Your only federal student loan consolidation news source! Click on each item to read full story.   Paying off a student loan? New federal program may help read story People trying to pay off student loans might be able to save a little money, thanks to a new loan consolidation program sponsored by the federal government.   What the new student loan plans mean for you read story Unlike a mortgage, with student loans you don't have a tangible asset that you can sell to pay it off and unlike credit card debt, they're notoriously difficult to get rid of even through bankruptcy. Fortunately, two new programs are starting this year to help people tackle this debt.   Cedar Education Lending Announces an Initiative to Help Colleges Provide Private Student Loan Consolidation Options to ... read story Cedar Education Lending announced that it is working with College Financial Aid and Alumni Offices to help spread the word about Private Student Loan Consolidations to recent graduates.New York, NY (PRWEB) January 10, 2012 Cedar Education Lending announced that it is working with College Financial Aid and Alumni Offices to help spread the word about Private Student Loan Consolidations to recent ...   How You Pay for College Almost as Important as What School You Choose read story While many high school students are focused on getting into college, their decision on how they are going to pay for it can make a difference on how they start their financial life after graduation.   Student loan debt keeps going up read story Outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1 trillion in 2011, an amount that now exceeds what the entire nation owes in credit card debt. The amount of money owed on student loans has continued to rise, even as recession-minded consumers pay down debt elsewhere.   'Pay As You Earn': What students need to know read story For families struggling to pay for college, 2012 won't be pretty. This year, interest rates on some federal loans will increase, tuition will go up, and it will become harder to qualify for a full Pell Grant. But there is also some good news.   Can I Combine Parent and Child Student Loans? read story It seems smart to bundle student loans to parents and child, but the strategy faces snags.   Jason Alderman: Easing Student Loan Repayments read story If you're having difficulty paying off your student loans and want to avoid defaulting, Income-Based Repayment and other options are available that might help.   Wonkbook: Robert Kagan, Obama's favorite Romney adviser read story Robert Kagan is a prominent neoconservative who advised John McCain in the 2008 race and is advising Mitt Romney in 2012. But after publishing a cover story in the New Republic arguing against "the myth of American decline," he has found himself a new fan: President Obama. Read full article >>   214 New Laws Take Effect Jan. 1, 2012 read story More than 200 new laws, covering everything from local library boards to murder, will take effect Jan. 1.