Mastering Budget Management: Essential Skills for College Students  Why Budget Management is Crucial  Budget management is a vital skill that benefits you throughout life. Despite its importance, many schools offer limited classes on personal financial management. Instead, focusing on subjects like astrophysics or medieval poetry. The best way to learn good budgeting is through real-life experience. College is an ideal time to develop these skills, preparing students for financial independence after graduation.  Common College Budgeting Questions  As a college student, you ..read more

Navigating Federal Student Loan Aid: Understanding Important Acronyms and Terms Introduction Understanding important acronyms and terms for federal student aid is helpful to better navigate federal student loans. Financing your higher education can be challenging, but understanding the terminology associated with federal student loans can make the process easier. From completing the FAFSA to exploring repayment options, knowing these acronyms and terms is essential. This guide will help you navigate the federal student aid process. Starting by understanding some of the most important acronyms ..read more

Making the Most of Your Summer Before College: 10 Tips for a Memorable and Productive Break  Introduction: Ah, the summer before college—a time of excitement, anticipation, and a touch of nervousness as you prepare to embark on a new chapter of your life. While it’s tempting to spend these precious months lounging by the pool or catching up on Netflix, there are plenty of ways to make your summer both enjoyable and productive. In this article, we’ll explore 10 tips to help you maximize your summer before college, from gaining valuable experiences to preparing for the academic challenges a ..read more

Essential Questions to Ask Before Refinancing Your Student Loans Refinancing student loans can feel complex and overwhelming. To help you navigate this journey, we’ve compiled a list of five essential questions you should ask before refinancing your student loans. 1. Are You Planning on Refinancing Federal Loans, Private Loans, or Both? Federal loans are offered by the government, while private loans come from banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Federal loans provide various benefits, including public service loan forgiveness and income-based repayment options. Forgiveness means you are ..read more

Making the Most of Your Summer Before College: 10 Tips for a Memorable and Productive Summer Break  Introduction: Ah, the summer before college—a time of excitement, anticipation, and a touch of nervousness as you prepare to embark on a new chapter of your life. While it’s tempting to spend these precious months lounging by the pool or catching up on Netflix, there are plenty of ways to make your summer both enjoyable and productive. In this article, we’ll explore 10 tips to help you make the most of your summer before college. From gaining valuable experiences to preparing for the ... Th ..read more

The Summer of Uncertainty: How to Mitigate FAFSA Delays  Federal aid for higher education, a staple in the pursuit to make college admissions more affordable across the United States, has incurred significant delays. The delays are due to the FAFSA Simplification Act, passed in 2022. The act called for changes to the process and methodologies for determining federal student aid eligibility via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The delay has caused a ripple effect felt by students, families, and colleges across the country.   In this time of financial uncertai ..read more

Unlock Your Future with the LendKey Scholarship: Empowering Students for Success  Empowering Students with the LendKey Scholarship  Are you a graduating high school senior or undergraduate college student with big dreams and a passion for academic excellence? Look no further! LendKey is thrilled to announce the launch of our second annual scholarship program, designed to support the aspirations of ten outstanding individuals who are members of our Member Student Lending credit unions.  What is the LendKey Scholarship? When Can You Apply? Who is Eligible? What are the Scholarship ..read more

How to Make the Most Out of Your College Visits  Introduction  Embarking on college visits is an exciting milestone in the journey toward higher education. These visits offer invaluable opportunities to explore campuses, connect with faculty and students, and envision yourself as part of the college community. To ensure you make the most out of your college visit, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide packed with tips and strategies to optimize your experience.  1. Plan and Schedule Your Visit  Before setting foot on campus: Take the time to plan your visit. Research the col ..read more

LendKey partners with Payitoff to help borrowers better manage their federal student loan debt The average federal student loan borrower can save up to $240 per month   Managing federal student loan debt can feel overwhelming. Payments have resumed after three years of being paused due to the CARES Act. For some, just remembering who to pay can be confusing. LendKey is here to help and has partnered with Payitoff, a leader in consumer debt guidance tools, to help navigate federal student loan payments.  When federal student loan payments resumed, the government introduced new income ..read more

Crisp, cool air, the changing of the leaves, and federal student loan payments?! That’s right; this September ushers in more than just the changing of the seasons. For the first time in over three years, federal student loan payments are resuming, and interest will start to accrue, as the U.S. Department of Education is ending its COVID-19 relief for student loans. So, what does that mean for the millions of affected borrowers, some of whom have never made a student loan payment before? The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (2020) provided economic assistance to Americ ..read more