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☆ Millions of older adults with student debt are at risk of losing some Social Security benefits, lawmakers warn
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Millions of older adults who are behind on their student loans could soon receive a smaller Social Security benefit. "When borrowers are in collections, on average their Social Security benefits are estimated to be reduced by $2,500 annually," the lawmakers wrote on March 19. "This can be a devastating blow to those who rely on Social Security as their primary source of income." Social Security recipients can see up to 15% of their benefit reduced to pay back their defaulted student debt, which "can push beneficiaries closer to — or even into — poverty," the lawmakers wrote. The government's collection practices with student loan borrowers, including the garnishment of wages and Social Security benefits, is an area under review, a source familiar with its plans told CNBC.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Biden Organizations: Security, Democratic, Social Security, Social, U.S . Department of Education, Finance, Harvard, CNBC

☆ There's a key deadline in April for borrowers hoping to get student loan forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Maria Korneeva | Moment | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration has set a key deadline for student loan borrowers hoping to get forgiveness. "The opportunity to consolidate loans will help many more borrowers to qualify for student loan forgiveness," said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. In normal times, consolidating your student loans can be a terrible move for those hoping to get rid of their debt as your forgiveness timeline is restarted. What to know about consolidating your student loansAll federal student loans are eligible for consolidation, including Federal Family Education Loans, Parent Plus loans and Perkins Loans, Kantrowitz said. Consolidating your loans shouldn't increase your monthly payment, since your bill under an income-driven repayment plan is based on your earnings and not your total debt, Kantrowitz said.

Persons: Maria Korneeva, Biden, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz Organizations: U.S . Department of, Finance, Harvard, Federal Family, Parent, Perkins Loans

☆ Mega Millions jackpot hits $977 million. Here's what financial experts say to do if you score the winning ticket
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A person plays lottery at a 7-eleven store as Mega Millions jackpot reaches $ 1 billion 580 million, in Redwood City, California, United States on August 8, 2023. The Mega Millions jackpot jumped to an estimated $977 million — the game's sixth-largest prize — without a winner from Tuesday night's drawing. There have been 29 consecutive drawings without a grand prize, according to Mega Millions. ET, and the odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot is roughly 1 in 302 million. Here are some top pieces of advice for the next winner, according to financial advisors.

Organizations: Mega, Finance Locations: Redwood City , California, United States

☆ FAFSA 'fiasco' could cause decline in the number of students going to college, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"Students have no confidence that they are going to get the financial aid they need to make college affordable and they are opting out." Under the new aid formula, an additional 2.1 million students should be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant, according to the U.S. Department of Education. However, given the slower pace of FAFSA applications being submitted, "the number of Pell Grant recipients will be about the same as last year, despite the new Pell Grant formula making it easier for students to qualify," Kantrowitz said. "The goal of FAFSA simplification was to increase the number of lower-income students applying. FAFSA completion paves the way to college

Persons: Anne Zinn, Kantrowitz, Pell Grant Organizations: National College, Network, Norwich Free Academy, U.S . Department of Education Locations: Norwich, Conn

☆ FAFSA rollout bugs and blunders: Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFAFSA rollout bugs and blunders: Here's what you need to knowSara Harberson, Application Nation founder, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the complications with college students obtaining financial aid.

Persons: Sara Harberson

☆ College is still worth it, research finds — although these majors have the lowest rate of return
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A recent study published in the American Educational Research Journal found that engineering and computer science majors provide the highest returns in lifetime earnings, followed by business, health and math and science majors. Education and humanities and arts majors had the lowest returns of the 10 fields of study considered. "However, there are significant differences across college majors." Overall, the researchers found that the benefits of higher education have held up, even as enrollment has declined and the labor market outcomes for those without a college degree have improved, Zhang said. For workers with a bachelor's degree, education was the lowest-earning field of study, followed by psychology and social work and the arts.

Persons: Liang Zhang, Zhang Organizations: Georgetown University Center, Education, Workforce, Federal Reserve Bank of New, American Educational Research, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture , Education, Human Development, Finance, Ivy League, Georgetown Center, Center Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Inside the Blunders That Plunged the College Admission Season Into Disarray
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Erica L. Green | Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There were just days left to process a batch of federal financial aid applications when Education Department officials made a fateful discovery: 70,000 emails from students all over the country, containing reams of essential data. They were sitting in an inbox, untouched. The students’ futures depended on it. “It needs to get untangled,” Mr. Cordray told his staff members on Thursday, according to recordings of two back-to-back meetings that The New York Times obtained. Three years ago, Congress ordered the Education Department to revamp the new form to make it easier and more accessible.

Persons: Richard Cordray, Mr, Cordray, ”, “ Organizations: Education Department, New York Times, Federal Student Aid

☆ Student-loan borrowers could see an easier repayment process through Biden's budget request — along with efforts to make college cheaper
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It includes a $3.1 billion funding increase for the Education Department to help student-loan borrowers. AdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's budget wish list is out — and it includes boosted funding to help student-loan borrowers as they continue to navigate the return to repayment. Biden's budget request released on Monday outlines what his administration is seeking to prioritize in the final year of his first term. Additionally, the budget request proposes getting rid of student-loan origination fees, or fees a lender charges for processing a borrower's loan. However, many of the initiatives in Biden's budget request would require congressional approval, and with Republicans holding a majority in the House, it's unlikely it would pass in its current form.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Education James Kvaal, Pell Grant, Biden Organizations: Education Department, Service, Child, Social Security, Federal, Aid, Federal Student Aid, Education, College Fund, Republicans, Business, Management

☆ Harvard is back on top as college hopefuls' ultimate 'dream' school, despite recent turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on June 29, 2023. Scott Eisen | Getty ImagesAnd just like that, Harvard University has regained its position as the ultimate "dream" school among college applicants. The Princeton Review's 2024 College Hopes and Worries Survey polled nearly 8,000 college applicants between Jan. 15 and Feb. 20, just weeks after Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned amid allegations of plagiarism and controversy over her congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus. Harvard saw fewer early applicantsThis year's early admissions cycle, in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, reflected some of the recent turmoil. There were 7,921 early applicants to the Class of 2028, down from 9,553 last year, the Harvard Crimson reported.

Persons: Scott Eisen, It's, Hafeez Lakhani, Claudine Gay, Robert Franek, Lakhani, Christopher Rim Organizations: Harvard, Harvard University, Ivy League, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton, Hamas, —, Harvard Crimson, Christopher, Command, Supreme Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts, New York, Israel, Palestinian

☆ Issues with new FAFSA may cause 'shocking' decline in the number of students getting college aid, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Under the new aid formula, an additional 2.1 million students should be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant, according to the Department of Education. "The goal of FAFSA simplification was to increase the number of lower-income students applying. The new FAFSA was meant to improve college accessIn ordinary years, high school graduates miss out on billions in federal grants because they don't fill out the FAFSA. In New York alone, students left $226 million in Pell grants on the table in 2023. Jacobson is sponsoring a bill requiring high school seniors to complete the FAFSA.

Persons: Pell Grant, Kantrowitz, Jonathan Jacobson, Jacobson Organizations: Department of Education, York, Universal, National College, Research Locations: New York, Pell, Louisiana

☆ A growing number of colleges are rolling out 'no-loan' policies. ‘They are giving them out like candy,’ Yale professor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Roughly two dozen schools have introduced "no-loan" policies, which means they are eliminating student loans altogether from their financial aid packages. "They are giving them out like candy now," said Menaka Hampole, an assistant professor of finance at Yale School of Management, of the growing number of no-loan policies. "Post-Covid more schools are rolling out no-loan policies mostly on the back of Princeton, which had the money in its endowment to do something," Hampole said. Even if a school has a no-loan policy, that also does not prevent a student or family from borrowing money to help cover their contribution. "No loan doesn't mean free," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor in chief and author of "The Best 389 Colleges."

Persons: Menaka Hampole, Hampole, Colin Hatton, Hatton, Robert Franek, Nicole Hurd, Hurd, Biden, Terra Gallo, Gallo, Colby, Jackie Hardwick, Hardwick, Randi Maloney, Franek Organizations: Yale School of Management, Princeton, Nationwide, Lafayette College, Finance, Colby College, Colby, The Princeton Locations: Easton , Pennsylvania, Lafayette, Waterville , Maine, Jacksonville , Florida

☆ Here are some strategies to maximize your financial aid for college
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Apply for financial aidIn ordinary years, high school graduates miss out on billions in federal grants because they don't apply for financial aid. Because this year's award letters are likely to look a lot different, that also opens the door for families to ask for more college aid. In that case, you may be able to appeal to the college financial aid office, according to Menaka Hampole, assistant professor of finance at the Yale School of Management. Alternatively, if the financial aid packages from other, comparable schools were better, that is also worth bringing to the school's attention in an appeal. "It's very important for students and families to know that financial aid offices tend to be very approachable," Greenberg said.

Persons: haven't, Rick Castellano, Sallie Mae, Greenberg, Menaka Hampole Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, National College, College, Network, Yale School of Management

☆ New FAFSA 'loophole' lets grandparents help pay for college without affecting financial aid eligibility
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Under the old FAFSA rules, assets held in grandparent-owned 529 college savings plans were not reported on the form, but distributions from those accounts counted as untaxed student income. Still, the idea of a loophole is not entirely new, according to Kalman Chany, a financial aid consultant and author of The Princeton Review's "Paying for College." "There were always planning strategies that families could use when it came to third-party 529 plans," Chany said. "Even with this change, you still need to look before you leap if grandparents are going to help pay for college," Chany said. The other advantages of 529 plans

Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, Michael Green, Green, Kalman Chany, Chany Organizations: IRS, slims, Apollon Wealth Management, Princeton Locations: Charleston , North Carolina

Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesSchools won't get the information they need to award financial aid until next month, forcing them to adapt. Just this past week, Virginia Tech, for example, said it had moved its admissions deposit deadline for first-year college students to May 15. More than 17 million students use the FAFSA every year to receive financial aid for their college education. Rachel Reniva of Dothan, Alabama, said the financial aid decision will affect not only her son’s future but also her entire family’s. Although Jaramillo lives in Toronto, he is a U.S. citizen and thus eligible for financial aid.

Persons: they’ll, ”, Jenny Nicholas of Keene, “, ” Juan Espinoza, Agata James, ” James ’, James, Miguel Cardona, Rachel Reniva, Jesus Noyola, hasn’t, It’s, Noyola, Travis Hill, Lorenzo Jaramillo, Jaramillo, Helen Faith, —, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Student Aid, The Education Department, Virginia Tech, New, Queens, Education Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Social Security, Dallas, Social, Financial, University of Wisconsin, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: Jenny Nicholas of Keene , New Hampshire, New York, Dothan , Alabama, Troy , New York, Texas, Toronto, U.S, Madison

☆ Some Good FAFSA News: There’s a Loophole for Grandparents
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It is a miserable year to be applying for financial aid. Millions of families probably won’t get a final price tag for college until at least April, because of a series of Education Department delays in rolling out the new FAFSA financial aid form. But if you’re applying for aid and have grandparents who want to help, you may be in luck. But now, thanks to a 2020 law that went into effect this year, those questions about money and income are gone. That means that at most schools, help from a grandparent will no longer count against you.

Persons: Pell Grant Organizations: Education Department, Federal Student Aid

☆ Amid the many problems with the new FAFSA, 'every student' should appeal for more financial aid, one expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Above all else, the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid was designed to improve college access. As of the last tally, nearly 4 million students have submitted the 2024-25 FAFSA form so far. That’s a fraction of the 17 million students who use the FAFSA form in ordinary years, according to the U.S. Department of Education. For most students and their families, the amount of financial aid offered and the breakdown between grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and student loans are key to covering the tab. “Every student should anticipate doing an appeal this year,” said Bethany Hubert, a financial aid specialist with Going Merry by Earnest.

Persons: ”, Bethany Hubert, Earnest Organizations: Federal Student, U.S . Department of Education, Finance, Biden, College Board

☆ Some Colleges Are Pivoting as FAFSA Delays Drag On
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At least 25 schools will no longer require commitments by May 1, since they may not be able to send admitted students financial aid offers until April. A few schools have created new aid forms or processes on the fly to award their own grants and scholarships. In 2020, Congress passed a law that required enormous changes to the processes used to award federal aid. The first was to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form to make it easier to complete. Another was to the formula that doles out federal aid, which was made in part to offer more help to lower-income students.

Organizations: University of California, California State University, Federal Student Aid

☆ The new FAFSA rollout has faced several obstacles and delays—what students and families can do
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Since its rollout at the end of December, the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid has run into a number of speed bumps. All of which has culminated in delayed financial aid packages for current and incoming college students. To help alleviate some of the issues, ED announced this week it will deploy a "FAFSA College Support Strategy." The department will send resources, including funding and personnel, to college campuses to support financial aid administrators processing incoming FAFSA forms. "Students and families should keep in mind that, although the current circumstances are certainly stressful, everyone applying for financial aid is in the same situation."

Persons: they're, they'll, Jill Desjean Organizations: Federal, Aid, Department of Education, The Department, National Association of Student Financial, CNBC

☆ FAFSA Delays Make Affording College Even Harder - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Justin Draeger | Ted Mitchell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Each year, more than 17 million students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, hoping to secure the financial support they need to afford college. But this year, operational glitches and repeated delays in the U.S. Department of Education’s “Better FAFSA” rollout threaten to harm the very students and families that financial aid is intended to help. Despite promises of an easier, more straightforward application process, students and families so far have been met with glitches and delays, and still today, there are entire groups of students blocked from even completing the form. Students may not receive financial aid offers until April and are typically expected to make a decision about where to attend college by May 1. Others may delay enrolling in college for another year, once the aid application process is running more smoothly.

Organizations: Federal Student Aid, U.S . Department

☆ Amid rocky FAFSA rollout, Education Department looks to smooth the so-far bumpy debut — 'too little, too late,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday it is introducing a "FAFSA College Support Strategy" with additional personnel, funding, resources and technology to help colleges process the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms after the rollout was repeatedly complicated by a number of setbacks. "We are determined to get this right," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. However, the consensus among college financial aid administrators seems to be that it is "too little, too late," said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. It will also offer a "concierge service" to answer questions from colleges about the new form and help schools drive FAFSA completion so students can get their aid packages in time. Last week, the Department of Education said colleges won't receive FAFSA applicant information until early March, instead of late January as initially estimated, potentially delaying financial aid award letters until April or later.

Persons: Education Miguel Cardona, Mark Kantrowitz, Biden Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Federal, Education, Finance, Department of Education

☆ Why college applicants will have to wait months longer to find out how much financial aid they're getting this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The latest delay means financial aid awards might not come until April. AdvertisementThe sole application for receiving college financial aid has had a rocky rollout this year — and it means reward letters will be delayed by months. AdvertisementThe latest delay in receiving financial aid awards can be attributed to the department's efforts to update FAFSA qualifications to expand families' financial aid eligibility. However, that'll take time — and could leave some families in a time crunch when it comes to evaluating their financial aid packages. "Updating our calculations will help students qualify for as much financial aid as possible."

Persons: —, That's, they'll, that'll, Education James Kvaal, Justin Draeger, Draeger, Virginia Foxx, Burgess Owens, Secretary Miguel Cardona, Sen, Bill Cassidy, Biden, Cassidy, Foxx, Richard Cordray Organizations: Education Department, Service, Federal Student Aid, Education, U.S . Department of Education, National Association of Student Financial, Republican, Secretary, Department, Office, Aid

☆ FAFSA delays likely to slow college decisions. 'It's a real mess,' expert says. Here's what to do if your financial aid letter is late
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

For most students and their families, which college they will choose hinges on the amount of financial aid offered and the breakdown between grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and student loans. This year, schools are now waiting on that FAFSA information to begin building financial aid packages and to give students and families enough time to weigh their options. "The delay in sending FAFSA data to colleges will cause college financial aid offers to be delayed until at least April, maybe even May." "Making an offer of admission without offering a full financial aid offer really isn't useful for most families," said Adam Miller, vice president for admission and financial aid at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. To do this, Whitman and other colleges would need to leverage the information families provided in their completed CSS Profile.

Persons: Mark, Mark Kantrowitz, Adam Miller, Whitman, Miller, Rick Castellano, Sallie Mae, Castellano Organizations: National College, Whitman College, College Board, Decision Locations: Walla Walla , Washington

☆ FAFSA inflation fix may delay financial aid letters, Education Department says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Department of Education says it recently updated a key part of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid formula, but, as a result, colleges won't receive FAFSA applicant information until early March, instead of late January as initially estimated. "These continued delays, communicated at the last minute, threaten to harm the very students and families that federal student aid is intended to help," said Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. At launch, the new FAFSA relied on old consumer price index figures from 2020, before the recent runup in inflation. Just last week, the Department of Education said it planned to update this part of the new FAFSA formula, which will mean an additional $1.8 billion in aid for college-bound students this year. That update has now been completed, the Department of Education said Tuesday, and, as a result, 1.3 million students will see larger Pell Grants, a type of aid available to low-income families.

Persons: Justin Draeger, TikTok Biden Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Federal, Aid, Department, National Association of Student Financial, Finance, Department of Education Locations: Pell

☆ How Some Families Are Breaking the Rules to Apply for Financial Aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Here’s the good news: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, website is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week after a yearslong effort to simplify the process of seeking financial assistance. This month, I watched two high school seniors and their college counselor start the forms from scratch and submit them in just over an hour. But in doing so, the teenagers made a false statement that broke the law. In this case, safeguards are necessary to protect private financial information. But any new login requirements might also trigger an impulse for many families with complicated lives to bypass them.

Persons: ’ Organizations: Federal Student Aid

☆ Department of Education makes another fix to the FAFSA, unlocking an additional $1.8 billion in financial aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The Department of Education said this week that it is making an additional adjustment to this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, that will make $1.8 billion more available in financial aid. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal Pell Grants and federal student loans – and in most cases, the financial aid provided by colleges as well. But initially, the Department of Education did not tie the new FAFSA calculation to the latest inflation data, as required by law. It remains to be seen whether colleges can announce financial aid awards on their usual timeline. FAFSA overhaul will make more students eligible for financial aidSeparate from the inflation adjustment, the overhaul of the FAFSA makes the form easier to fill out and increases the number of families eligible for financial aid.

Persons: ” Justin Draeger, ”, Pell Organizations: Washington CNN —, Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, of Education, National Association of Student Financial, The, Republican, Department of

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