Students and colleges across the United States are facing financial problems such as plummeting endowments, late or nonexistent payments on donations from donors, and student-loan shortages from financial lenders, reports The Washington Post.

Some colleges are trying to remedy the situation by offering alternative student-loan options and emergency grants for items such as food and books. Public universities are also suffering, as at least 17 states have made cuts to higher-education budgets. Some schools are postponing or reconsidering capital campaigns in light of the economy, reports the newspaper.

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