The College Investor Audio Show

The Professional Student Degree Act , introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and several other House Republicans, would expand the list of degrees considered “professional” under federal law . If enacted, the change would allow students in dozens of graduate programs to borrow up to $200,000 in federal Direct Loans - double the cap that would otherwise apply. The proposal comes amidst criticism f...

As federal student loan borrowers weigh their repayment options in 2026 , confusion around the SAVE income-driven repayment plan has grown. Data from the loan servicers is showing backlogs , but the reality is much different for borrowers at this moment. The repayment plan processing backlog is generally overblown and outdated because of applications from last year. Persistent myths that do not re...

For many families, the cost of college feels unknowable until the bills arrive. Sticker prices climb past $70,000 a year at some private colleges , while headlines spotlight rare “full-ride” scholarships . The reality for most households sits somewhere in between — and it looks far different from the prices advertised on college websites. Based on an analysis of federal education data, scholarship...

There are many benefits to receiving one or more private scholarships. It eases the financial burden of getting a college degree and minimizes the need for student loans . And it allows you to focus on your studies while at school. But scholarship applicants can face several potential pitfalls along the way. The odds of winning scholarships are often low, and you must be mindful of scholarship sca...

A tuition payment plan is a lesser-known way to pay for college as you go. It breaks your tuition bill up into smaller payments, allowing you to pay in installments over time. Remember, how you decide to finance your college education is going to be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. While a lot of students opt for student loans or financial aid packages , that isn’t the on...

If you are thinking about diversifying your income, you may be asking yourself, “How do I diversify my income?” It's actually pretty straight forward, and many of us have already created multiple streams of income , we just don’t realize it. The goal of creating multiple income streams should be to maximize your potential in each category available to you. If you are just starting out, it really i...

The debt snowball and debt avalanche are two of the most popular methods for paying off debt. When you first start paying off debt , the most important thing is to have a plan. Without a plan, paying off debt can seem like a daunting task, which will quickly deflate any motivation you have to, you know, actually pay off debt. Having a plan can help you realize that debt is not forever and that it'...

It’s that time of year when we look back on what we have and haven’t accomplished and decide what to tackle in the second half of the year. Even though we're in extraordinary times, most people will still have getting out of debt and building wealth as top goals. If eliminating some of your debt while simultaneously improving other parts of your financial life are among your goals, this post is fo...

Can you imagine a life where you didn’t have to work every day? Instead of needing to work you could work because you wanted to or, you could choose not to work because you wanted to. How? By building a passive income that allows you to make $50,000 per year without working ! Conventional wisdom tells you that the path you’re supposed to live looks like this: Go to College Get a Good Job Get Marri...

When your student loans are discharged due to disability , you may be limited in whether you can work or go to school for a period of time. Otherwise, your student loans may be reinstated. This can be an especially difficult issue to navigate if your loans are discharged while you're attending school, or plan to. And it can happen even if you never planned on asking for a disability discharge. Her...

The Education Department’s latest court-ordered status update shows some progress on one front of the student loan system — and continued delays on another. In a court filing submitted January 14 (PDF File), the department detailed activity from December 1 through December 31, 2025, offering the clearest picture yet of how repayment and forgiveness systems are functioning after months of disruptio...

As federal student loan collections resume, millions of borrowers who fell behind during the pandemic-era pause are again facing wage garnishment, tax refund seizures , and damaged credit. For borrowers already in default, the path back to good standing matters more than ever. One option stands out for many: student loan rehabilitation , a program that allows borrowers to remove the default from t...

When Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , it changed a central feature of how graduate education in the United States is financed. For nearly two decades, federal policy allowed graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance through the Graduate PLUS loan program . That option will end in June 2026. A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Consumer Fi...

Curious how to become a billionaire? It's a question that got me thinking... Earlier this year, I was browsing social media and came across an interesting post. Someone asked a pointed question, which seemed particularly relevant as I was in Las Vegas at the time. “What do you need to do to become a billionaire?” With all of my personal finance and business knowledge, I began to ponder what my top...

The thought of going back to business school appeals to those who want to boost their income and advance in their career. However, business school can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000 per year, so it is critical that the benefits of business school will outweigh the costs. Even the average cost of $60,000 is too expensive to "find yourself". If you're thinking about going to business school...

Is college worth it? The answer depends on how much you spend. That's it. If you spend too much on college, it's not worth it because your lifetime earnings will never recoup the cost you spent so early in life. While the thought of incurring student loan debt makes many prospective students reconsider pursuing post-secondary education, the impact of a degree can still outpace the pain of loan deb...

Ready to start using the best budgeting app to tackle your finances and track your net worth? Organizing your financial life is the first step to growing wealth, and technology can help you move in the right direction - specifically using budgeting apps and money tracking apps. But with the number of apps mushrooming each day, it can be tough to know which to use. After testing and using dozens of...

Federal student loans are a critical component in how families pay for college. Beginning in 2026, new laws will change how much students and parents can borrow and how those student loans are repaid. The changes are significant, especially for graduate students, professional programs, and families that rely on Parent PLUS loans to close college funding gaps. Student loan repayment also faces one...

Americans may be heading into the largest tax refund season on record - even though it may be one of the latest start tax refund seasons in recent memory. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that recent tax law changes could result in tax refunds that are “$1,000 to $2,000” larger for many households when they file their 2025 returns in early 2026. The White House has echoed that claim...

As families juggle decisions about housing, orientation dates, and class schedules, one area that often gets overlooked is life skills . The transition from high school to college is one of the biggest changes a teenager will face. And while some schools may offer a session study habits, far fewer address what it takes to function day to day. The cost of not being prepared can be high. Students wh...

For years, taxpayers have grown accustomed to filing season opening in late January . But for the 2026 tax year , current projections point to a much later start . According to comments from IRS leadership , the agency is preparing for a filing season that could open around Presidents Day: mid-February 2026 . This reflects added workload from new tax law provisions and the need for additional prep...

Close to 90% of the world’s millionaires have some sort of real estate exposure. Real estate investing can help you grow your net worth and develop new forms of income. In the past, real estate investing was primarily for investors who easily qualified for loans—usually those in a higher tax bracket. But today’s changing times and technology have made it more accessible to make small investments....

If your financial aid package falls short of your need, you can ask the college for more financial aid by sending them a financial aid appeal letter. A financial aid appeal is not like a negotiation. It is not like bargaining for a lower price on a car at the car dealership. Most students lack leverage to get the college to throw out its financial aid rulebook. Good grades and test scores, and str...

What can you do if you can't afford college? The answer is duct tape. What? Duct tape has a lot of practical uses, such as reinforcing book bindings, patching holes in backpacks, removing lint and catching bugs. But, what does duct tape have to do with paying for college? Duck brand duct tape sponsors a $10,000 scholarship for making a prom costume out of duct tape. Visit the stuckatprom.com websi...

One of the biggest fears families have about using a 529 plan to save for college is the dreaded 529 plan penalty . There are many ways to save and pay for college , and the absolute best way to do it varies depending on your specific situation. A 529 plan , which is designed to help you with higher education expenses, is a type of tax-advantaged account that allows you to save and invest money. A...