The Student Loan
The rising costs of college tuition have made it almost a
necessity to apply for a student loan today. Students not only
have tuition costs, but the cost of books, meals, gas, cell
phones, recreation, etc. The variety of student loans enables
students to take care of their varying college expenses. A
student loan however, is a loan that must be repaid under
specified circumstances.
Each of the following are student loans with differing
conditions and time frames for repayment:
* A Direct Student Loan is a loan with a schedule of repayment
six to nine months after the student has completed school. The
Direct Student Loan is distributed through the school the
student is attending, which enables the interest rates to be
much lower than a Guaranteed Student Loan.
* Guaranteed Student Loans, also known as Stafford Loans have a
low interest rate. A student can apply for a subsidized or
unsubsidized student loan. A subsidized loan means the
government pays the interest for you while you are in school.
The subsidized student loan is based on the students financial
need. An unsubsidized student loan means you will be charged
interest while you are attending school. The principal must
start being paid after you have finished school. Both types of
student loans need to start repayment six months after the
student has finished college.
* Federal Parent Loans or PLUS loans as they are known is a
student loan not contingent on your income, but lenders do
consider personal credit history. Parents or guardians who have
a dependent child enrolled in college at least part-time are
eligible for the PLUS loan. The interest rate is 9% or less.
Virtually any school or program will allow you to utilize the
Direct Student loan, Guaranteed Student loan or PLUS loan. It is
very important to thoroughly research all available options for
funding long-term education. Your future is tied to your
funding, which is your student loan.