If you have a student loan or are considering your options for a loan, this episode is for you. The hosts of Making Cents of Money discuss the latest updates of repayment plans and break down how the decisions you make now will impact your financial future.
Show Notes:
Federal Resources
• U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Federal Student Aid. StudentAid.gov. https://studentaid.gov
• Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion. (n.d.). Annual Credit Report. AnnualCreditReport.com. https://www.annualcreditreport.com
University of Illinois System Resources
• University of Illinois System, University Bursar. (2025). Know what you owe. https://paymybill.uillinois.edu/student_loans/know_what_you_owe
• University of Illinois System, Student Money Management Center. (n.d.). Student loans. https://www.studentmoney.uillinois.edu/learn/studentloans
Prior Related Making Cents of Money Podcast Episodes
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness (ep. 48): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1805186696
• Paying for College with Scholarships (ep. 52): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/19876420
• Return to Repayment Update (ep. 60): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/2144507315
• Understanding FAFSA (ep. 72): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/180972984
• Loan Payments Resumed in October (ep. 73): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1498217343
• April 30th Student Loan Deadline (ep. 81): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/706826894
• Back to School: College and Credit (ep. 90): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1942070018
• PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance (ep. 92): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/514139128
• On-Ramp to Repayment Ends 9/30 for Federal Loan Borrowers (ep. 93): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/699654176
• Federal Student Loan Updates [Debt Collection Resumes] (ep. 110): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1101960728
• The Role of Loan Servicers (ep. 114): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/681485881
Webinar Recording
• Pellegrini, A., & Giancola-Shank, N. (2025, March 6). Student loan management #GetSavvy webinar recording [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_9duc7kvTqg?si=gZGRCFfSTAJ3HF6A
Register for April 2026 Student Loan Repayment webinar at https://go.uillinois.edu/getsavvywebinars.
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If you have a student loan or are considering your options for a loan, this episode is for you. The hosts of Making Cents of Money discuss the latest updates of repayment plans and break down how the decisions you make now will impact your financial future.
Show Notes:
Federal Resources
• U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Federal Student Aid. StudentAid.gov. https://studentaid.gov
• Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion. (n.d.). Annual Credit Report. AnnualCreditReport.com. https://www.annualcreditreport.com
University of Illinois System Resources
• University of Illinois System, University Bursar. (2025). Know what you owe. https://paymybill.uillinois.edu/student_loans/know_what_you_owe
• University of Illinois System, Student Money Management Center. (n.d.). Student loans. https://www.studentmoney.uillinois.edu/learn/studentloans
Prior Related Making Cents of Money Podcast Episodes
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness (ep. 48): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1805186696
• Paying for College with Scholarships (ep. 52): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/19876420
• Return to Repayment Update (ep. 60): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/2144507315
• Understanding FAFSA (ep. 72): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/180972984
• Loan Payments Resumed in October (ep. 73): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1498217343
• April 30th Student Loan Deadline (ep. 81): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/706826894
• Back to School: College and Credit (ep. 90): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1942070018
• PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance (ep. 92): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/514139128
• On-Ramp to Repayment Ends 9/30 for Federal Loan Borrowers (ep. 93): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/699654176
• Federal Student Loan Updates [Debt Collection Resumes] (ep. 110): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1101960728
• The Role of Loan Servicers (ep. 114): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/681485881
Webinar Recording
• Pellegrini, A., & Giancola-Shank, N. (2025, March 6). Student loan management #GetSavvy webinar recording [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_9duc7kvTqg?si=gZGRCFfSTAJ3HF6A
Register for April 2026 Student Loan Repayment webinar at https://go.uillinois.edu/getsavvywebinars.
Happy May 29 – also known as 529 Day, which celebrates 529 college savings programs! We partner with the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer to highlight the two nationally acclaimed 529 programs they manage: Bright Start and Bright Directions. Learn more about both in our latest episode of Making Cents of Money!
Government Resources & Tax Information
•Internal Revenue Service. (2025). About Publication 970: Tax benefits for education. https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-970
•Internal Revenue Service. (2024). 529 plans: Questions and answers. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/529-plans-questions-and-answers
•Internal Revenue Service. (2025). American opportunity tax credit. https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/aotc
•Internal Revenue Service. (2025). Lifetime learning credit. https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/llc
College Cost Planning Tools
•College Board. (2024). Big Future: How much will college cost. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/get-started
•College Board. (2024). Trends in college pricing and student aid 2024. https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing
•U.S. News & World Report. (2024). Net price calculator guide. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/features/net-price-calculator
•University of Illinois System Net Price Calculators
oUniversity of Illinois Chicago. https://docs.financialaid.uic.edu/
oUniversity of Illinois Springfield. https://www.uis.edu/financial-aid/cost-attendance/net-price-calculator
oUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. https://secure.osfa.illinois.edu/NPC/NPC.asp
Research & Data
•Sallie Mae. (2024). How America pays for college 2024. https://www.salliemae.com/about/leading-research/how-america-pays-for-college/
•U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Post-secondary employment outcomes (PSEO) database. https://lehd.ces.census.gov/applications/pseo/?type=earnings&compare=postgrad&specificity=2&state=08&institution=08°reelevel=05&gradcohort=0000-3&filter=75&program=52
Illinois 529 Plan Information
•Bright Start college savings program. https://www.brightstart.com
•Bright Directions college savings program. https://www.brightdirections.com
•Flywire partners with Ascensus to digitize 529 college savings plan payments. https://ir.flywire.com/news-releases/news-release-details/flywire-partners-ascensus-digitize-529-college-savings-plan
Video Resources
•Get Savvy Series: Investing 101 - Wealth building basics. https://youtu.be/wXkrLQd10Yg?si=pYVOYL6_OU6KJJvV
•Get Savvy Series: Investing 102 - Risks & rewards. https://youtu.be/qXZrktJwOtQ?si=LddQF-R9ycxYAK-Z
U of I SMMC Blog Articles
•Mutual funds vs exchange traded funds. https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1323172623
•How the Rule of 72 can help you build wealth—or sink deeper into debt. https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/446933598
Relevant Previous Episodes
•Saving for College with a 529 Savings Plan (Ep. 11) https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/2145536872
•Choosing a financial professional (Ep. 25) https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/518681996
•Investing to reach financial goals (Ep. 57) https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1002945600
•World investor week (Ep. 71). https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1405333500
Making Cents of Money
If you have a student loan or are considering your options for a loan, this episode is for you. The hosts of Making Cents of Money discuss the latest updates of repayment plans and break down how the decisions you make now will impact your financial future.
Show Notes:
Federal Resources
• U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Federal Student Aid. StudentAid.gov. https://studentaid.gov
• Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion. (n.d.). Annual Credit Report. AnnualCreditReport.com. https://www.annualcreditreport.com
University of Illinois System Resources
• University of Illinois System, University Bursar. (2025). Know what you owe. https://paymybill.uillinois.edu/student_loans/know_what_you_owe
• University of Illinois System, Student Money Management Center. (n.d.). Student loans. https://www.studentmoney.uillinois.edu/learn/studentloans
Prior Related Making Cents of Money Podcast Episodes
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness (ep. 48): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1805186696
• Paying for College with Scholarships (ep. 52): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/19876420
• Return to Repayment Update (ep. 60): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/2144507315
• Understanding FAFSA (ep. 72): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/180972984
• Loan Payments Resumed in October (ep. 73): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1498217343
• April 30th Student Loan Deadline (ep. 81): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/706826894
• Back to School: College and Credit (ep. 90): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1942070018
• PSLF Seekers in SAVE: Costs of Administrative Forbearance (ep. 92): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/514139128
• On-Ramp to Repayment Ends 9/30 for Federal Loan Borrowers (ep. 93): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/699654176
• Federal Student Loan Updates [Debt Collection Resumes] (ep. 110): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/1101960728
• The Role of Loan Servicers (ep. 114): https://blogs.uofi.uillinois.edu/view/7550/681485881
Webinar Recording
• Pellegrini, A., & Giancola-Shank, N. (2025, March 6). Student loan management #GetSavvy webinar recording [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_9duc7kvTqg?si=gZGRCFfSTAJ3HF6A
Register for April 2026 Student Loan Repayment webinar at https://go.uillinois.edu/getsavvywebinars.
