Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Marguerita is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor ...

A new law will mean lower federal loan limits for some students and parents who help pay. Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect on July 1, 2026, and could impact your ability to pay ...

The cost of college — including tuition, housing, textbooks and other fees — adds up for families. However, students are often eligible for financial aid, including scholarships, ...

Federal Direct Loans are originated by the federal government and don’t come with credit criteria. Federal student loan rates for the 2025-2026 school year range from 6.39% to 8.94%. Consider maxing ...

A Direct Student Loan is another name for a federally issued student loan in the United States. If you borrowed money from the U.S. Department of Education, you likely took out a Direct Loan. Since ...

The Education Department began announcing long-awaited student loan forgiveness approvals under key programs after a lengthy delay had left many in limbo.