Thousands of college students with Michigan Education Trust contracts could be eligible for more financial assistance, thanks to a change in how financial need is calculated.
The new rules are part of the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and take effect Saturday. But it's not immediately clear how many colleges will make the changes or have additional resources available to benefit students this fall.
Michigan State University has mailed out letters to about 200 returning students with MET contracts who have applied for financial aid in past years. Letters to incoming freshmen soon will be sent, said Linda Sigh, associate director of the Office of Financial Aid.
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Students who want to attend graduate school but think they cannot afford the cost now have an option. Federal Graduate Plus Student Loans are convenient and manageable, and while they feature parent loan benefits, the funds are disbursed direct to the student, according to Phoenix-based NextStudent, a premier education funding company.
Graduate Plus Loan rates start as low as 8.5 percent and the loans can completely pay for tuition, books and even computers. They can be available despite a borrower's credit score.
Most important, NextStudent's Graduate Plus Loan program has a host of benefits and incentives, making it easier for student borrowers to get to and through graduate school. Incentives include:
-- For student borrowers who sign up for Auto-Debit and pay their first on-time monthly payment, NextStudent will pay a 3 percent cash rebate of the entire loan amount.