Wondering which students and families actually get merit-based scholarships and grants at private colleges? We have the data.

Parents of college-bound children who are considering high-cost private non-profit colleges often wonder how to qualify for institutional financial aid. These grants and scholarships may or may not really be based on merit, but rather function as a discount on the cost of attendance.

Students who want to increase their chances of receiving an institutional merit grant at a private non-profit 4-year college should apply to moderately selective colleges (especially higher-cost colleges), have stellar grades and test scores, pick wealthy parents, do not take a gap year and enroll in college full-time.

We look all the statistics of which students are getting institutional merit grants.

When your student loans are discharged due to disability, you may be limited in whether you can work or go to school for a period of time. Otherwise, your student loans may be reinstated.

This can be an especially difficult issue to navigate if your loans are discharged while you're attending school, or plan to. And it can happen even if you never planned on asking for a disability discharge.

Here's what to know about disability discharge, and how to navigate your choices if your loans are automatically forgiven.

Student loan forgiveness applies to a variety of degrees, even trade schools. So even if you went to a trade school, vocational school, or apprenticeship program, you could be eligible to get your student loans forgiven.

If you attended school for HVAC repair, cosmetology, the culinary arts, or any other trade program, your student loans could qualify for one of these student loan forgiveness programs.

We cover the factors that make trade school student loans unique, and how you can figure out whether your trade school loans qualify for loan forgiveness.