Federal Direct Student Loan

Paying off a student loan? New federal program may help

People trying to pay off student loans might be able to save a little money, thanks to a new loan consolidation program sponsored by the federal government.

What the new student loan plans mean for you

Unlike a mortgage, with student loans you don't have a tangible asset that you can sell to pay it off and unlike credit card debt, they're notoriously difficult to get rid of even through bankruptcy. Fortunately, two new programs are starting this year to help people tackle this debt.

Student loan debt keeps going up

Outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1 trillion in 2011, an amount that now exceeds what the entire nation owes in credit card debt. The amount of money owed on student loans has continued to rise, even as recession-minded consumers pay down debt elsewhere.

Biz Brain: What's my liability for my daughter's student loans?

I took out a Direct PLUS loan for my daughter’s education, based on my good credit. Now she is graduating with no work prospects. What do I do now?

Libor: What it Means for The American Consumer

Check out how a key foreign interest rate impacts the interest you pay in the U.S.

Libor: What it means for US consumer loans

You may not think a foreign interest rate could impact the interest you pay in the U.S., but it does. From adjustable-rate mortgages to private student loans, the London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor, has a direct effect on the amount you pay.

Refund anticipation loans coming to an end

After years of bilking consumer tax refunds through refund anticipation loans fees, tax preparers are finally closing them down