Some tips for protecting yourself when taking out student loans

October 5th, 2009 Treasurys little changed despite strong TIPS saleNEW YORK — Treasury prices were little changed Monday as investors balanced strong results of an auction of inflation-protected bonds against a rising stock market, which sapped demand for safe-haven investments. The price of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped 1/32 to 103 11/32.

August 6th, 2009 The servicers in gov't loan-modification planA look at the loan servicers in Treasury's mortgage-modification program, the taxpayer money they could receive and the percentage of eligible loans they've offered to modify so far. The servicers will keep some of Treasury's money and will pass some of it on to investors and homeowners.

July 21st, 2009 Sallie Mae 2Q loss attributed to investment lossesDES MOINES, Iowa — SLM Corp., better known as Sallie Mae, said Tuesday investment losses pushed it to a loss for the second quarter. The nation's largest student lender reported a loss of $123 million, or 32 cents per share, compared with profit of $266 million, or 50 cents a share, a year earlier.

July 21st, 2009 House panel approves increase in Pell GrantsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's plan to boost Pell Grants for low-income college students cleared the House education committee Tuesday, the first step down a long and potentially rocky path through Congress. The bill would link Pell Grants to inflation for the first time since the program's creation in 1972, raising the maximum grant from $5,500 to $6,900 over the next decade.

July 15th, 2009 Bill would spend more to make college affordableWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's plan to dramatically increase college student aid took its first step Wednesday on what could be a rocky path through Congress. A key lawmaker proposed a bill to boost Pell Grant scholarships for low-income students by linking them to inflation for the first time since the program began.

July 7th, 2009 July demand dips for gov't consumer credit programWASHINGTON — Investors on Tuesday showed a smaller appetite for participating in a government program intended to spur lending to consumers and small businesses at lower rates. Investors requested $5.4 billion worth of loans, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said.

July 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Concession on student loans, higher spending on education and health, fuel price cut - students and young professionals have a whole list of expectations as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presents India's national budget for this fiscal Monday. Rakhi Malhotra, a college student who voted for the first time in the April-May elections, said she had a lot of hopes from the budget.

June 28th, 2009 For modest earners, relief repaying student loansNEW YORK — Repaying a student loan could soon be a little less painful. Starting this week, anyone with a federal student loan can apply for a program, run by the Department of Education, that caps monthly payments based on income, and forgives remaining balances after 25 years.

June 18th, 2009 Sallie Mae shares soar on government contractNEW YORK — Shares of Sallie Mae soared in premarket activity Thursday after the Department of Education selected the student lender and three other companies to service parts of $550 billion in outstanding federal student loans and future loans owned by the government. Reston, Va.-based Sallie Mae, officially called SLM Corp., is the country's biggest student lender.

June 18th, 2009 Sallie Mae shares gain on government contractNEW YORK — The Department of Education has selected student lender Sallie Mae and three other companies to service the $550 billion in outstanding federal student loans and future loans owned by the government. Reston, Va.-based Sallie Mae, officially called SLM Corp., is the country's biggest student lender.

June 18th, 2009 Sallie Mae awarded gov't loan-servicing contractNEW YORK — The Department of Education says Sallie Mae and three other companies were chosen to service parts of its $550 billion in outstanding federal student loans and future loans owned by the government. Reston, Va.-based Sallie Mae, officially called SLM Corp., is the country's biggest student lender.

June 15th, 2009 Court to determine if bankruptcy hearing neededWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will decide whether student loans can be dismissed through bankruptcy with just a notice to the collector instead of a hearing proving that paying the money back would cause an "undue hardship." Francisco Espinosa gave United Student Aid Funds Inc. a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan saying he would pay back $13,250 on his four student loans.

June 3rd, 2009 Sallie Mae CEO sees loan losses peaking in 2009NEW YORK — Sallie Mae CEO Albert Lord said Wednesday he expects loan charge-offs at the student lending company to peak in 2009 and remain high next year. Charge-offs are loans written off as not being repaid.

May 5th, 2009 Investors request $10.6B in TALF loans from FedWASHINGTON — Demand surged this month from investors seeking to participate in a government program aimed at jump-starting lending to consumers and small businesses. Investors requested $10.6 billion worth of loans, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.

April 22nd, 2009 Study: More undergrads rely on private loansBERKELEY, Calif. — A study finds the number of college students taking out private student loans has risen sharply in recent years.