NPR Series: The Student Loan Restart https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1187230214 Federal student loan payments are set to resume in October 2023, more than three years after they were paused because of the pandemic. Millions of borrowers have questions, and we have answers. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:25:19 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: The Student Loan Restart https://www.npr.org/series/1187230214/student-loans Education Dept. fast-tracks forgiveness for borrowers with smaller student loans In a surprise move, the Biden administration announced it is fast-tracking a change that will erase the debts of many federal student loan borrowers after just 10 years. Fri, 12 Jan 2024 06:00:51 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224265472/student-loan-forgiveness-save-plan https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224265472/student-loan-forgiveness-save-plan

In a surprise move, the Biden administration announced it is fast-tracking a change that will erase the debts of many federal student loan borrowers after just 10 years.

(Image credit: Ting Shen)

]]> Cory Turner COMIC: The year of student loans Millions of Americans have begun paying off their federal student loans again. This is the return to repayment, in the voices of a handful of borrowers we met this year. Tue, 26 Dec 2023 05:00:50 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/26/1215836894/student-loan-repayment-debt-relief-fresh-start https://www.npr.org/2023/12/26/1215836894/student-loan-repayment-debt-relief-fresh-start

Millions of Americans have begun paying off their federal student loans again. This is the return to repayment, in the voices of a handful of borrowers we met this year.

]]> Cory Turner Student loan forgiveness isn't dead yet, and other takeaways from 2023 What to make of all the student loan news this year? We have three takeaways, and a literary analogy (it's NPR afterall). Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:14 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/21/1218890183/student-loan-forgiveness-isnt-dead-yet-and-other-takeaways-from-2023 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/21/1218890183/student-loan-forgiveness-isnt-dead-yet-and-other-takeaways-from-2023

What to make of all the student loan news this year? We have three takeaways, and a literary analogy (it's NPR afterall).

]]> Cory Turner A story of student loan forgiveness, 20 years in the making More than 900,000 federal student loan borrowers are seeing their loans erased after being in repayment for two decades or more. Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:01:16 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/20/1215880180/student-loan-forgiveness-borrower https://www.npr.org/2023/12/20/1215880180/student-loan-forgiveness-borrower

More than 900,000 federal student loan borrowers are seeing their loans erased after being in repayment for two decades or more.

]]> Cory Turner Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers The Education Department said today that changes to a pair of previously troubled programs have recently led to $4.8 billion in loan relief for another 80,000 borrowers. Wed, 06 Dec 2023 15:19:54 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/06/1217552875/government-efforts-to-erase-student-loan-debt-have-now-reached-3-6-million-borro https://www.npr.org/2023/12/06/1217552875/government-efforts-to-erase-student-loan-debt-have-now-reached-3-6-million-borro

The Education Department said today that changes to a pair of previously troubled programs have recently led to $4.8 billion in loan relief for another 80,000 borrowers.

(Image credit: Arin Yoon)

]]> Cory Turner Millions could benefit from a new way out of student loan default The U.S. Education Department has a new plan to help the nearly 7 million federal student loan borrowers who are in default rehabilitate their loans. But the clock is ticking. Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:28:45 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/11/16/1212868047/defaulted-student-loan-borrowers-get-a-fresh-start https://www.npr.org/2023/11/16/1212868047/defaulted-student-loan-borrowers-get-a-fresh-start

The U.S. Education Department has a new plan to help the nearly 7 million federal student loan borrowers who are in default rehabilitate their loans. But the clock is ticking.

]]> Cory Turner Education Department punishes student loan servicer for billing mistakes The department is withholding payment from loan servicer MOHELA as 2.5 million borrowers didn't receive timely billing statements. Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:07:17 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209464901/education-department-punishes-student-loan-servicer-billing-mistakes-mohela https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209464901/education-department-punishes-student-loan-servicer-billing-mistakes-mohela

The department is withholding payment from loan servicer MOHELA as 2.5 million borrowers didn't receive timely billing statements.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

]]> Cory Turner Student loans for parents can be a debt trap. But there's a loophole Until July 2025, parent PLUS borrowers can paperwork their way into a kinder, gentler repayment plan. Wed, 04 Oct 2023 05:00:16 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2023/10/04/1200775288/student-loans-parent-plus-save-plan https://www.npr.org/2023/10/04/1200775288/student-loans-parent-plus-save-plan

Until July 2025, parent PLUS borrowers can paperwork their way into a kinder, gentler repayment plan.

]]> Cory Turner What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers October loan payments will still be due, but an extended shutdown could impact customer service. Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:28:03 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2023/09/29/1202638806/government-shutdown-student-loan-repayment https://www.npr.org/2023/09/29/1202638806/government-shutdown-student-loan-repayment

October loan payments will still be due, but an extended shutdown could impact customer service.

]]> Cory Turner How new borrowers can prepare for their first student loan payment When student loan bills begin coming due in October, new borrowers will take their first steps on the long road to paying off their debt. These tools and tips can help ease the journey. Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:41 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/1201543239/student-loan-payment-calculator-save-plan https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/1201543239/student-loan-payment-calculator-save-plan

When student loan bills begin coming due in October, new borrowers will take their first steps on the long road to paying off their debt. These tools and tips can help ease the journey.

(Image credit: Paras Griffin)

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