All Issues

Student Loans

As the cost of financing the higher education system falls increasingly on students, student loan debt has risen at alarming rates. Although student debt is a problem that crosses class and racial lines, low-income and Black students are much more likely to borrow, to borrow more, and to struggle with repayment. Relief options are confusing, servicing is often poor, and borrowers pay the price.

Key Topics

Federal Student Loans

Improving the federal student loan system on which millions rely.

Predatory For-Profit Schools

Stopping predatory for-profit colleges from harming students.

Private Student Loans & ISAs

Protecting borrowers against abusive private student loan and income-share agreement practices.

Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project

NCLC’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers.

Learn More

Featured

View All for Featured
CNBC: Here’s how an 86-year-old grandmother got her nearly $32,000 private student loan debt forgiven

November 2, 2024

New Rules Provide Relief to Student Loan Borrowers Facing Long-Term Financial Hardship

October 25, 2024

2025 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

October 21, 2024

Associated Press: The grace period for student loan payments is over. Here’s what you need to know

October 1, 2024

Chicago Sun-Times: Older adults with crushing student loan debt need help from the federal government

September 27, 2024

The Growing Impact of Student Loan Debt on Older Adults

September 19, 2024

3.5 Million Older Americans Have Over $125 Billion in Student Loans

September 19, 2024

Forbes: Courts Could End Student Loan Forgiveness For Millions In IDR Plans: 4 Key Takeaways

September 3, 2024

Group Letter to Sec. Cardona Requesting Extension of Borrower Protections in Light of SAVE Litigation

August 29, 2024

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Group Letter to Sec. Cardona Requesting Extension of Borrower Protections in Light of SAVE Litigation

August 29, 2024

Legal Aid Comments on Proposed Student Debt Relief Rule

May 17, 2024

Letter to Department of Education Calling for Clarity on Non-Taxability of Disability Discharges Through 2025

May 7, 2024

Joint Letter to the Department of Education Regarding the Implementation Delay of the new Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (GE) Rule

April 2, 2024

FTC Letter RE: Stay-or-Pay Contracts and Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs)

April 1, 2024

Coalition Letter Opposing H.R. 6951, The College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA)

January 30, 2024

Comments in Response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Proposed Income-Driven Repayment Plan (IDR) Request Form

October 10, 2023

Coalition Letter Opposing CRA That Would Overturn the SAVE Plan

September 14, 2023

Comments in Response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Proposed Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application Form

September 8, 2023

Reports

View All for Reports
Student Loan Toolkit

May 20, 2024

New Federal Student Loan Servicing Contracts, New Promises: Will it Make a Difference for Borrowers?

February 15, 2024

Examining the States’ Role in Protecting Online College Students from Predatory Practices

January 24, 2024

Collection At All Costs: Examining the Intersection of Mass Incarceration and the Student Debt Crisis

July 12, 2022

Disproportionately Impacted: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap through Student Loan Cancellation, Payment Reforms, and Investment in College Affordability

June 8, 2022

How States Can Help Students Harmed by Higher Education Fraud

January 12, 2021

Report: Road to Relief – Supporting Federal Student Loan Borrowers During the Covid-19 Crisis and Beyond

November 17, 2020

Voices of Despair: How Seizing the EITC is Leaving Student Loan Borrowers Homeless and Hopeless During a Pandemic

November 10, 2020

Gainful Employment: A Civil Rights Perspective

October 1, 2019

Issue Briefs

View All for Issue Briefs
2025 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

October 21, 2024

The Growing Impact of Student Loan Debt on Older Adults

September 19, 2024

Delivering Distress to Borrowers in Default

October 11, 2023

Chapter Summary on Helping Older Borrowers Navigate the Changing Federal Student Loan System

March 31, 2023

2023-2024 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

January 13, 2023

Get Up to $20,000 of Your Student Loans Canceled

October 20, 2022

2022 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

February 18, 2022

Joint Memo: Recommendation to Prohibit Offset of Refundable Tax Credits that Support Low-Income Workers and Families

February 10, 2022

Restoring the Promise of Income-Driven Repayment: An IDR Waiver Program Proposal

January 11, 2022

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Testimony: Protecting Students and Taxpayers – Improving the Closed School Discharge Process

October 21, 2021

Testimony of Persis Yu regarding Protecting Student Loan Borrowers and the Economy in Upcoming Transitions

July 27, 2021

A $1.5 Trillion Crisis: Protecting Student Borrowers and Holding Student Loan Servicers Accountable

September 10, 2019

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
CNBC: Here’s how an 86-year-old grandmother got her nearly $32,000 private student loan debt forgiven

November 2, 2024

New Rules Provide Relief to Student Loan Borrowers Facing Long-Term Financial Hardship

October 25, 2024

Associated Press: The grace period for student loan payments is over. Here’s what you need to know

October 1, 2024

Chicago Sun-Times: Older adults with crushing student loan debt need help from the federal government

September 27, 2024

3.5 Million Older Americans Have Over $125 Billion in Student Loans

September 19, 2024

Forbes: Courts Could End Student Loan Forgiveness For Millions In IDR Plans: 4 Key Takeaways

September 3, 2024

CNBC: This 85-year-old mom co-signed her daughter’s student loan years ago. Now she fears the lender may take her house

August 17, 2024

NCLC Statement in Response to Department of Education Announcement of Next Steps on Student Debt Relief

July 31, 2024

Embattled Student Loan Servicing Giant MOHELA Hit with Groundbreaking Consumer Protection Lawsuit for Failing 8 Million Student Borrowers

July 22, 2024

Amicus Briefs

View All for Amicus Briefs
Amicus Brief: Missouri v. Biden (8th Cir.) (Brief in Support of Student Loan IDR Rules)

August 26, 2024

Brief in Biden v. Nebraska & Brown v. U.S. Department of Education

January 11, 2023

Amicus Brief in NYLAG v. DeVos

July 24, 2020

Support NCLC

Please support NCLC's work to advance consumer rights and economic justice with a tax-deductible contribution today!

Donate