"Despite the Federal Reserve's latest rate cuts, lenders are raising rates and fees on some student loans -- and making others harder to get," The Wall Street Journal reports. "In recent months, average rates on private student loans have increased by about 0.5% to 1%, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org. Last month, for example, MRU Holdings Inc.'s MyRichUncle raised some rates on its private student loans, following College Loan Corp. and SLM Corp.'s Nellie Mae, which raised rates on their private student loans last year. Some borrowers, especially those with less-than-perfect credit, will likely have a harder time getting a government-backed federal loan, as lenders tighten up their standards and pare back their offerings in response to the credit crunch and recent legislation. Some borrowers, especially those with less-than-perfect credit, will likely have a harder time getting a government-backed federal loan, as lenders tighten up their standards and pare back their offerings in response to the credit crunch and recent legislation."