Sunday Oct 25, 2009
The Yoders share reader comments from recent columns.
Thursday Oct 1, 2009
Your FICO score can help or hurt your when you really need it. Find out ways to improve your score.
Sunday Sep 13, 2009
If the bear market has kept you from saving for your child's college education, you're not alone. A recent survey showed 47% of parents are saving less or aren't saving at all for their kids' education.
Sunday Sep 13, 2009
Students shopping for college loans shouldn't settle for private loans until they have exhausted all options for federal loans, which usually come with lower, fixed interest rates and more flexible payment plans.
Sunday Sep 13, 2009
Steve Yoder and his son Isaac discuss the balance between saving for retirement early and avoiding mounds of student loan debt.
Wednesday Sep 2, 2009
Students are borrowing more to pay for college, leaving many to struggle after graduation with excessive student loan debt.
Tuesday Aug 25, 2009
The financial value of a college education outweighs the cost even when one considers the cost of attendance, the interest on education debt and the opportunity cost of skipping several years of income from a job.
Friday Aug 21, 2009
Student loan reform, new business classes and other personal and family finance stories from FiLife and around the Web for the week of August 21.
Friday Aug 21, 2009
Shelley Saunders of American Student Assistance takes a look at the administration's plan to shift all student loans to the Direct Loan program.
Friday Jul 24, 2009
Among the most common debts held by most Americans, student loans and credit card debt fight for your money in this week's Financial Face Off.
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Year Fixed | 4.62%  |
4.67% |
| 30 Year Fixed | 5.15% | 5.15% |
| 1 Year ARM | 3.48% |
3.51% |
| 5/1 Year ARM | 3.62% |
3.68% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | 4.89%  |
4.88% |
| 10 Year Loan | 7.47% | 7.47% |
| 15 Year Loan | 7.61% |
7.60% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Interest Checking | 0.28% | 0.28% |
| Money Market/Savings | 0.38% | 0.38% |
| 12 Month CD | 1.13%  |
1.15% |
| 60 Month IRA CD | 2.40% |
2.41% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Back Cards | 12.66% |
12.68% |
| No Annual Fee Cards | 12.08% |
11.97% |
| Reward Cards | 12.75% |
12.61% |
| Small Business Cards | 11.01% |
10.94% |
| Student Cards | 13.77% |
13.49% |
| Platinum Cards | 12.26% |
12.11% |
The change will not make it harder for students to get federal education loans. The origination process is a bit smoother in the Direct Loan program. Also, Parent PLUS loan approval rates seem to be somewhat higher in the Direct Loan program than in the federally-guaranteed student loan program. (See http://www.finaid.org/educators/20090831parentplusdenial.pdf) Stafford loans do not depend on the borrower's credit history. It is possible that some of the lenders that offered both federal and private student loans might end their private student loan programs when they are no longer able to make new federal education loans. But the dominant factor affecting the availability of private student loans is limited liquidity.