Elizabeth Warren

Republican and Democratic lawmakers Wednesday questioned the merits of alternative learning models, as the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the law that governs federal financial student aid.

If you’ve been on a college campus lately, you might have noticed a few amenities - fancy welcome centers, golf courses, and saunas. Of course, these things cost money and therefore tuition and fees. But are they responsible for rising tuition?

Senator Elizabeth Warren is renewing her effort to help former college students pay back their student loan debt. 

Warren wants to bring high student loan interest rates down to the rates that are offered to new borrowers this year.

Earlier this week, WGBH’s On Campus caught up with the senator shortly after she left the floor of the Senate where she filed a bill to do just that. 

For years, the Higher Education Act has set the ground rules for all federal financial aid to students. Now, the Act is up for reauthorization.

To prepare for the day when Congress has to give its stamp of approval on the massive bill, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has begun holding hearings on provisions lawmakers want to re-evaluate.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is once again taking on college affordability. Her latest effort would allow students to refinance their college loans the same way you might refinance your mortgage or car payments.

For students and their families, it's college application season. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren was in Boston Wednesday to urge students to fill out their federal financial aid forms and talk about ways to make college more affordable. Warren also announced she would introduce legislation to assist borrowers in refinancing high interest rates on load debt.

Throughout her time in office, Warren has defended federal support for higher education. Today, 57 percent of all undergraduates receive some kind of federal aid. That’s up from 47 percent five years ago.