Private Loans Facts and Trends

May 2, 2019

Private loans are one of the riskiest ways to finance a college education. Like credit cards, they usually have variable interest rates that are higher for those who can least afford them. Analysis of federal data from 2015-16 reveals that less than half of private loan borrowers use the maximum amount of more affordable federal loans.


Students at Greatest Risk of Loan Default

October 10, 2018

This analysis of nationally representative data shows that certain groups of students are far more likely to default on their federal loans than others: those who attended for-profit colleges, Pell Grant recipients, first-generation students, and African-American students. Completion matters, but it doesn't adequately protect vulnerable students from default.