It's college application season and students around the country
are busy filling out forms for college. As they send off their
applications, many worry not just about getting into the right
school, but also about paying for it once they do. For many
students today, the dream of going to college can only be
realized by borrowing money... lots of money. The problem is
that far too often, students are signing on the dotted line for
loans they don't fully understand. The Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (CFPB), established last year by the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, wants to
help students and their families better understand their loan
options. It's time to create a student loan market where costs
and risks are clear. The price of college is soaring. The
average total cost of tuition, room, board, and fees for an in-
state student at a public four-year college is $17,000 this
year, according to the College Board. At private non-profit
colleges, the average total cost this year i