Loans Information


Student Loan Limits Not Keeping Up with Tuition Rates


As tuition rates at many colleges continues to rise, the limits that students may borrow each year has stayed the same.

Dependent undergraduates may borrow up to $2,625 their freshman year, $3,500 their sophomore year and $5,500 for each remaining year in Stafford Loans.

Students classified as independent from parents, may qualify for additional unsubsidized loans. Dependent students may also receive unsubsidized loans if parents do not qualify for a PLUS loan.

Unsubsidized loans can be a double edged sword -- they allow the student to pay for college, but borrowers do not receive the interest free benefit of subsidized loans.

There is also cumulative limit of $23,000 for an undergraduate education.

The limits on amounts students can borrow though federal loans hasn't increased since 1992. In that time tuition rates have more than doubled.

According to finaid.org, tuition rates increase at about twice the general inflation rate. On average, tuition tends to increase about 8% per year. In addition, general inflation has caused prices for student housing, meals and other necessary expenses to increase.

For the school year 2005-2006 many colleges dramatically raised tuition rates. An example of such tuition hikes is the University of Colorado where rates rates have been raised for all of the system's campuses. Tuition at CU-Boulder will go up by 27.8 percent, from $3,480 to $4,446. Other CU campuses will see a similar increase.

The national average tuition for public universities is $4,694 per year for in state residents. For freshmen and sophomore students, the current student loan limit does not even cover tuition costs.

Because of the restrictions with federal student loan limits, students and parents will need to become more diligent in seeking out alternative sources of college funding.

There are many scholarships available nationwide that students can apply for. One of the easiest ways to apply is through the FastWeb online database. There are also many books available that list scholarships that students can apply for.

Part time and summer student employment also becomes more important when education costs rise.

Until the federal government reconsiders raising the student loan limits, students will become increasingly dependent upon scholarships, savings and employment. The lesson for families with children not yet in college is simple -- start saving early.

Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans.


MORE RESOURCES:

Margin loans not deterring investors
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 12 hours ago
By Tim Blue WITH Australia's share market in continuing turmoil, investors in margin loans have had a torrid six weeks yet appear to be emerging bloodied ...
Australians 'wealthier' than ever before Sydney Morning Herald
all 27 news articles


Allianz Eyeing Chances to Buy ABS, Leveraged Loans
Reuters - 3 hours ago
DE: Quote, Profile, Research) is actively looking to buy leveraged loans and asset-backed securities (ABS) whose prices have been driven down by the turmoil ...


Earthtimes

Interest rates: The new conundrum
CNNMoney.com - 45 minutes ago
These low long-term rates helped fuel the home building boom and the credit market's appetite for securities backed by increasingly riskier mortgage loans. ...
Bernanke's Surprise Gold Seek
Treasury Two-Year Notes Can't Escape Faster Inflation (Update1) Bloomberg
Loans make up most of collateral posted at Fed: report KPLC-TV
all 105 news articles


New initiative to offer NIS 400m. in loans to businesses in North
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 9 hours ago
By HAVIV RETTIG A new initiative seeks to offer loans to some 85000 small businesses in the North still reeling from losses incurred during the Second ...


Fed’s collateral book mostly in loans
Financial Times (subscription), UK - 11 hours ago
... made by the Federal Reserve to banks operating in the US is in the form of loans rather than securities, the New York Fed has told the Financial Times. ...


Mortgage crisis spills over into school loans
Boston Globe, United States - 20 hours ago
With financial aid packages going out to students over the next few weeks, financial aid directors are urging families to move quickly to line up loans ...


Mortgage crisis squeezes student loans
Seattle Times, United States - Feb 24, 2008
The credit crunch, which started with a panic over people missing home-loan payments several months ago, has spread like a disease, infecting a broad range ...


ARCIL to acquire Rs 2000 cr worth bad loans in FY08
Economic Times, India - Feb 24, 2008
Arcil has acquired bad loans valued at Rs 1600 crore so far this fiscal (FY 08) from around four deals, and enjoys a dominating 80 per cent market share in ...
UCO Bank to clean up balance sheet Economic Times
all 3 news articles


No loans for many students
The Brown Daily Herald, RI - 21 minutes ago
An $11.5 million increase to the financial aid budget will mean fewer loans and less debt for financial aid recipients, starting next fall. ...


Thousands trapped in Northern Rock loans
Times Online, UK - Feb 23, 2008
About 175000 borrowers are thought to have been lured into Northern Rock’s controversial 100%-plus loans over the past few years. ...
Mixed prospects for Northern Rock faithful Times Online
Loan arranger's rescue mission Scotsman
Customers face remortgage nightmare as nationalised Northern Rock ... Sunday Herald
Times Online
all 12 news articles

Loans - Google News












home | site map
© 2007