<p>"Finally, students and parents can celebrate a little good news: It’s getting a little easier and cheaper to borrow for higher education.</p>
<p>The government has responded to the credit crunch by allowing all undergraduates to borrow more money from one of the cheapest federal loan programs, cutting interest rates for needy students, and easing repayment for strapped parents. In addition, while turmoil in the financial markets has driven some banks out of the student loan business, it has attracted upstart companies that are now offering students help making alternative arrangements, such as borrowing from rich relatives. So with a little shopping around, students and parents should be able to find lenders offering at least a small discount on modest-size educational loans."</p>
<p>[Cheaper</a>, Bigger, and Cooler Student Loans - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2008/07/01/cheaper-bigger-and-cooler-student-loans.html]Cheaper”>http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/2008/07/01/cheaper-bigger-and-cooler-student-loans.html)</p>