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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Student Aid At Stake In Debt Crisis


College students heading back to school in the next few weeks could get caught in financial limbo if Congress doesn't make a deal to keep United States from defaulting on its debt.

Nobody knows for sure what will happen. But student financial aid will be among the tough choices for Treasury, as it figures out what bills get paid, if Congress fails to meet an Aug. 2 deadline to raise the cap on federal borrowing and defaults on its debt.

At stake is some $800 billion in student financial aid, ranging from Pell Grants to direct student loans.

Even though many students have already gotten word of their grant or loan levels for fall semester, in many cases, the money hasn't been dispersed and won't be available until school starts this fall.

"I don't think anyone's certain, exactly, what will happen," said Haley Chitty, spokesman for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Department of Education spokesman Sara Gast said the agency is working with the Treasury Department, and can't yet offer details as to how financial aid could be impacted.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Democrat strategy.
#1- Scare old people = check
#2- Scare young people = check

Anonymous said...

When you think of the financial collapse of the country vs cutting student aid back a bit if needed is there really an argument?

Anonymous said...

b.s. phone call generator....