California’s Budget Shortfalls: Opportunity for Improvement?

The reported $3 Billion shortfall in tax revenues for California may mean: Increases to tuition and fees at community colleges, CSU and UC campuses–expanding the overall cost of a college degree in California Continued cuts to services, like counseling and librarians, for K-12 schools. Families may have to increase their volunteer hours to fund-raise for…

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Lower Student Loan Interest Today = Future National Debt Costs?

In an earlier post, we mentioned the continued political debate about maintaining the current student loan interest rates at 3.4%, instead of the increase to 6.8%, if Congress doesn’t come to consensus before July 1, 2012.   Mark Kantrowitz of FinAid and the Wall Street Journal debate whether the short term gain of low student interest…

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House Votes to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Low for 2012-13: A Good Move?

The Wall Street Journal reported that the House today passed a resolution to keep the current interest rate on student Stafford loans at 3.4% for the 2012-13 school year.   The Senate is scheduled to vote on a similar bill on May 8th.  Without Congressional consensus, student loan interest rates will increase to 6.8% for the…

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