Legislative Hero: Julia Brownley

Congresswoman Julia Brownley has sponsored and co-sponsored legislation for people fighting student debt. In this post we show a quick and encouraging interview with Congresswoman Brownley. Her responses to our questions remind us that, yes, there are people actively working to solve the daunting issue of student debt. Because of the work in which we […]

Contact Your Congressmen: Inspiring Large-Scale Help With Student Debt

Much of paying off student debt is constructing reliable habits and routines to slowly but surely pay back those loans. However, there are times when the metaphorical bee gets in one’s bonnet (or sun hat or baseball cap—whatever you might wear on your head), and a desire to do something about student debt and do […]

Changing Perspectives: Behind Higher Education Policy Making

Amid discussions and news about higher education policy and student debt, do you ever take the time to step back? To find a moment to think, “What is driving all this and how will it affect me?” In this post, we will step back and use our panned-out perspective to form a foundation that can […]

The Upside of the Upswing of the Student Loan Interest Rate

Student Loan Interest Rate Increase One thing that necessarily shapes every student’s loan journey is their student loan interest rate. For federal student loans in the U.S., this rate has just gone up. Now, the idea of paying more on a loan does not elicit immediate joy and exclamations of, “Oh, thank heavens!” In fact, many of us shake […]

Private Loans vs. Federal Loan Benefits: What’s Best for Student Debt

Looking through news and blogs related to student loan repayments can be tiring. So trust me, I see the situational irony in adding another piece to the myriad of posts for us to read through. Our aim is a worthy one, however: trying to shed useful light on the big problem of a nation with […]

Responding to Uncertainty: Preparing for the PROSPER Act

The PROSPER Act may pass as is, and the PROSPER Act may not pass as is. Because of its uncertain standing, I thought we could go over possible positive responses to either outcome. Whether impending changes help or hinder us largely depends on how prepared students, families of students, advisors, advocates, institutions, aid programs, and […]

Student Loan Policy Help from Attorneys General

Watching changes in student loan policy in the U.S. is, I am finding, similar to watching this year’s spring weather try to make its official appearance in Northern California. We keep getting a few days bursting with light and gradual warmth. Then the week will turn suddenly, dropping to the 30s or 40s and dousing us […]

States Taking Reigns: Washington’s New Law for Student Loan Providers

Washington state has just joined a handful of states (including California) in applying specified regulations to student loan providers and requiring them to be licensed by the state. This law will pressure providers to proactively share more company information with borrowers. It is a response to complaints from student loan borrowers who feel poorly and, often, […]

Gainful Employment and a Quick Note on the PROSPER Act

Hello debt-fighting and loan-curious friends! I have a new observation for you: The PROSPER Act will probably not be perfected or enacted any time soon. Granted, it is difficult to directly verify such a statement. The likely delay of PROSPER is, however, one of the implied conclusions of the Republican Party’s recent announcement of this […]

Throwing Caps: A PROSPER Post 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓

Hello again, it’s Adria, come to bring more legislative information regarding student loans. This post will be especially relevant to those of you who are working to pay off undergrad loans yet are still considering graduate school; but it will also be a good update for all of us tracking the PROSPER Act. I will […]

Policies in the Making: A Current Overview of Student Loan-Related Bills 🏛📜  

Hello there, I’m Adria and in this blog post and posts to come, I’ll aim to keep you abreast of upcoming legislation and policies that could affect your student loans. So here we go… Two startling loan-related observations: 1.) In the near future the problem of ineffective student loan systems will change, but not entirely […]

John Grisham’s “The Rooster Bar” examines the national student debt crisis through the eyes of three law students.

Grisham’s book is very timely.  Student debt has moved from being an invisible threat to our economy to top of mind and front page news, not just for those with the debt but for all of us who can help out and are impacted by it. -Ravi Sawhney John Grisham, the lawyer-turned-bestselling-author who brought us courtroom […]