You may need a student loan. The time could be now or sometime in the future. Having the right information will ease the process. Read on for suggestions as to how you can learn all you need to know about student loans.
Make sure you keep track of your loans. You should know who the lender is, what the balance is, and what its repayment options are. If you are missing this information, you can contact your lender or check the NSLDL website. If you have private loans that lack records, contact your school.
Once you leave school and are on your feet you are expected to start paying back all of the loans that you received. There is a grace period for you to begin repayment of your student loan. It is different from lender to lender, so make sure that you are aware of this.
If you have extra money at the end of the month, don't automatically pour it into paying down your student loans. Check interest rates first, because sometimes your money can work better for you in an investment than paying down a student loan. For example, if you can invest in a safe CD that returns two percent of your money, that is smarter in the long run than paying down a student loan with only one point of interest. Only do this if you are current on your minimum payments though and have an emergency reserve fund.
Consider using your field of work as a means of having your loans forgiven. A number of nonprofit professions have the federal benefit of student loan forgiveness after a certain number of years served in the field. Many states also have more local programs. The pay might be less in these fields, but the freedom from student loan payments makes up for that in many cases.
Try shopping around for your private loans. If you need to borrow more, discuss this with your adviser. If a private or alternative loan is your best bet, make sure you compare items like repayment options, fees, and interest rates. Your school may recommend some lenders, but you're not required to borrow from them.
Before accepting the loan that is offered to you, make sure that you need all of it. If you have savings, family help, scholarships and other types of financial help, there is a chance you will only need a portion of that. Do not borrow any more than necessary since it will make it harder to pay it back.
Increase your credit hours if possible. You may be able to scrape by with 12 hours, but try to at least carry 15 per semester. If possible, go for 18. This helps you keep to a minimum the amount of loan money you need.
To get the most out of your student loan dollars, take a job so that you have money to spend on personal expenses, rather than having to incur additional debt. Whether you work on campus or in a local restaurant or bar, having those funds can make the difference between success or failure with your degree.
PLUS loans are a type of loan option for parents and graduate students. Their interest rate does not exceed 8.5%. It's higher than public loans but lower than most private options. These loans are much better suited to an older student that is at graduate school or is close to graduating.
In summation, you may need student loans, whether now or later. You must be knowledgeable about student loans to find the ones that are best for you. Make use of these tips whenever you need advice regarding student loans.
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