A private student loan can take off some of the sting of collegiate expenses. Everyone knows how intimidating the cost of college can be, so it makes sense to look into as many types of loans as you can. While private student loans tend to have higher interest rates, they are becoming a viable option for many students.
Private versus Federal
A federal student loan comes in a wide range of options. Students can choose from Perkins loans, Stafford loans or PLUS loans. Students who need financial aid to pay for college can also receive money through federal grants or scholarships.
Federal loans will usually have a fixed interest rate for students to pay back after they graduate. A federal student borrowing also offers a student who is having trouble finding a job, or is in financial strain, to defer payments for a period until they are able to pay off the debt. A final bonus to having a federal student borrowing is they can be consolidated into one loan.
Private student loans, on the other hand, are very different from federal loans. Private ones can’t be consolidated after a student graduates from college or graduate school, and there are no limits as to what the interest rate will be for a private loan.
So a student who signs up for a private student borrowing at six percent can end up paying as much as 19 percent after they graduate. Private student loans can also check up on a student’s credit history and charge more if a student has poor credit records or no history at all.
Why Private Loans are on the Rise
There are several obvious benefits to using a federal student lending. The lower interest rate is one of them. On the other hand, a private student one has a reputation for offering a more comprehensive coverage during the course of students’ collegiate careers.
According to Collegebound, tuition and expenses for 4-year of college in the United States increased by five thousand dollars for the 2006-07 academic school years. With these types of costs escalating, parents who are reaching retirement age are finding it hard to fund college and their retirement plan at the same time. Instead of going for a lower amount, but more flexible federal loan, parents are co-signing onto their child’s private loan.
Another reason why a private student loan has become more popular nowadays is the aggressive marketing schemes used by companies who promote private student loans. Students who research various loan sites will encounter thousand upon thousands of possibilities, all offering low rates, and fast application processes. Students who are uninformed about the type of student loans available end up making a poor decision that costs them more money in the end.
Make your time in college – and your time after college – easier by finding the right loan or loans for you. A private student loan will cover your education throughout its entirety and will give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are covered. Speak with your financial advisor to see what they think you ought to do.
By: Mike Selvon
Posts Tagged ‘Stafford Loans’
The Good, the Bad, and the Private Student Loan
May 15th, 2010Consolidating Your Student Loans
January 22nd, 2010
Debt from student loans can be crushing to recent college graduates and get in the way of achieving other life goals. Fortunately, there is a way to reduce the strain on your finances and even improve your credit score. Many graduates are turning to loan consolidating to help manage their loan repayments. The procedure and requirements differ from federal and private loans.
Consolidating Federal Loans
Stafford loans and Federal Perkins loans are examples of federal loans. These loans are given to you by the government and may or may have accrued interest while you were attending school. Consolidating your federal student loans provides a fixed-rate refinancing program that takes all of your existing federal loans and combines them into one new loan. Your monthly student loan repayment could be cut by as much as 50% as well as reduce your interest rate by .6% if you consolidate during your grace period. One monthly payment will help you simplify your finances.
Payment relief
By creating one consolidated loan you can receive payment relief, a lengthening of your repayment term from the standard 10 years to up to 30 years. This frees up your disposable income to spend on other expenses like car payments, housing, and work-related necessities. There are no penalties for overpayment, so when the funds become available you can make larger payments and minimize your repayment term.
Consolidating Private loans
Like federal loans, consolidating private loans means lumping everything into one new loan. To consolidate your private loans from undergraduate school you will have to apply with a qualified co-signer in order to be approved. If you have a graduate degree you do not have to apply with a co-signer.
Some of the benefits include reduced interest rates, rate reductions, deferment, and no prepayment penalties. Loan holders may lower your interest rates if your credit has improved. Applying with a co-signer who has good credit could help you get a lower APR loan. There is a grace period for medical/dental residents as well as military personnel if their private student loans are consolidated. As with federal student loan consolidation, you can also have your repayment period extended allowing you to pay the lowest monthly payment possible.
By: Joseph Devine