direct Loan Program, Institute for College, California's Department of Financial Protection, National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, — Maryland Locations: Florida, —, California

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). Melissa Jean-Baptiste graduated with $50,000 in student loan debt that ballooned to over $100,000. After graduating in 2010, Jean-Baptiste was in more than $50,000 of student loan debt. Despite making every single payment on her loans without fail, over time and with varying interest rates, she saw her student loan debt balloon to over $100,000. Here are the steps Jean-Baptiste took to pay off over $100,000 in student loan debt in six years:1.

Persons: Melissa Jean, Baptiste, Jean, Baptiste wasn't, Jean Baptiste, It's Organizations: Service, Citibank Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Millions of student loan borrowers will have a new servicer when payments restart
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Borrowers who are being transferred to a different servicer should receive alerts via email, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. These notices will explain any steps you'll need to take, he said, and include information on your new servicer. watch nowBorrowers previously with FedLoan should be transferred to MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he said. Borrowers can check who their new servicer is by logging in to StudentAid.gov., Kantrowitz said. Also, Kantrowitz said, "whenever there is a change of loan servicer, there can be problems transferring borrower data.

Persons: Berk, Scott Buchanan, Kantrowitz, Buchanan, You'll Organizations: Istock, Student Loan, Alliance, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, EdFinancial Services, Lakes Higher, Federal Services Locations: MOHELA, Missouri, Granite State, StudentAid.gov

☆ 3 big changes student loan borrowers could see when payments restart
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A new income-driven repayment optionThe Biden administration is working to roll out a new, more affordable repayment plan for student loan borrowers. Instead of paying 10% of their discretionary income a month, under the new program — the Revised Pay as You Earn Repayment Plan — borrowers would be required to pay 5% of their discretionary income toward their undergraduate student loans. Previously, a borrower who made $40,000 a year would have a monthly student loan payment of around $151. Similarly, someone who earned $90,000 a year could see their monthly payments shrink to $238 from $568, Kantrowitz said. The payment plan should become available by July 2024, he said, although, "it is possible that the changes could be implemented earlier, as the U.S. Department of Education has the flexibility to implement regulatory changes sooner in certain circumstances."

Persons: Douglas Rissing, Biden, Kantrowitz, they'd Organizations: Istock, Getty, U.S . Department of Education, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Granite State Locations: Pennsylvania, Granite

☆ Borrowers brace for student loan bills to resume — '$600 a month, where is that going to come from?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

As a result of the policy, the average borrower likely saved around $15,000 in student loan payments, Kantrowitz said. ″[T]he one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid" that problem, he added. Yet consumer advocates say the troubles for student loan borrowers are far from over. "Borrowers are not ready to resume payments," said Persis Yu, deputy executive director at the Student Borrower Protection Center. To be able to afford his student loan payment in September, Berlet plans to cut back on how much food he buys.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, James Kvaal, Joe Biden's, Mark, Kvaal, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, McCarthy, Persis Yu, Yu, they'd, Paul, Berlet, he'll, Brooks, didn't, wasn't, Paul Berlet Organizations: Twitter, Student, Protection, Kantrowitz, Education Department, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Granite State Locations: U.S, Pennsylvania, Granite, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ After being on pause for more than 3 years, student loan payments are expected to resume soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Three companies that serviced federal student loans — Navient , the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (also known as FedLoan) and Granite State — all said they'd be ending their relationship with the government. Impacted borrowers should get multiple notices, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. But if you can afford it, the standard repayment plan is just 10 years. To calculate how much your monthly bill would be under different plans, use one of the calculators at Studentaid.gov or Freestudentloanadvice.org, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit. If you do decide to change your repayment plan, Mayotte recommends submitting that application with your servicer before payments turn back on.

☆ Some student-loan companies are 'ignoring' court orders and continuing to collect borrowers' debt after they received relief through bankruptcy, a federal consumer watchdog finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The CFPB found some student-loan companies have continued to collect on debt that was discharged in bankruptcy. It comes after the Education and Justice Departments reformed bankruptcy guidance for borrowers last year. The student loan servicing industry should ensure that their collection practices are compliant with the law." The companies' unlawful misconduct only adds to the difficult process borrowers must face when attempting to get rid of their student debt through bankruptcy. The entire student loan industry should take notice—the days of cheating borrowers out of their legal right to bankruptcy are over."

☆ If Student Loan Forgiveness Is Overturned by the Supreme Court, Refinancers Are Waiting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Thomas Gokey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

The PSLF program cancels federal student loans for people who work in public-service jobs for 10 years, and the impact of relief is profound. In the process, borrowers forfeit many protections that come with federal student loans, including the chance to get their loans canceled. In one survey, more than one-third of respondents who refinanced their federal student loans said they eventually came to regret it. President Biden announced a plan to cancel $10,000 in student loan debt, but if you privately refinanced, you won't benefit. Most private student loans allow for some kind of "cosigner release" so no one else is on the hook for your loans.

☆ Student-Debt Relief: Why Refinancing Your Student Loans Is a Trap
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Thomas Gokey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The PSLF program cancels federal student loans for people who work in public-service jobs for 10 years, and the impact of relief is profound. In the process, borrowers forfeit many protections that come with federal student loans, including the chance to get their loans canceled. Recent changes to the law require private student loans to be discharged if you die, but that isn't the case with older loans. Most private student loans allow for some kind of "cosigner release" so no one else is on the hook for your loans. Refinancing companies make the system worse for everyonePrivate refinancing companies don't just hand out their loans to anyone.

More than 40 million borrowers like Morales-Bartlett were eligible to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt under President Joe Biden’s one-time student loan forgiveness plan. Meanwhile, the pandemic-era federal student loan repayment pause has been extended while the government awaits the court’s decision. The average federal student loan debt nears $30,000. Brown’s son still has about $50,000 in student debt despite being one of the thousands of North Carolinians who received some student loan relief as part of a multistate settlement with Navient, one of the nation’s largest student loan servicers, over allegations of unfair and deceptive student loan servicing and predatory lending practices, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Stein's office. He also applied to the currently blocked student loan forgiveness program and is waiting to hear back.

☆ U.S. third-quarter economic growth revised up; goods trade deficit widens in October
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Gross domestic product increased at a 2.9% annualized rate, the Commerce Department said in its second estimate of third-quarter GDP. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast GDP growth would be raised to a 2.7% rate. Gross domestic income (GDI) had contracted at a 0.8% pace in the second quarter. Profits from current production decreased $31.6 billion in the third quarter after rising $131.6 billion in the second quarter. Inventories subtracted from GDP growth in the third quarter.

☆ Student-loan borrowers defrauded by Corinthian were promised $5.8 billion in relief 'immediately.' 6 months later Biden's Education Department says it'll take 'some time.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In June, the Education Department approved a $5.8 billion loan discharge for former Corinthian students. Six months later, borrowers are still waiting, and the department said relief will now take "some time." Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said at the time that the impacted Corinthian borrowers will see their loans "immediately forgiven." This prompted Biden's Education Department to reform the process. Still, aside from the June announcement of relief, none of the Education Department's recent actions are giving Corinthian borrowers any certainty.

The increase in college tuition and predatory lending have created a situation where, unless you’re fortunate to get a full-ride scholarship or come from a lot of money, students are vulnerable. Though Biden’s debt relief focused on federal student loans, there have been problems with private lenders as well, including the suit against student loan giant Navient. Research has shown that student loans increase access to financing and add to student diversity, which is great, but data also shows that women and people of color are disproportionately more likely to have debt. Student debt relief is one way to let people be people, first and foremost, and loanees second. But we need to do these things because we choose to and not because our college system is broken.

I refinanced my student loans to get a lower monthly payment and remove my mom as a cosigner. I have affordable payment plans in place for my old credit card debt, and I've been paying my student loans diligently. Transferring your federal student loans to a private lender will make you ineligible for President Biden's student-loan forgiveness plan worth up to $20,000. My credit score went up by 40 points unexpectedlyOne factor that goes into your credit score is the length of your credit history. Besides refinancing my student loans, I also opened a secured credit card with a $200 limit for my phone and internet bill.

☆ The CEO of a major student-loan company says Biden's loan forgiveness plan has 'created all types of confusion' for borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Navient CEO Jack Remondi said Biden's student-loan forgiveness has created "confusion." He said borrowers with FFEL loans still need additional guidance on steps they need to take to get relief. Currently, the Education Department is advising people with FFEL loans to consolidate into direct loans to qualify. "Probably the most challenging thing for us right now is what we don't know," Remondi said. Navient owns some loans within the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, which are privately-held loans that would not automatically qualify for Biden's federal debt relief.

☆ There are 'many moving parts' with student-loan forgiveness but the process to get relief will be 'better than people expect,' Biden's Education Secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Miguel Cardona said student-loan forgiveness will roll out "better than people expect." He said he is working hard to ensure the process to get relief is as smooth as possible. "So, early October, and we expect the process to be a smooth process, a simple process, a quick process." Still, Cardona said he is aware of those concerns, and the department is acting accordingly to ensure relief will get to borrowers as efficiently as possible. And we're making sure that when we roll this process out, it can be smooth.

☆ A worker at a student-loan company says the 'lack of guidance' from Biden's Education Department on debt cancellation is hurting borrowers: 'I'm just so worried people are going to be left out'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A student-loan company worker expressed concern with the lack of guidance on Biden's debt relief. "There's a complete lack of guidance from the Education Department on what to advise borrowers," the worker, who requested to remain anonymous but whose identity is known to Insider, said. The worker specifically assists borrowers within the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, who have loans that are commercially-held and not eligible for federal relief. Currently, the Education Department is advising those borrowers to consolidate their loans into direct federal loans so they can qualify for forgiveness. In response to the worker's concerns, an Education Department spokesperson pointed Insider to the FFEL guidance already on its website and did not have any additional details to provide.

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