Dec 29
Unless you plan on being a student the rest of your life, student loan repayment is inevitable, and the ins and outs of student loan repayment can be confusing and overwhelming. The financial advisors at NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, would like to help clear the murky waters by defining terminology and laying out your student loan repayment options.�
Understanding Your Student Loan Repayment Options
A grace period is a pre-determined amount of time allotted to student borrowers after they leave school or drop below half-time enrollment before they must begin repayment of their federal student loans. Grace periods vary in length based on the type of student loan: Stafford loans have a grace period of six months; Perkins loans have a grace period of nine months. PLUS, Grad Plus and Federal Student Loan Consolidation loans have no grace period.
Deferment allows you to temporarily postpone your student loan payments (in most cases, up to a total of three years over the life of the student loan) if you’re unemployed or experiencing economic hardship. You can also request in-school deferments on your federal student loans while you’re enrolled at least half time.
While you’re in a grace period or in deferment, the interest on your Perkins and subsidized Stafford loans will be paid by the government. But you’ll be responsible for the interest on your PLUS, Grad PLUS and unsubsidized Stafford loans—any unpaid interest that accrues on these student loans during grace and deferment periods will be added to your principal loan balance for you to repay once repayment starts or resumes. If you want to avoid interest being added to your principal loan balance while you’re in a grace period or in deferment, you can choose to make interest-only payments during that time.�
Forbearance also allows you to temporarily postpone your student loan payments. When you’re in a forbearance period, you’ll have to pay any interest that accrues, even on Perkins or subsidized Stafford loans.��
Repayment Plans
Perkins, Stafford, PLUS and Grad PLUS loans have a standard repayment period of 10 years. If your standard monthly payment amount is higher than you’d like, you have three other repayment plans you can choose from that may make your monthly payments more affordable:
Extended Repayment is available to you if your federal student loans total more than $30,000 and if you received your first federal student loan on or after October 7, 1998. Depending on your student loan amount, you could extend your repayment period up to a 25-year term.
Graduated Repayment allows you to make lower payments at the beginning of your repayment term and gradually increases your monthly payment amount over time.
Income-Sensitive Repayment bases your monthly payment amount on your monthly income. You have to submit documentation of your income to qualify, and you have to requalify each year.
Student Loan Consolidation
If you’ve taken out any federal student loans, you’re eligible to apply for a Federal Student Loan Consolidation from NextStudent, which might give you more time to repay your student loans and could substantially reduce your monthly student loan payment.
The repayment term on a student loan consolidation will range from 10 to 30 years, depending on your total outstanding student loan amount. Student loan consolidation loans generally have the standard federal deferment and forbearance benefits.
When your student loan consolidation is in deferment, the government will pay the interest on that portion of your student loan consolidation loan that was originally a Perkins loan or subsidized Stafford loan. During deferment, you’ll only be responsible for paying the interest on that portion of your student loan consolidation loan that was originally a PLUS, Grad PLUS or unsubsidized Stafford loan. When your student loan consolidation loan is in forbearance, you’ll be responsible for paying all interest that accrues.
You can consolidate one or more qualifying federal student loans and take advantage of one easy-to-manage loan with a single monthly payment. Our online applications are fast and easy, and there are no fees to apply for a student loan consolidation.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.
By: Jeff Mictabor
Tagged with: Consolidation Loans • Deferment Periods • Deferments • Federal Student Loan • Federal Student Loan Consolidation • Federal Student Loans • Forbearance Period • Grace Period • Grace Periods • Loan Repayment Options • Murky Waters • Perkins Loans • Principal Loan Balance • Student Borrowers • Student Loan Consolidation • Student Loan Payments • Student Loan Repayment • Student Loan Repayment Options • Subsidized Stafford Loans • Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Dec 28
When the need for a student loan arises due to the peak of financial challenges in your college years, you can usually can find the funding you need. In many cases a student will have to apply for more than one student loan before reaching graduation. Even if you happen to acquire several student loans, there is no need to panic as graduation nears. Remember that you still have the option to consolidate those loans.
There are basically two major types of student loans. First is the federal student loan which is guaranteed by the US Government through the US Department of Education. They have implemented a Federal Student Aid program as a part of their campaign to provide equal education opportunity for all aspiring college students in the country. Federal student loans are not considered direct loans to the student from the US Government. However the loans are provided by the US Department of Education and a loan servicing institution, When you need to consolidate federal student loans you have the opportunity apply for single loan to accomplish the needed consolidation. One example of federal loans used to make a loan consolidation is a Stafford loan.
As an alternative you can use private sources consolidate your student loans. Private student loans, on the other hand, are administered by privately owned lending institution. Some of the most well known private lending partners are also the leading financial institutions such as Citibank, Chase and Sallie Mae. In general private student loan rates are higher than public sector loans. However there may be more benefits in terms of payment schedules, payment deferments and longer loan repayment schedules.
For those who have incurred a number of federal student loans, the problems of managing the loans can be a problem for some people. As a result many wise student borrowers may opt to consolidate federal student loans in order to better manage their finances and save money.
Once a student has decided to consolidate their federal student loans, there are conditions that must be before they can qualify. First is that they should have more than one federal student loan. Next is that students should be in good standing with each of their existing loan accounts. This means they are either in their six-month grace period or they have already made three monthly repayments for each of the existing loans.
Under the wing of a federal student loan, there are also distinct differences between a subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loan. Although they can still be merged into one loan account, iIt is important to know the type of loans you have before you apply to consolidate your federal student loans.
It is obviously very important for the student to do their research prior to applying to consolidate their student loans. Only then will the student be able to make an informed decision. In many cases a student loan consolidation will save you money and reduce the stress of student loan repayment. Federal student loan consolidation is a wise investment in the future.
By: Jim Kesel
Tagged with: Aspiring College • Citibank • Deferments • Direct Loans • Education Opportunity • Federal Loans • Federal Student Aid • Federal Student Aid Program • Federal Student Loan • Federal Student Loans • Financial Challenges • Loan Consolidation • Loan Repayment Schedules • Payment Schedules • Private Lending • Private Student Loans • Sallie Mae • Student Borrowers • Student Loan Rates • Us Department Of Education
Dec 17
If you just graduated in May with federal Stafford student loans, you may be having to adjust your monthly budget to accommodate new student loan payments as your Stafford six-month grace periods end sometime this month. If you’re still looking for a job, or if you’re at an entry-level salary right now, you may not have the money you’re going to need to meet a new monthly student loan expense.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or any parent or student loan borrower, if you’re having trouble meeting your student loan payments each month, NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, urges you to contact your lenders about your deferment and forbearance options. Deferment and forbearance periods can allow you to temporarily reduce or postpone the monthly payments on your student loans without putting yourself at risk for damaging your credit score or defaulting on you student loans.
What are deferment and forbearance benefits?
Deferment allows you to temporarily stop making payments on your student loans. If you’re unemployed or experiencing financial hardship, you may be able to request a deferment, for up to a year at a time, up to a total of three years over the life of the student loan. You must contact your lender to request an unemployment or hardship deferment, and you may need to fill out a deferment request form.
Forbearance allows you to temporarily reduce or postpone payments on your student loans. You may be able to request a forbearance if you’re unemployed or experiencing financial hardship. You must contact your lender to request a hardship forbearance, and you’ll typically need to complete a forbearance request form. You may also need to submit supporting documentation.
Generally, a lender can grant a forbearance for up to a year at a time. Unlike unemployment or hardship deferments, there is no three-year cumulative limit on discretionary forbearance periods granted due to financial hardship.
Which student loans are eligible for deferment and forbearance?
Most federal student loans Student Loan Consolidation, Stafford loans, PLUS loans, and Grad PLUS loans) are eligible for deferment and forbearance benefits.
Some private student loans may also offer deferment or forbearance benefits—you should contact your private student loan lender.
Keep in mind that if you’re considering an economic hardship deferment or forbearance, you need to contact your lender, even for your federal student loans. Hardship deferments and discretionary forbearances are generally not automatic.
Am I being charged interest while my student loans are in deferment or forbearance?
Yes. Interest charges continue to accrue on your student loans even if they’re in deferment or forbearance. You’ll be responsible for the interest on your unsubsidized student loans (such as unsubsidized Stafford loans) that are in deferment and on any of your student loans, whether subsidized or unsubsidized, that are in forbearance. The government will pay the interest on any of your subsidized student loans (such as Perkins or subsidized Stafford loans) that you have in deferment.
Any unpaid interest that accrues during a deferment or forbearance period will be capitalized and added to your principal student loan balance for you to repay once you go back into repayment. Even if your payments are postponed during a deferment or forbearance period, you can always choose to make interest payments to avoid having accrued interest added to your principal student loan balance and capitalized.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.
By: Jeff Mictabor
Tagged with: Based Education • Contact • Credit Score • Deferment Request • Deferments • Education Funding • Entry Level Salary • Federal Loans • Federal Stafford Student Loans • Financial Hardship • Forbearance • Grace Periods • Lenders • Monthly Budget • Risk • Stafford Loans • Stafford Student Loans • Student Loan Borrower • Student Loan Payments • Unemployment
