How to Go Back to School With Defaulted Student Loans
Defaulting on your student loans could be a barrier to returning to school, but not one that’s impossible to clear. To access financial aid again, you’ll first need to get…
Anna Helhoski
Anna Helhoski is a writer and NerdWallet's authority on student loans. Her work has appeared in The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today. She paid off her own student loan debt last year and is motivated to help other borrowers do the same. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from SUNY Purchase. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @annahelhoski
Posts by Anna Helhoski:
Parents in Debt for Their Kid’s College Can Get Forgiveness
College students take on loans as an investment: Presumably, they’ll graduate and reap the benefits — income that helps them repay that debt and then some. But parents borrow for…
Skip College? Not if You Want to Make More Money
Skeptical of the four-year college degree? It’s still your best bet to make money. Backlash against college as a common stop on the road to adulthood has mounted over the…
When Do Unemployment Benefits End?
As the nation pivots from pandemic emergency to economic recovery, certain federal benefits, including unemployment benefits, are set to expire. Federal unemployment benefits that supplemented state unemployment benefits and provided…
How to Get Income-Driven Repayment Plan Forgiveness
Income-driven repayment plans are a safety net for federal student loan borrowers having difficulty making payments on a standard 10-year repayment plan. They carry a bonus that no other type…
Can Student Loan Forgiveness Still Happen?
Each passing day brings 43 million federal student loan borrowers closer to resuming the payments that have been paused since March 2020 — and further from the chance that life-changing…
What Would It Take to Solve the Student Debt Crisis?
The possibility of federal student loan forgiveness grabs all the headlines. But experts say no single policy — not even wiping the slate clean for millions of borrowers — solves…
Student Loan Modification: How to Temporarily Lower Payments
Your monthly student loan payment may be unaffordable on top of your other financial obligations. If you’re having difficulty meeting your monthly bill, you may have options to temporarily reduce…
How Many Americans Have Student Loan Debt?
About 42.9 million Americans have federal student loans, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. That means about 1 in 8 (12.9%) people in the…
What’s the Average Parent PLUS Loan Debt?
The average outstanding parent PLUS loan debt is $28,778, according to federal loan data. Parent PLUS loans are federal direct loans parents can use to pay for their dependent child’s…
