Julie Shields-Rutyna, Senior Director of College Planning at Massachusetts Education Financing AuthorityPhoto: Massachusetts Education Financing Authority
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — For families with college bound kids, navigating the student loan process may be confusing and stressful.
Julie Shields-Rutyna, the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority (MEFA)'s senior director of college planning, education and training, told WBZ NewsRadio that they get thousands of calls for help a year, especially right now as the new school year is just weeks away.
On Tuesday, MEFA hosted a free virtual 'helpline' event to help families that recently got their first bill and need to figure out how to pay it. Shields-Rutyna says the aim is to make an intimidating process feel less daunting.
“The nice thing about this hotline is that the family will get paired one-on-one with an expert, so it’s very individualized conversation,” Shields-Rutyna said.
According to the Education Data Initiative, nearly 60% of Massachusetts residents under the age of 35 are in student loan debt, with an average of more than $35,000.
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Tuesday’s helpline is just one of the many events MEFA hosts throughout the year to set up long-term connections with the parents and students.
“Our goal is really to talk to families for many years, so they feel great when they’re at this stage,” she continued.
For more on MEFA events, visit the website here.
It's also a confusing time for people trying to pay off their loans, with a Biden-era repayment plan canceled and an overhaul of borrowing rules within the recently passed federal spending package. Borrowers can reach out to the state's 'Student Loan Assistance Unit' through the Attorney General's office.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Madison Rogers (@madisonWBZ) reports.