OLDER AMERICANS Inability to Repay Student Loans May Affect Financial Security of a Small Percentage of Retirees

Since passage of the Higher Education Act of 1965, a broad array of federal student aid programs, including loan programs, have been available to help students finance the cost of postsecondary education.6 Currently, several types of federal student loans administered by Education make up the largest portion of student loans in the United States. Four types of federal student loans are available to borrowers and have features that make them attractive for financing higher education. For example, borrowers are not required to begin repaying most federal student loans until after graduation or when their enrollment status significantly changes.