Federal grad loans just got smaller.
Here's exactly what to do next.
Grad Navigator turns tuition, aid and loans into a plan you can actually follow. Free tools, sourced numbers and zero fine print.
Understand the Long-Term Value of Your Degree
Education is an investment. These research-backed statistics show how earning a degree can impact lifetime income.
Source: Social Security Administration research summary
Source: Inside Higher Ed, reporting on American University's Postsecondary Equity & Economics Research (PEER) Center
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW), 'The College Payoff'
Explainers for every decision point
Short and specific, written to meet you right where you are.
Student Loan Interest: by the numbers
Federal student loan rates rose again for the 2026–27 academic year. Here's what that actually costs you, and the one loan type that's now gone for good.
Read article →Borrowing 101 · 3 min readStudent Loan Types
There are three federal loan programs and multiple private options. Here is a cheat sheet breakdown of subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS, and private loans.
Read article →Refinancing · 5 min readRefinancing Student Loans, Explained
Refinancing can cut your interest rate or lower your monthly payment, but can also cost you protections you can't get back once they're gone. Here's the actual tradeoff.
Read article →Ready when you are
Once you know your numbers, applying takes most lenders under 10 minutes. We'll tell you what to have ready first.
Chart your path ↗Do you know how to pay for college?
Watch our plain-language walkthrough on borrowing caps, interest rates, and comparing private student loans.