Feenstra Leads Legislation to Help Students Comprehend Full Cost of Student Loans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced legislation to help aspiring college students understand the full cost and implications of taking out student loans.
The Student Transparency for Understanding Decisions in Education Net Terms (STUDENT) Act would provide student loan applicants with an estimate of the total amount of interest they would pay – based on a standard 10-year repayment plan – during or prior to accepting a loan.
U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
“As a father of four, ensuring that our kids can pursue educational opportunities and build a future career is important to me. Whether it’s community college or a four-year university, students need to fully understand the cost of taking out student loans, especially the amount of their interest payments. But currently, there is no requirement to explain how much the full cost of a loan would be when considering interest,” said Rep. Feenstra. “That’s why I introduced legislation to provide students with an estimate of how much they would pay in interest over the term of their loan. This fix will help keep students out of mountains of unsustainable debt while ensuring that the next generation can chase their dreams and pursue fulfilling educational opportunities.”
“Students and their families deserve to know exactly what they’re taking on to make informed financial decisions about their education,” said Rep. Hinson. “I’m proud to cosponsor this bill to give students real transparency about the true cost of their loans so they can make the choices that set them up for success.”
Current law does not require the disclosure of the total interest amount that a student loan applicant would pay based on the applicable repayment plan.
As a result, many students are not aware of the actual amount they will end up paying over the life of a loan. The STUDENT Act makes the disclosure of the total interest amount required during or before an applicant takes out a loan.
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