Fact Checking the Student Loan Interest Rate Debate

The White House and House Republicans are arguing over two competing proposals to reform how the government sets interest rates on federal student loans. As we wrote two weeks ago, this is a good sign and a big improvement over the debate on the exact same issue from a year ago.

But if you are scratching your head trying to understand how the House plan and the president’s plan are different, it is because they are in fact very similar. Both tie rates to the market. The president’s plan only offers borrowers fixed rates, but the rate offered changes every year. The House plan requires different rates on the same loan while the borrower is in school, but then gives them the option to elect a fixed rate, which, like the president’s plan, is different depending on the year. Under the House plan, borrowers wouldn’t know unless they consolidate their loans exactly how much they owe.

Unfortunately, incomplete and inaccurate information about the pending proposals abounds. In this Ed Money Watch post, we publish an incomplete list of such information along with additional facts to bring more clarity to the debate.