Everything you need to know about student loans, from repayment options and forgiveness programs to avoiding scams and managing debt wisely.
Question: Dear Steve, I served in the military and I was looking at the National Defense Student Loan Discharge. Two years ago you stated that you could not find information on it. I want to know if the National Defense Student Loan Discharge program exists? Kimberly Answer: Dear Kimberly, After I wrote my last piece …
College students take out more and more student loans to pay their tuition bills with each passing year because tuition has risen at twice the inflation rate for more than two decades. But tuition is only part of the cost of going to college. When you add in books, housing, and food, not to mention …
Question: Dear Steve, I’m writing for my mother. She is 72. She completed college late in life and then retired from a state job at 62. She is still paying student loans! Recently a loan company sold her loan and in the statements, she is receiving from them she owes the original balance! Also when …
Question: Dear Steve, I went to a for-profit school, over 10 years ago and in the process took out private loans. Since then, I have been contacted by a debt collector who I wasn’t aware I did not have to pay (the debt was over 10 years old and was beyond the statute of limitations). …
Question: Dear Steve, Equitable Acceptance continues to take money for nothing. I have been paying since 2017. And they have taken over $3,000 How do I get my money back? I didn’t want to stop payments in fear of a bad credit score. Kim Answer: Dear Kim, Equitable Acceptance has been in a lot of …
Question: Dear Steve, Went to Remington College after getting let go from my employer of 25 years. Was not able to apply the training. $20000 worth of federal student loans. I am 62 years old. Is there an age that you don’t have to pay loans? Thanks Horses Answer: Dear Horses, Unfortunately, when it comes …
Question: Dear Steve, Hi Steve! I finished school at the International Academy of Design and Technology in 2007. I recently learned the school closed, possibly due to fraud. Can I apply for the closed school loan discharge? I don’t fall under the 3 main ways to get the loans discharged but since the school was …
Question: Dear Steve, I’m not sure what year this was but I think it was in the 80s..? This student loan was about heavy equipment it wasn’t totally rip off I got a diploma I look for a job on heavy equipment and the gentleman said to me it’s not what you know about the …
Question: Dear Steve, I applied for financial aid and was told I am ineligible due to a grant overpayment. I dropped all my classes in Spring 2010. I was a domestic violence victim and had to move suddenly. I never received any notification about the overpayment of the grant. I called my previous school and …
Question: Dear Steve, I took out 2 private loans and multiple federal loans to finance grad school. Since graduating 4 years ago, I’ve had steady, well-paying employment. I went through an emotionally challenging period at the beginning of this time and defaulted on a Wells Fargo student loan. It wasn’t even due to inability to …