Mark Kantrowitz

Chicago

Contributor at Freelance

Leading national expert on student financial aid, FAFSA, college scholarships and student loans.

Featured in:

linkedin.com Favicon

forbes.com Favicon

msn.com

nytimes.com Favicon

businessinsider.com Favicon

cnet.com

time.com

wsj.com

washingtonpost.com Favicon

usatoday.com + 93 more

Articles

Why Upping College Completion Could Help Solve Student Debt Crisis

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

Involuntary collections resumed May 5, 2025 for borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans. College dropouts are nearly four times more likely to default than those who graduate. Among students who started Bachelor’s degree programs, college dropouts are 95 times more likely to default and represent nearly all of the defaults within this group. By comparison, borrowers whose student loan debt is in sync with their income are significantly less likely to face default.
New Federal Student Loan Rates Are Down: Should You Refinance?

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

The interest rates on new federal student loans are set to decrease by 0.141 percentage points for the upcoming academic year. This adjustment will yield new interest rates of 6.392 percent on undergraduate Stafford loans, 7.942 percent on graduate Stafford loans and 8.942 percent on Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS loans.
Financial Literacy Tips To Know Before You Borrow Student Loans

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

Less than a third of borrowers in one study could answer three questions about student loans correctly, meaning they might not fully anticipate the risks of borrowing. Aim to graduate with student loan debt that is less than your annual income. Save money by signing up for autopay and choosing the repayment plan with the highest monthly payment you can afford. Most college students have little or no prior experience managing debt.
Will Ed Department Shutdown Impact Federal Student Loans?

4 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

What is an Expert Contributor? At Bankrate, we believe in providing our audience with trustworthy and actionable personal finance coverage. Our exclusive Expert Contributor Program includes industry experts who directly share their knowledge and perspectives, empowering you to make informed financial decisions.
Expert Reveals Top Student Loan Myths And Misunderstandings

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

Popular assumptions about credit and repayment are often wrong. Interest rate changes do not affect loan payments as much as you might think. Student loan consolidation and refinancing your student loans aren’t always financially beneficial. Most students need a cosigner to qualify for private student loans. Many misconceptions about student loans can lead borrowers to make costly mistakes. Here are some of the most common myths.
Meet Student Financial Aid Expert Mark Kantrowitz

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

Mark Kantrowitz is a nationally recognized expert on student financial aid and student loans. He often contributes comments on Bankrate’s student loan coverage (such as the recent court decision blocking the SAVE plan). Now, as a member of Bankrate’s Expert Contributor program, he will be penning several articles a month analyzing student loan news and offering savvy advice for borrowers. Here’s a deeper dive into Mark’s background and what he’s learned in three decades of watching this industry.
Student Borrowers File Thousands of Complaints Against Public Colleges

1 month ago | thecollegeinvestor.com | Mark Kantrowitz

More than 20% of borrower defense claims involve public or private nonprofit colleges, not just for-profit schools. Approval rates for private nonprofit college claims are double those for for-profit institutions. Complaints often focus on employment outcomes, program cost, and credit transfer, varying by institution type. The borrower defense to repayment program is often associated with students defrauded by for-profit colleges.
S&P 500 vs. College Endowments: The Results Are In

2 months ago | thecollegeinvestor.com | Mark Kantrowitz

Colleges across the country hold billions of dollars in endowment funds, investing in everything from private equity to hedge funds. These institutions have access to elite financial managers and exclusive investment opportunities, yet year after year, they trail behind basic index funds like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100. Over the last decade, college endowments have returned just 67% of the S&P 500’s performance and 37% of the NASDAQ 100’s growth.
Why Ivy Plus Graduates Dominate Leadership Roles in the U.S.

2 months ago | thecollegeinvestor.com | Mark Kantrowitz

Ivy Plus colleges may enroll just a sliver of U.S. students, but their influence stretches far beyond their campuses. Their graduates run Fortune 500 companies, lead groundbreaking research, and shape government policy. From Nobel Prize winners to tech founders, these institutions consistently produce high-profile leaders. But with public confidence in higher education slipping, do the Ivy League and Ivy Plus schools still deserve their elite reputation? What Are The Ivy Plus Colleges?
The End of SAVE: Expect This Student Loan Plan to Disappear in 2025

Feb 11, 2025 | cnet.com | Dana Francisco Miranda |Courtney Johnston |Mark Kantrowitz

There's been a barrage of sweeping executive orders from President Donald Trump's administration since he took office on Jan. 21. Experts say a Biden-era student loan program -- Saving on a Valuable Education student loan repayment plan -- could be next on the chopping block. SAVE is an income-driven student loan repayment plan that was implemented during former President Biden's administration.