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Brenda Brooks dropped out of college 40 years ago. Federal rules mean she can’t afford to return.

Feb 29, 2024
Now 60, she learned that her decades-old GPA disqualifies her from receiving federal loans or grants.
Brooks started college in the 1980s as a young adult with two small children. Like 40 million other Americans, she didn't finish.
Courtesy Brooks

Another FAFSA snag is delaying financial aid offers for prospective college students

Feb 1, 2024
There's a push to convince colleges and universities to extend their admission deadlines to give students — and schools — more time.
The most recent delay means school counselors will have a month less than usual to help students understand financial aid options.
Richard Stephen/Getty Images

The economic implications of graduating college at an older age

A new study finds that "a large fraction — around 20% — of college graduates obtained their degree after age 30."
"Late bloomers account for more than half of the growth in the share of college-educated adults from 1960 to 2019," said Marketplace senior economics contributor Chris Farrell.
FG Trade Latin/Getty Images

An improved FAFSA is on the way, but delays mean students and schools will have to scramble

Nov 16, 2023
This year's form will be shorter and easier to fill out. But it'll also arrive more than two months late.
Colleges use the information on the FAFSA to decide how much financial aid to offer applicants.
Ilya Burdun/Getty Images

Undergraduates flock to associate degree and certificate programs

Oct 26, 2023
They're cheaper and quicker than earning a bachelor's degree. When students complete their courses, jobs will likely be waiting for them.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden toured a North Carolina community college in June. Many students are choosing to forgo the bachelor's degree path to a career.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Mom concierge services are springing up on college campuses

Oct 12, 2023
No need to miss mom while you're away at college when you can rent one for $49 per month.
Mindy Horwitz, founder of MindyKNOWS, and friends get the word out about the business.
Courtesy Mindy Horwitz

How much will college cost? A new initiative wants to make it clear.

Sep 27, 2023
More than 360 schools have committed to the initiative, but thousands in the U.S. haven't. That will make comparison shopping hard.
People gather on a quad at the University of Virginia. UVA is one of more than 360 colleges that have committed to being more transparent with potential students about the net price of attendance.
Daxia Rojas/AFP via Getty Images)

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More than 800,000 people are getting student loans forgiven

Sep 5, 2023
It's part of a one-time fix by the Biden administration to the income-driven repayment program for federal student loans.
Last spring, the Biden administration announced a one-time fix to rectify what the education secretary called “years of administrative failures” with the income-driven repayment program.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Wesleyan ditches legacy admissions

Jul 20, 2023
But many schools are expected to hang on to legacy admissions for financial reasons.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

Accountant shortage has companies big and small struggling

Jul 11, 2023
It's a shortage that starts on college campuses, with more and more students opting for data analytics jobs in other sectors.
The number of students receiving accounting degrees dropped 9% over roughly the last decade.
Prostock-Studio/Getty Images