Mark Kantrowitz
Expertise
- Financial aid
- 529 plans
- Student loans
- Scholarships
Education
- MS Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
- BS Mathematics, MIT
- BS Philosophy, MIT
Affiliations
Awards, Licenses, and Certifications
Publications
Other Publications
- The Student Loan Repayment Pause Is Almost Over. Here’s How to Prepare (The Wall Street Journal)
- Could The Federal Government Re-Privatize Student Loans? (The College Investor)
- How to Get Student Loans For College (USA Today)
- Game Over for Student-Loan Forgiveness (Barron's)
- What's Next for Student Loan Forgiveness (Forbes)
Mark Kantrowitz helps students and their families make smarter, more informed decisions about planning and paying for college. Mark has written five bestselling books about scholarships and financial aid and has also written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, CNET, and Forbes. He has been quoted in more than 10,000 newspaper and magazine articles about college admissions and financial aid.
He also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Student Financial Aid and the board of trustees of the Center for Excellence in Education. Mark has testified about student aid policy before Congress as well as federal and state agencies on several occasions.
Mark has two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy from MIT and a master’s degree in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. He also holds eight patents.
The New York Times interviewed Mark on federal student loan interest rising. CNBC interviewed him on what to know about student loan forgiveness. Yahoo!Finance interviewed him on the future of student loan forgiveness. ABC News interviewed him on student loan rates. MassMutual interviewed him on how to get a scholarship. U.S. News & World Report cited his research on student loan debt in America. NPR interviewed him on decoding financial aid letters.
Kantrowitz is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
Read Mark Kantrowitz's Latest Articles
FAFSA Income Limits: How Much Income Is Too Much?
Learn why the FAFSA is worth filing, no matter how high, or low, your annual income is.
April 24, 2026
Should I Claim My College Student as a Dependent?
How and when to claim your college student as a dependent is a decision many parents face during tax season. Read our guide to understand the benefits.
April 24, 2026
Financial Aid for Veterans and Military Service Members
Veterans and service members have many options to pay for college beyond VA benefits. Learn how financial aid for veterans works.
January 6, 2026
Scholarships for Healthcare Students
Are you studying healthcare? Discover dozens of scholarships for healthcare students to help offset the cost of tuition.
November 7, 2025
Scholarships for Online College Students
Online students can qualify for many of the same financial aid opportunities as on-campus students. Check out these 16 scholarships for online students.
September 26, 2025
