You're currently browsing the students loan section

Student Loan Repayments: Several Options in the Hard Times

Published: Jun 30th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

Most of us go to universities presuming that student loan repayments will be easily paid by greater income a university tile promises us. Reports say that the average student debts presently is around $21,899. What is worse, the student loan default rates are rising, so the number of people who went into trouble is increasing. In 2008, Citigroup wrote off 2.3% of student debt. So did SLM Corp (Sallie Mae) that wrote off 3.4% of troubled loans.

All university graduates got themselves a six month repayment holiday on the federal student loan. Sadly this also means that loan forbearance and loan deferment have become a necessity.

Loan forbearance allows a graduate to put off his or her repayment for up to three years. It really helps tackling short-term financial trickiness, but in the long run you will start dragging it like a tail that just gets bigger and bigger. For instance, not making repayments for 12 months on a $30,000 student loan at 7% will add $2,100 to the amount you owed. Loan forbearance lasts for a maximum of 12 months.

Loan Deferment is likely found better, by those with federal loans, than loan forbearance. This is because the government pays the interest on subsidized federal loans. Nevertheless, this is not the case for those who are struggling with unsubsidized and PLUS loans.

How to lower your loan repayments? Extending the term can trim down your student loan repayments significantly. It can be a great choice for those who graduated and enter career that will likely grow especially in the income. However, this option can also increase your debt as more interest will mount up.

Student Debt Alternate Repayment Plan. Most of us with low income job will find this a help. You can make repayment based on your income. The payment is limited to 15% of your income and the remaining amount is written off after 25 years of repayments. How cool is that?

Although graduates with federal loans are offered more helpful alternatives, those who took out private loans may have the flexibility of negotiating with the lender.

The Importance of Having Loan for Education (student loan)

Published: Jun 17th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

Education is one of the basic needs for us who live in the modern age. Without education, we will not be capable to compete in this fast-moving world. Education encourages us to develop; to grow into better person; to adapt in the movement and various conditions. Education had proven itself to be the mover of the technology. Without education, our worlds would never be like we have today.

Every person has right to get a good education. Whenever the basic education has passed and the higher grade of education is waiting, it is our decision to continue or not. If we decide to continue, some conditions are waiting also; tuition fees, many insurances, daily needs, books, home stays, and etc.  It will not be a problem if we have enough money to pay them. If not, we should consider again. Since the education is basic need and the good education is a right for everyone, one of the best solutions is by getting loans for education.

Today, many institutions offer various loans on education. The basic conditions are usually on the willing to study; the colleges or universities; and the will to repay after her/him graduate and works. The educational loans are usually easy to apply and get. So, now, higher education is easy to get.  Look around here for tips, tricks, offers on student loan available :)

Private Student Loans or Federal Loans? Guides to choose between the two

Published: Jun 3rd, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

We know that education is really needed by the new generations. Let’s imagine how this world would be when you find most of children are uneducated; there will certainly a destruction future next time for no sufficient builders inside. So, no reason for not educated today; even we have to try hardly fulfilling the large sums of fees.

Unfortunately, education still has a high price. We need to have capabilities to get a free education fee called scholarship or grant. Sometimes, not all of us can reach a good mark at school for the hard requirements needed and strict competition between other students. But it is alright since we still have a good chance from student loans; both federal students loans and private students loans.

The federal loans seem like scholarship that needs you to make paperwork first to get the fee. But the difference is you have to pay back the federal loans even it is quite advantageous. It may be hard for the paperwork making. For the reason, the second choice of private student loans may be the best choice. You aren’t necessary make some confusing paperwork to approve the loans. So, it is actually a good option and the terms and rates are also not hard for it is specially provided for students.

Tips to choose Students Loans for Your Children

Published: Jun 3rd, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

Being a parent is not a matter of birth children and taking care of them until they can stand in their own life. The hardest section in having children is the way or raising them till they can be good people for their own life and other people. Giving them education also often becomes problems since we have to give the best education and it is not cheap. But it is a duty and has to do. So, tips below to get best student loans may give some helps:

  • Educate your children become ones that can stand alone and have a good spirit to be success. Such children will think the best for their selves and the spirit will bring them to be smarter. They certainly can write a good paperwork as the requirement of federal student loans.
  • Get plus loans. It is because loans gotten by your children are usually limited. Sometimes, the process of your children education need more fee for kinds of expense. The plus loans will give much help to make smooth the education process.
  • Get the private student loans when your children can’t be approved in the federal student loans.

So, that’s the hardness being parent and finding best way to expense education of children. The best way actually is saving money, but it is about when you have much extra income that enables you to both fund and raise them. And finding student loans is OK since you know the rules and the way to pay.

Direct Student Loan: A Solution for Federal Student Loans?

Published: Apr 13th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

As you might have known, President Obama wants the direct student loan program to be established as the one and only provider of federal student loans. It seems that the Federal Family Education Loan Program has the same opinion with Obama and the support have been raised.

According to a report from USA Today, the popularity of the Direct Loan Program have increased significantly, it can be seen from the 50% increased number of college and universities that are originating loans through the Direct Loan Program.

Moreover, there are 1,600 schools that are offering direct loans, up from 548 schools in 2007, according to the Department of Education, while the number of schools offering FFELP loans fell by 3.6 percent during the same time period.

Currently, students are able to get federal student loans from one of two government programs: the Federal Family Education Loan Program, through which students borrow money from private third- party lenders that are subsidized by the government, or the Direct Loan Program, through which families borrow money directly from the Department of Education.

Direct Loan Program: The Future of Federal Student Loans

However, President Obama recently announced a plan that would eliminate the proven 44-year-old FFEL program, which is responsible for making three out of every four federal student loans. The move would transform the Direct Loan Program from a minority player in the student loan industry to the nation’s only originator of federal student loans.

The president’s plan could reduce the government’s student loan costs and save the government $4 billion, Obama administration officials suggest.

Critics of the president’s proposal — which include private student loan lenders — contest the government’s $4 billion savings estimate and fear that the Department of Education won’t be able to handle the surge in loan volume that would occur if the Direct Lending Program became the only originator of federal student loans. Families could be forced to endure poor customer service from an overburdened system, and could encounter difficulties in getting the funds they need for school, critics say.

Besides excellent customer service and a long-running track record of success, private lenders have another advantage over direct lending, says Barry Feierstein, executive vice president of Sallie Mae.

“Private lender and loan guarantors have a system to help borrowers avoid defaulting on their loans,” he says. “That level of outreach doesn’t exist in the federal direct loan program.”

So what do you think about the new financial aid scheme for students?

[via]

College’s Students Financial Aid Calculation

Published: Apr 13th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

I’m sure all of you American students out there know the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA). Now you might be interested with the calculation of financial aid based on the information done by the college you will be attending.

To be honest, each school has their own way of process. However, they share the same basic method of calculating students’ financial aid. Therefore, the more you understand about the process, the more comfortable you will feel with the timeline.

Information Received

So usually within 1-3 weeks the college will receive the information from the FAFSA. So after the information arrived, the college may actually contact you and ask you to provide additional documents or information that may not have been included with the FAFSA application. In order to make certain the process goes as smoothly and as quickly as possible, it is important for you to respond to these requests right away. Once the college receives all of the necessary information, it will review the information in order to determine the type of financial aid you can receive from the college.

Determining Your Need

If you are a student who is still living with your parents, your financial aid will be determined based upon how much your parents should be reasonably expected to contribute as well as how much you would be expected to contribute toward your college expenses. After subtracting this amount from the amount of the tuition and fees, the college can then determine the maximum amount of financial aid you can receive. This is not the amount of the financial aid package you will receive, however, as the outside aid you receive such as assistance from the Federal Pell Grant, scholarships and other grants will be deducted before the school determines the amount of financial aid it is willing to provide.

Helping with Expenses

The college you are interested in attending may provide you with a variety of different ways to help you pay for your college expenses. For example, you may qualify for a scholarship or a grant from the college. Or, you may be able to participate in a work-study program that will help you with off-setting the cost of attending the college. As such, the financial aid package you receive may actually be a combination of loans, grants, fellowships, work-study and scholarships that, when used together, will help you pay your college expenses and finally earn the degree you have been dreaming of getting.

[via]

Students Financial Aid Option: Federal Loans

Published: Apr 12th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

As you might’ve known, the college education fee is pretty expensive. In fact, two-thirds of 4-year undergraduate students have graduated with debt (2003 NPSAS report). As all of us predicted, the number is steadily increases each year. So bottom line is: almost all students need financial aid.

However, many students are complaining the tricky process of getting the financial aid. But it doesn’t have to be like that, you know? There are lots of available grants, scholarships, and loans out there, just waiting to be used.

Unlike scholarships and grants, a loan is borrowed money hat must be paid back with interest. Think carefully about how much money you need to borrow before you take out a loan…eventually, you will have to pay it all back!

Federal loans are one of the more popular options for college students because almost everyone is eligible to receive one! The U.S. department of education offers two types of federal loans:

  • Stafford Loans – are for undergraduates, graduate, and professional students. The best part about Stafford Loans is that you don’t necessarily have to be in dire need of financial aid in order to qualify. In the case of Stafford Loans, the lender is typically a bank or credit union that works through the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Federal Perkins Loans – are offered to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need. When you accept a Perkins Loan, the lender is your school. Therefore, the amount of aid that you receive depends on the availability of funds at your school and other scholarships that you might be getting. Undergraduates can receive as much as $20,000 in Perkins Loans, while graduate students can receive a maximum of $40,000. Another added benefit is that the government will pay your interest on the loan as long as you’re in school!

If these options sound confusing to you, don’t worry! When you accept a federal loan, you can combine several different types of federal loans into one easy-to-read payment plan. Known as Consolidation Loans, this option makes repaying your loans so much easier!

You are probably wondering what the process is for taking out a loan. If you’re applying for a federal loan, you need to check out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (otherwise known as the FAFSA). This little form is used for all government lending programs, and oversees roughly $500 billion in student loans!

If you’re worried about skyrocketing interest rates, there is hope for student borrowers! The government has set a standard maximum interest rate for student loans, so you won’t be charged any additional fees. In fact, lenders often compete over who is offering the lowest interest rate to attract more borrowers.

Never be afraid to ask for help! There are lots of resources out there for students looking to take out educational loans. College can be affordable to EVERYONE.

[Via]

Scholarships and Grants List for Average and Regular Students

Published: Apr 4th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

These days, the college education fee is very expensive and it can be quite troublesome for the not-so-rich families. One way to deal with it is through scholarships and grants. However, typical perception that students are having is that they have to have some superhuman talent or live below the poverty line to qualify to earn the scholarships or grants.

It’s not entirely true, you know. There are a lot of scholarships and grants out there for regular students like you! And in this post I will reveal the list of students’ scholarships and grants for average and regular students.

(more…)

[Saving Guide] Saving for Children College Education or Our Retirement?

Published: Apr 4th, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

Lately I have seen many personal finance advisors are saying that it is better to get our retirement saving rather than children college education saving. And here’s why:

There are no scholarships or student loans for retirement. Moreover, if our child does have to get debts for college, they’ll have many, many years to earn their way out of it, whereas when the children go off to college, you won’t have too many years to keep saving for retirement.
On paper, the argument does make a lot of sense. On paper.

This equation leaves out an enormous human element. For many people – myself included – retirement isn’t the big ultimate goal. I might like to think about retiring a bit early, but my big motivation in life isn’t related to retirement at all.

(more…)

Students: How to Save $40,000 :)

Published: Apr 3rd, 2009 | Author: Denni Add Comment

Here is a good news for all of those students studying in the Hartwick College in New York. So according to the news release from the college, the students might be able to save more than US$40,000 on their education by participating in a new 3-years degree program.
So the college will cut the colleges cost by 25% and students are still provided with “rich educational experience” which is characteristic of the school.

(more…)