November 28, 2016

How Risk-Based Student Loans Could Conceptually Work

With the election of a Republican president as well as Republican majorities in Congress and among state governors much discussion has been raised about considering risk in student loans. While this is an unpopular concept among educational leaders, it is one that more conservative politicians and opinion leaders will give […]
July 28, 2016

Avoid the Pitfalls of Private Student Loans

When I started college nearly 40 years ago, the costs of room, board, tuition and books at Rutgers were less than $3,000. I took out a loan for a little more than half the money, got help from my parents as well as small scholarships, and took  a part-time job […]
June 22, 2016

The Perils of Risk-Based Student Loans

Among the few indications of a higher education policy from presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is a proposal for “risk based” student loans managed by lenders instead of the colleges. The concept of risk-based student loans is that students who are more likely to repay their loans would be […]
May 17, 2016

‘Back A Boiler’ Is Interesting Financial Alternative for Purdue University Students

About four years ago I visited Purdue University, a charter member of the Big Ten as well as one of the leading research universities in the United States, especially in the sciences and engineering. Last week, I read a USA Today story about an interesting approach to financial aid at […]
December 28, 2015

A Message For the ‘Public’ that Grumbles About College Costs

The U.S is about to head into the presidential election cycle, so I found it timely to repost this piece from over two years ago. Personally, I am tired of the extremes proposed on both sides, though I more resent the attacks that politicians make on college costs and financial […]