Student Loans Articles
Practical explainers and guidance for student loans decisions.
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How Do 529 Plans Affect the FAFSA?
A 529 plan can affect FAFSA asset reporting, but the treatment depends on who owns the account, whether parent information is required, whose education the account is for, and whether the school uses other aid forms beyond the FAFSA.
College Planning
How Much Should You Save in a 529 Plan?
A 529 savings target should be built from the kind of school you may help fund, the years until enrollment, current savings, monthly contribution capacity, likely aid, and how much flexibility you want if the student chooses a different path.
College Planning
How 529 Plans Work for College Savings
A 529 plan can help families save for education with tax-free growth and tax-free qualified withdrawals, but the way it works depends on the type of plan, the expenses you intend to cover, and how you choose to invest the account.
Student Loans
Federal vs. Private Student Loans: What Matters Most After School
Federal and private student loans can both pay for school, but the biggest differences often show up after graduation when repayment flexibility, interest structure, and borrower protections start to matter.
Student Loans
Should You Rehabilitate or Consolidate a Defaulted Federal Student Loan?
If a federal student loan is already in default, rehabilitation and consolidation can both get you out. The better move depends on whether you need the fastest exit, the cleaner credit outcome, or the stronger long-term repayment reset afterward.
Student Loans
Should You Pay Extra on Student Loans or Keep Cash Flexible?
Extra student-loan payments can save interest and shorten payoff, but sending every extra dollar to the loan can backfire if it leaves you without cash for real-life disruptions or pushes you into worse debt later.
Student Loans
Should You Consolidate Federal Student Loans?
Federal student loan consolidation can simplify repayment, unlock some repayment or forgiveness paths, and help some borrowers out of default. It can also stretch repayment, capitalize unpaid interest, and change which benefits you keep.
Student Loans
Should You Refinance Student Loans?
Refinancing student loans can lower your rate or simplify repayment, but refinancing federal loans into a private loan can also permanently give up protections that may matter more than the new payment.
Student Loans
What to Do If You're Sued Over a Private Student Loan
If you're sued over a private student loan, the first job is to respond by the deadline in the court papers, not to freeze and hope the case goes away. The stronger move is to read the lawsuit carefully, confirm what debt is being claimed, and get legal help if you can before a default judgment is entered against you.
Student Loans
What to Do If a Private Student Loan Goes to Collections
If a private student loan goes to collections, the first job is not to panic-pay the first caller who reaches you. The stronger move is to verify who is collecting, confirm the debt details, and only then decide whether a payment plan, settlement discussion, or legal review belongs next.
Student Loans
What Happens If You Miss a Student Loan Payment?
A missed student loan payment does not usually turn into default overnight, but the timeline can move faster than many borrowers expect. What happens next depends on whether the loan is federal or private and how quickly you act after the due date passes.
Student Loans
How Student Loan Repayment Options Work After Graduation
Student loan repayment after graduation depends on loan type, grace-period timing, repayment-plan choice, and whether the monthly bill actually fits your budget before payments begin.
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