student loans

Do Student Loans Hurt Your Credit Score?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

By itself, taking out a student loan will not hurt your credit score. In fact, simply taking out a student loan will neither hurt nor benefit your credit score. How you handle your loan payments it what will impact your credit. If you miss a payment for any reason, that will hurt your score. On …

questions & answers

Can A Scholarship Expire?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

When applying for a scholarship (or after you’ve been awarded one), it’s important to understand how their specific terms and how they work. One question you might be asking yourself is “Can they expire?” Here’s what you need to know about expiration dates and your scholarship: Can They Expire? Some students who win scholarships wonder …

student loans

How Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Works

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

With the cost of college tuition becoming more expensive every year, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for students to realize their higher education dreams without taking a loan. However, while this solves one problem it does create another in that students bear the burden of having to return that loan with a huge interest …

financial aid

What Happens to Financial Aid for Transfer Students?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 25, 2025

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, about 33% of students choose to transfer schools at least once within their collegiate career. While transferring schools may make you happier in the long run, it’s no easy task, and shouldn’t be done lightly. In fact, a big consideration transfer students might forget about in the shuffle is …

scholarship search & applications

Questions To Ask Your Scholarship Provider

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Don’t know something? Ask! It’s always important to seek clarification to confirm or clear up confusion. This rings especially true when dealing with financial aid and your future college education. So if you have questions surrounding a scholarship, best ask the provider themselves! Here are a few things you should definitely clarify: How much is …

scholarship search & applications

Common Mistakes Students Make While Searching for Scholarships

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Scholarships and grants are the ideal way to pay for college. Scholarships are gift-aid, so you don’t need to pay them back after graduating. Awarded for multiple reasons, there’s a scholarship out there for everyone. Do you have great grades? What about pursuing a certain academic interest? Super involved in your community? Are you part …

financial aid

What Can Prevent You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 12, 2025

Key takeaways Federal financial aid for students includes direct loans, Pell Grants, the work-study program, and more. Certain factors can impact financial aid eligibility, such as citizenship status, education history, and demonstrated need. Always complete the FAFSA even if you don’t qualify for federal assistance as schools often use the form to determine institutional aid. …

questions & answers

Are Scholarships Considered Taxable Income?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Money always seems to be fraught with complications. Who wants to worry about taxes while figuring out financial aid and how to pay for your college education. Hopefully, this article will help clarify and simplify some questions you may have. So, are scholarships taxable income? It depends on what you use their funds for. Tuition …

questions & answers

Can a Student Receive Both Merit-Based and Need-Based Aid?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

While you’re applying to financial aid, you may come across need-based and merit-based aid. What do those two terms mean though? Need-based aid is awarded on the basis of financial need. Students can (and should) file the FAFSA to discover need-based award opportunities. Those come in the forms of scholarships, grants, work studies, and loans. …

student loans

Stats about Student Loans

By Morgan StaubLast updated on December 22, 2022

A great man named Jay-Z once said, “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.”  This mantra seems to hold true in nearly all areas of life, especially when it comes to the hot-button issue of student loans. As student loan debt and financial aid has recently become a polarizing—and often politicized—issue, the most straightforward information often …