Direct student loans, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, are a cornerstone of federal financial aid, offering students a way to fund their education without the need for private lenders.

The Treasury Department will take over the management of student loans whose borrowers are in default, according to a new agreement announced Thursday. The U.S. Education Department's handing off ...

This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. Subscribe here. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of federal ...

With federal student loan changes underway, more families may turn to private borrowing. We reviewed private lenders to find the best student loans for flexible payments, strong support and faster ...

Subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans differ based on who pays interest while you’re in school, and come with different limits Written By Written by Staff Loans Writer, Buy Side Emily ...

The Trump administration is trimming the number of federal student loan repayment options available to borrowers. A handful of repayment plans will ultimately be replaced with two choices for student ...

US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2025. On January 16, 2026, the Education ...

The Education Department may start accelerating student loan forgiveness processing in February for certain borrowers in income-driven repayment plans, according to a recent court filing. The update ...

The best private student loans offer competitive interest and annual percentage rates, have low origination, disbursement or prepayment fees (or none at all) and are offered by credible lenders.

Only defaulted federal student loans put your tax refund at risk, not delinquent or private student loans. You have 65 days from the notice to stop it with payment arrangements or a valid objection.