From: Phil deHaan (dehp@calvin.edu)
Date: Fri Sep 13 2002 - 10:43:47 EDT
September 13, 2002 == FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More good news today on the Calvin College campus. Fresh off the announcement
of a number-three ranking in the latest U.S. News & World Report college guide
comes news from the Department of Education that Calvin's 2000 default rate on
student loans was one of the lowest in the state.
Calvin had 816 students in fiscal year 2000 repaying government student loans
with just nine of those students in default for a rate of 1.1 percent. That
compares to a national average in 2000 of 5.9 percent.
In fact most local colleges and universities were well below the national
average with Aquinas checking in at 1.4% (down from 3.3% in 1999 and 3.8% in
1998), Hope at 1.8%, Cornerstone at 2.1% and Grand Valley at 3.1%.
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige says: "The national student loan default
rate continues to remain at a historically low level. Student loan repayment,
like other consumer debt, is sensitive to changes in the economy and there is a
slight increase in the default rate this year compared to last year. For this
reason, we need to remain steadfast in our commitment to provide borrowers with
flexible repayment options and to help them keep their monthly payments
manageable."
The national student loan default rate reached a high of 22.4 percent in FY
1990 and declined steadily to the FY 1999 low of 5.6 percent.
Paige credited colleges and universities for their concerted, ongoing efforts
to increase borrower awareness of flexible repayment options that can help them
avoid default. He also cited private sector partners in the loan programs for
their diligent efforts to track borrowers and provide them with financial
counseling to help manage their debt.
Contact Calvin Financial Aid Director Ed Kerestly (CARESS LEE) at 957-6137
NOTE TO EDITORS: Individual school default rates are at:
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/defaultmanagement/cdr.html
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