Government Helps Low-Income Grad Students Pay for School

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This article should be revised; the federal government decided in August 2011 to not have the interest on Stafford loans for graduate students while the student is still enrolled in a program.

wholefoodsfan of NY 4:03PM December 06, 2011

Donna,
Currently I believe you can have your loans forgiven if you had them for 20+ years. Do and with your income at 16k per year, I would say you should qualify for income sensitivity re payment. Just your service you done should qualify you. Check into it, maybe the student loan web page. Do not ask the lender they will say NO.

Jeff of NM 1:40PM March 24, 2010

Just wondering if anyone answers the questions that these people ask? I would if I could, but of course I don't have any answers, but if anyone has any info for them they should post it.

cmom1 of IL 7:16PM February 06, 2010

I DECIDED TO GO TO THIS SCHOOL I HEAR ABOUT ON A COMMERCIAL THINKING I WAS GOING TO GET MY G.E.D AND WENT AND SIGNED UP, I WENT TO THE SCHOOL FOR 1 MONTH AND COULDNT ATTEND ANYMORE.. ACCORDING TO MY FRIENDS THAT I TOOK TO SIGN UP WITH ME, TOLD ME THEY ALSO WERE SCAMED... THE SCHOOL HAD CLOSED DOWN AND ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO FINISH NOR EVEN GET A G.E.D.. BUT ON RECORD IT SAYS THEY CLOSED IN 2004 AND IT REALLY HAD CLOSED IN 2000 WHEN WE WERE ALL ATTENDING THERE.. IM ASSUMING THE JUST KEPT THE SCHOOL OPEN ON FILE TIL THEY GOT ENOUGH MONEY AND THEN CLOSED DOWN.. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A STUDENT LOAN OF 10.000 DOLLARS WICH I NEVER WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE NOR ATTEND AND IM A SINGLE PARENT OF THREE CHILDREN WHOM IS TRYING TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL AND I CANT DUE TO THIS SCAM I HAD DONE TO ME.. SO NOW WHAT DO I DO? I DONT FEEL AS IF I SHOULD PAY FOR SOMETHING I WASN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE NOR ATTEND?

YAMY of FL 12:15PM November 11, 2009

I received my BA in Clinical Psychology and worked for 25 plus years as a mental health counselor in non-profit agencies.Now I am retired and still paying on a student loan. I live on social security, less than $16,000 a year.. Would I qualify for any forgiven program? Thank you for any feedback or suggestions.

Donna Lipps of AZ 12:41PM July 31, 2009

I went to college and received my 1st BA in 1995. I am still paying on them. I went back 5 years later and received my BSE. I do not meet the loan foregiveness because I paid for my education degree as I wnt to school.I am currently teaching middle/high school in a small rural school district. I will need a master's degree after next year if I want my salary to increase. I have found a graduate program in Chicago that holds summer sessions. It is expensive but is the perfect fit for mine and my studnets needs. Can you point me in the best direction? I have paid my federal student loans faithfully and on time for many many years. I worry that taking more money out for education will not pay off in the long run, but not doing so will put me in a rut as far as increasing my family's quality of life. help?

Lawrence Alford of MO 1:51PM June 19, 2009

My income is $ 42K per year (I am a domestic violence social worker), my apartment rent in NY is $ 960 per month (small one bedroom) and my loan is almost 70 ,000. I have few loans, one is private (muy school offered it at the time when I started a school and did not understand how dangerous private loan is). i should pay % 500 per month. I cannot survive paying those money. So, i pay a minimum payments. My principle amount grogh up. I was told that i cannot apply fpr any forgivennes programs because i already have debts (I do not pay accurate and full amount every month, and finally, because I have a private loan which cannot be modified or ajusted, something like that). Finally, I got unemployment recently. However i was told that I still must pay (even being unemployed) because I owe about 7 thousand to make my balace current.
What could you suggest me to do? Do I have any ways to correct my situation? Bancrupcy? Something else? I just started my professional life and I feel so depressed because of this situation. My salary does not allow me to be a " good girl" and to pay my student loan properly. I studied hard. Is it my fault?
Thank you for your advise.

Julie of NY 11:44PM May 26, 2009