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student loans

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How To Combat Common Financial Aid Pitfalls

A college education is something that anyone who wants it should be able to have access to. Yet, with the cost of tuition continuing to rise and the latest reports stating that most graduates, on average, have a debt of around $27,000 following graduation, it’s no wonder that financial aid is such a hot topic.

If you or someone who you know is preparing to go to school, financial aid is needed and you’d like some information on how to avoid some of the common pitfalls that come with it, we have enclosed five things for you to know below:

Don’t overlook other options. Although many students apply for some form of financial aid each semester, remember that this shouldn’t just include taking out a government loan. There are many scholarships and grants that are available as well. CollegeGrant.net and CollegeScholarships.com are two websites that can provide you with a list of ones to apply for.

Talk to the school about payment plans. Some people feel that they can’t attend the college of their dreams due to how much it costs to go, but there are actually many schools that provide payment plans so that you can pay monthly for your tuition rather than providing the entire amount in one lump sum. Also, most college websites have what is known as a Net Price Calculator which helps you to figure out what the net price of attending their school would be. The reason why this is beneficial is because you may discover that your net price is lower than you initially estimated and so even if you did need some financial assistance, it might not be as much as you thought (which means, you won’t incur as much debt as you assumed).

April 22, 2013

Debt

5 Things You Should Know About Student Loans

Although everyone deserves the opportunity to better themselves and improve their job prospects by earning a college degree, the sad truth is that few can afford the expense entailed. And while there are certainly ways to mitigate costs, scholarships and grants are both limited and difficult to obtain thanks to stiff competition from other students. The long and short of it is that many college-bound kids find themselves facing a mountain of bills for tuition, books, and living expenses, and their only real option in most cases is to take out student loans to cover these costs. Even with some family help and a part-time job, the majority of students will have to turn to financial aid or possibly private lenders in order to drum up the scratch that will fund their ongoing education. The hope is that all of this will lead to a high-paying job that allows for repayment of the loans. But before you take the money and run, there are a few things you should know about taking out student loans.

The upside of government loans. In the interest of providing for a more educated populace, the government has seen fit to offer student loans by way of federal financial aid. In fact, this comprises the vast majority of all student loans (somewhere between 90 and 95%, it is estimated). And the benefits for students include no onus to repay until school is completed, as well as lower interest rates than those offered by other lenders. It’s a great way for students to cover expenses in college without the worry of an immediate repayment schedule to contend with.

January 23, 2013

Debt

What You Can Do To Save Money With Your Student Loans

Anyone that has gone through college or has kids in college knows that it is pricey, which leads to many seeking out student loans. Just as with any type of loan, it is vital that you do your research to find the best student loans for your situation. Different loans will get you different amounts of money with various circumstances behind the loan. However, there are a few things you can do with any student loan to save money.

With student loans, the interest rate is adjusted every July 1st making it difficult to know how much you really are going to have to owe when getting out of college. There is, however, a way to lock your interest rates to avoid having them raised after a certain period of time. By consolidating your interest rates you can have them permanently locked for the remainder of your studies.

September 26, 2009

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