Financial Health

Over the past year, the Education Department has made it harder for parents to borrow on behalf of their children in college. Historically black colleges say they are disproportionately affected.

Review of net price calculators finds that many are hard to find, confusing to use or inconsistent.

The two-year default rate for federal student loans increased again this year, but defaults at for-profit colleges fell.

A large university system begins statewide effort to help students manage debt and avoid defaults.

A high-profile study asserting that New York program increased college enrollment of low-income black students comes under attack from a leading scholar of financial aid policy.

Federal spending on the biggest student grant program surprisingly declines by $2.2 billion, even as numbers of recipients increased. But a sword still hangs over the program.

Euphoria about massive online courses aside, they aren't the answer to improving access to higher education for low-income students, writes Ryan Craig.

Contrary to a previous essay, campus financial aid administrators believe award letters can be improved and students better informed about the price of higher education, writes Justin Draeger.