November 25, 2009
Official Comment on Self-Certification Form
The Institute for College Access & Success
The self-certification form must be filled out by students applying for a private student loan, starting in February 2010. This new process is the result of a provision in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Our official public comments suggest ways to better accomplish Congress’s intent, to make sure students know about cheaper, safer federal aid options and seek counsel from the financial aid office before taking out a private student loan.
Read the comments
See the form wtih our suggested edits(.pdf)
Featured Reports
Student Debt and the Class of 2008
Our student debt report for the class of 2008 found college seniors carried an average of $23,200 in student loan debt while unemployment climbed to 10.6 percent.
Our report exposes wide variations in financial aid policies and
practices at the state’s community colleges, which can have a major
impact on students’ access to available aid.
Going to the Source: A Practical Way to Simplify the FAFSA
Our new report outlines a way to make applying for financial aid
easier, safer, and more accurate by using income data the federal
government already collects to answer many of the most difficult
questions on the FAFSA.
