Best Companies for Student Loans

In 2018, most companies know how important diversity is — after all, diversity can boost innovation, productivity and even financial performance. But despite that, many companies still struggle when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Some companies don’t view it as a top business priority, some don’t know how to start and still others are paying lip service only without taking real action. But make no mistake — there are companies out there that are getting it right.

To identify and honor these forward-thinking companies, Thompson Reuters recently released their 2018 Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Index. After factoring in environmental, social and governance data, Thompson Reuters assigned D&I scores to over 7,000 companies. Below are 20 companies with among the highest scores — if you’re looking for a company where you can bring your whole self to work, check out their job opportunities and apply today!

1. Accenture
2. Woolworths Group
3. Microsoft
4. Eli Lilly and Company
5. Nestlé
6. UCB
7. Bristol-Myers Squibb
8. Acciona
9. Kering
10. Gap Inc.

If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest.   

If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. Student loans can come from the federal government, from private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or from other organizations. Loans made by the federal government, called federal student loans, usually have more benefits than loans from banks or other private sources. 

What types of federal student loans are available?

1. The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender.
2. Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school. 
3. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need.
4. Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. 
5. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.
6. Direct Consolidation Loans allow you to combine all of your eligible federal student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer.

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) provided students of color with access to higher education during a time of legal segregation.

It wasn’t until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that segregation in public places was banned and employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion was outlawed.

Today, there are over 100 HBCUs across the U.S. granting degrees to students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Many of these schools have managed to keep costs low despite having smaller endowments than historically white colleges, according to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Annual tuition and fees at Spelman College, for instance, the most expensive school on this list, add up to $28,181. That’s several thousand dollars less than the national average of $32,410 for private four-year colleges.

Most affordable public HBCUs

When you research colleges, you’ll typically find the lowest tuition and fees at public colleges and universities in your state. Out-of-state students, however, might find that the costs aren’t much lower than they would be at a private college or university.

Remember that those costs are just the sticker price. You might qualify for grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, all of which could decrease your net cost of attendance.

It’s also important to factor in cost of living, which can vary widely from, say, a rural town in Mississippi to downtown Houston.