"The Illinois Student Assistance Commission says it still has $66 million for low-interest, federally secured loans to students for the 2009-2010 academic year," the Associated Press reports. "Rising tuition costs and changes in federal policy that cut lender profits have made it harder to secure student loans. Some banks have dropped out of the student-loan business completely. The commission says the loans available to students and their families offer more favorable terms than private institutions can."