Do you or your children need money to pay for school, college or graduate programs?
As more and more diverse students consider private elementary, middle and high schools, and as increasing numbers of college-age students enter four year institutions or graduate programs, many families, and especially families of color, continue to have conversations about how to pay for their child’s education. According to parents and families from across the U.S., there is never enough financial support available to cover all of the expenses, from tuition and books to housing and transportation, linked to getting a great education. And, now, Urban Ed Express, a nationwide minority-owned student loan company affiliated with Urban Trust Bank and founded by Bob Johnson in partnership with a group of investors, including Goldman Sachs, will be able to work with students and parents to make their education dreams a reality.

     The cost of college today is higher than ever, averaging more than $13,000 annually at public four-year institutions and nearly $30,000 at private four-year schools. Each year, the skyrocketing costs prevent an estimated 400,000 high school seniors from going to college because they lack the resources to pay. The mission of Urban Ed Express, is to provide financing to help students fulfill their educational goals and work with schools and families to provide quality customer service and competitive student loan products. Student loans may be used for college, but also can be used to secure loans for private, independent elementary, middle and high schools. Launched in October 2006, the company offers a wide range of student loan products that feature competitive interest rates and generous borrower benefits.

  "We are dedicated to helping students and families succeed in paying for college,” says Robert Johnson. “Our mission goes beyond providing loans to providing information about college financing options.  More than anything else, we want students and families to borrow wisely.”
  
     Dwight L. Bush, chairman of Urban Ed Express, said,   "Urban Ed Express has stepped in and stepped up to help bridge the affordability gap. Our company seeks to help students attend schools that match their academic potential, regardless of the costs.  We see ourselves as not only a financial resource but a source of motivation, too. One student we knew wanted to go to Temple University and couldn’t pay for it. We want to let people know that there are products out there to help make their dreams of getting a great education a reality.  And, we know that there are a lot of students and families who need what we provide."

      In 2005, the gap in college enrollment between White and Black students was 17.5 percent, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES).  Some 73.2 percent of white recent high school graduates enrolled in college that year compared to 55.7 percent of Black recent high school graduates. Likewise, the average gap in graduation rates between White and Black students is 18 percentage points, according to a longitudinal study released by NCES in October 2006. 

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