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A new study conducted by Country Financial reveals that one in four Americans believe a college education isn’t a good financial investment. The belief stems largely from the massive increase in tuition costs seen over the past few years and mounting student loan debt that has come as a result.

26 Percent Say College Isn’t Worth It

By Casey Bond

Just about every industry took a hit from the recent recession and most businesses are still struggling to rebound. That is, except for pawn shops. Interestingly enough, they have actually been on the upswing ever since our economy took a turn for the worse. In both the good times and the bad, however, pawn shop owners are down in the trenches with their customers–typical Americans like you and I–which may give them the most authentic and uncensored look into the true state of our economy.

College tuition is more expensive than ever, leaving many prospective students to wonder whether they should go at all. Of course, there is a lot to gain from attending college for those who can afford it. In addition to knowledge to use in the workforce, a student can gain plenty of personal experiences that last a lifetime.

However, for those who choose not to go to college, there are several high-paying jobs available. They still require training and have a lot of competitors waiting for openings, but if you’re at the right place at the right time, with the right training, you might be able to start a great career that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree.

Major lender Wells Fargo announced this week that it would be offering fixed-rate private student loans. This new loan offer is unique since unlike those offered by the federal government, most student loans from private lenders do not come with fixed rates,

Bank Tries to Compete in Private Sector

Going to court for failing to pay back student loans is not something that most college students consider as they apply for financial aid, but new reports show the Department of Education (DOE) is filing more civil lawsuits against those in student loan default than ever before.

The number of delinquent borrowers has already increased by more than five times since 2006 and is expected to continue rising due to the tough economy. So how can borrowers avoid going to court over their student loans?

Sallie Mae announced on Monday that it has dropped its rates on private student loans in order to become more competitive. The company was once an approved lender of federal student loans, but now has to compete in the private market thanks to changes to the student lending process.

Lender Lowers Interest Rates

A new report from the Federal Reserve revealed that banks are more willing to lend money to borrowers than they have been in 17 years. However, while big banks are more interested in handing out money to individuals than businesses, consumers have shown little interest in taking on loans in general recently.

Banks Show Greatest Desire to Lend to Consumers Since 1994

A community college in Virginia is setting a new lending standard by requiring students to create repayment plans in order to qualify for Federal student loans. While this goes above and beyond requirements issued by the Education Department, the school thinks this approach could work to reduce loan debt for students.

Tidewater Community College Rewrites Lending Rules

Tax time has arrived, which means many people are anticipating a handsome refund check in coming weeks. Indeed, getting your hands on a stack of cash from the government can be exciting, especially if you want to accomplish big goals like making a down payment on a car, adding to your retirement savings or paying down debt.

Some people get so excited about receiving a refund that they don’t even want to wait for the standard 2-6 week period it takes for the government to send the money. Instead, they choose to take out tax refund anticipation loans. So how do these loans work and are they really a good idea?

Everyone experiences a financial emergency at least once in their lives, but not everyone is fully prepared to handle one. Whether it’s an unavoidable car repair or costly trip to the hospital, an unexpected cash need can sometimes require a personal loan to cover expenses until payday. However, what do you do if your credit score isn’t very good and it’s hard to secure a personal line of credit? You’ll likely need a no credit check personal loan to obtain the emergency cash required.

What Is a No Credit Check Personal Loan?