student-loans

Attempt to kill Biden student debt relief plan tied to income fails in U.S. Senate

BY: - November 16, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday night failed to garner enough votes to block a new Biden administration rule on an income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans. The resolution did not pass, 49-50. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the sole Democrat who joined Republicans in backing the resolution. Sen. Tim Scott […]

U.S. Department of Education announces Dec. 31 rollout for new FAFSA

BY: - November 15, 2023

Schools and applicants have been waiting eagerly for the announcement after the agency said on March 21 that it would roll out the form in December

Student debt relief scams are on the rise. Here’s what borrowers need to know.

BY: - September 29, 2023

Complaints about student debt relief scams are increasing as the date approaches for borrowers to restart payment on their student loans after more than a three-year pause. Consumer protection advocates say that the Biden administration’s student debt relief efforts, the subsequent halting of those policies by the courts, and the restart of student loan payments […]

Fetterman, Dean introduce bill to let sexual violence survivors defer student loan payments

BY: - September 20, 2023

Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep Madeleine Dean on Wednesday introduced legislation that would defer student loan payments for survivors of sexual violence who withdraw from school to seek treatment.  “After going through horrific trauma like harassment, stalking, or assault, survivors deserve the time to heal — and if they’re in school and […]

Millions enrolled in new student loan repayment program

BY: - September 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education. Of that number, 170,200 borrowers are in Pennsylvania With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in […]

Here’s what to know about new federal policies for repaying student loans

BY: - August 24, 2023

WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s summer ruling against 40 million federal student loan borrowers who would have qualified for debt relief, the Biden administration crafted a year-long delay in repayments. The policy, known as an on-ramp, is set to begin next month. Additionally, hours after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Department of Education unveiled […]

Students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds.

BY: - August 9, 2023

Thousands of college students will get hundreds of dollars in compensation as colleges and universities move this summer to settle multimillion-dollar lawsuits stemming from canceled classes and activities during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. While some of the class-action suits against the colleges and universities are still in litigation, and still others dismissed, several major cases have […]

Black borrowers hold a disproportionate share of student loan debt, and many likely were recipients of Pell Grants.

Pa.’s Fitzpatrick, Dems launch bipartisan student loan refinancing bill | Friday Morning Coffee

BY: - June 16, 2023

‘Our nation’s student loan crisis … should not be a partisan issue,’ the Bucks County Republican said.

Community College of Philly pays off students’ unpaid balances for the second year

BY: - June 28, 2022

The college is using more than $1.4M in federal funding to forgive the debts of 1,900 students.

DePasquale: To save money and improve efficiency, PHEAA should bounce lawmakers on its board

BY: - October 1, 2020

Having a wider range of perspectives on the board would deliver better outcomes to Pennsylvania students, who shoulder some of the highest college debt in the nation.

COMMENTARY

Federal Pell grants help pay for college. But are they enough to help students finish? | Analysis

BY: - February 23, 2020

By Laura Perna and Jeremy Wright-Kim Pell Grants are one way the federal government helps people pay for college. During the 2020 to 2021 school year, eligible students can receive up to US$6,345 through the program, depending on where they go to school, how many classes they take and how much money their family makes. […]

Strong economy fuels drop in college students seeking grants, PHEAA reports

BY: - February 20, 2020

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, which administers state-supported scholarship programs, expects to distribute grants from its flagship scholarship fund to 136,000 students this year -- a three percent decline from last year, when it gave out 140,000 awards, budget documents show.