"At many colleges across the nation, as administrators fret about the effects of a worsening economy, students arriving this fall will get more help securing jobs and more advice on paying for their educations," The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. "Yet as banks tighten standards for private college loans, families and institutions remain uncertain about whether such incremental steps will be enough to keep large numbers of students from bailing out. Largely untouched by the federal bailout is the less-regulated and quickly expanding market in private loans, which banks issue to students without government subsidies or repayment guarantees. That lack of government protection means many students and their families, as economic conditions worsen, may face greater restrictions and costlier terms as they seek private loans to cover gaps left by federal loans."