Rebecca Safier

Cambridge

Personal Finance Writer at Freelance

Freelance personal finance writer + certified student loan counselor. Former senior writer for @LendingTree. Blogging enthusiast / founder of https://t.co/AJsd2cuGP1

Featured in: Favicon

forbes.com Favicon

msn.com

businessinsider.com Favicon

wsj.com

cbsnews.com Favicon

cnet.com

huffpost.com Favicon

time.com

usatoday.com Favicon

yahoo.com (+3) + 102 more

Articles

Best Parent PLUS Loan Refinancing Options for 2025

2 weeks ago | credible.com | Rebecca Safier

Student loans aren't just for students; parents can borrow them, too. In fact, 3.6 million Americans owe more than $110 billion in parent PLUS loans — the federal loan option for parent borrowers — as of the fourth quarter of 2024. However, parent PLUS loans have the highest interest rates and the least repayment flexibility of all federal student loans. If you have a parent PLUS loan and are looking to lower your cost of borrowing, refinancing with a better interest rate could offer a solution.
Is This Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Getting Rescued?

1 month ago | cnet.com | Rebecca Safier

Can the SAVE student loan plan be saved? Democratic lawmakers are attempting a rescue. Led by Sens. Jeff Merkley and Tim Kaine, a group of Democrats put forth the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) Act, which would codify President Joe Biden's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan and offer new protections for student loan borrowers.
Can the SOAR Act Rescue the SAVE Student Loan Plan? Expert Advice for Borrowers

1 month ago | cnet.com | Rebecca Safier

Money Loans There's a Hail Mary to keep the Saving on a Valuable Education student loan plan afloat, but don't bank on it. Rebecca Safier Contributor Rebecca Safier is a personal finance writer and certified student loan counselor who specializes in student debt, personal loans, and budgeting.
Sorry, Your Student Loan Debt Isn't Erased Because DOGE Accessed It

1 month ago | cnet.com | Rebecca Safier

Money Loans TikTok's student loan forgiveness videos are misleading borrowers. Here's the truth. Rebecca Safier Contributor Rebecca Safier is a personal finance writer and certified student loan counselor who specializes in student debt, personal loans, and budgeting. Previously a senior writer for LendingTree and Student Loan Hero, Rebecca's work has been published in NextAdvisor with TIME, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Advisor, MarketWatch, and other publications.
Sorry, Your Student Loan Debt Isn't Erased Because DOGE Accessed It

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Rebecca Safier

If you've scrolled through TikTok lately, you might have seen videos claiming you can get your student loans forgiven because Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency illegally accessed your student loan data. "Elon Musk just made a massive mistake," one TikToker said on March 14. "As a result of this mistake, people are getting their student loans forgiven and removed off of their credit report."If this all sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.
Citizens Bank Student Loans Review

2 months ago | wsj.com | Rebecca Safier

Citizens Bank is a Rhode Island-based bank that offers student loan options for undergraduates, graduate students and parents, as well as loyalty discounts for existing banking customers. The lender also stands out for its multi-year approval program, which makes it easy to take out additional loans each year you're in school, without impacting your credit. Unlike some other lenders, Citizens student loans are available to both U.S. citizens and international students with a U.S.-based cosigner.
College Ave Student Loans Review

2 months ago | wsj.com | Rebecca Safier

Launched in 2014 by two former Sallie Mae executives, College Ave is an online lender offering private student loans for undergraduates, graduates and parents of students. Borrowers who graduated with a degree can also refinance their student loans with College Ave. College Ave doesn't disclose its minimum credit score requirement for student borrowers. However, it doesn't have a minimum credit score for borrowers that apply with cosigners.
LendKey Student Loans Review

2 months ago | wsj.com | Rebecca Safier

Founded in 2009, LendKey is a digital loan marketplace that connects borrowers with private student loans and student loan refinancing options. Through partnerships with community banks and credit unions, LendKey offers benefits like competitive rates and community-focused lending. Unlike for-profit banks, nonprofit credit unions generally offer lower fees and better rates, while community banks often invest in local businesses and community projects.
EdvestinU Student Loans and Refinancing Review

2 months ago | wsj.com | Rebecca Safier

EdvestinU provides private student loans and refinancing options for students across the country through Granite Edvance Corporation, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit. New Hampshire students can benefit from lower interest rates and in-person counseling from EdvestinU. Both fixed and variable interest rates are available, along with repayment terms up to 20 years.
Everything You Need to Know About Income-Driven Repayment

2 months ago | wsj.com | Rebecca Safier

People with federal student loans — representing more than 90% of all student loan debt — have four income-driven plans to choose from. The newest option, introduced by the Biden administration and called the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, Plan, was on hold as of July 2024 with existing participants' loans in interest-free forbearance amid legal challenges expected to ultimately be resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court.