"A long-standing federal student loan program that helps low income students is an endangered species in Minnesota," Minnesota Public Radio reports. "The Perkins loan program - geared toward students with limited income and low or no credit - has faded or disappeared at many institutions this year. Lawmakers created the loan 50 years ago to increase the country's competitive advantage. Now the loan is struggling to survive. Many financial aid officials are reluctant to talk about the loss of Perkins for fear of fueling a sense of doom for students looking for ways to cover the increasing costs of higher education."