Thursday, November 14, 2013

Which One Is For You? Student Loans

By Frank Miller


Direct student loans are federal government loans provided through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. These types of loans are designed to help students who have graduated from the high school and are continuing their education in colleges, universities or trade schools. Direct student loans are part of the federal student aid programs administered by the US Department of Education. These loans are not offered through private lenders or companies. The loan agreement is between the student and the US Department of Education, without any agencies as a middle man.

This is when student loan consolidation comes into action for many students. Loans consolidation can significantly reduce the amount of loan taken from private or federal lenders by combining the total amount into one loan which helps the student to pay for only one bill at the end of month. Moreover the interest rate of such a loan is quiet low compared to private student loans which is another fact why they are much more popular among students.

An average graduating student gets a degree along with a $20,000 loan to pay back, this amount can be considered high when comparing the student's situation at that period of time. Living in the transitional phase from changing career and with their first step in the real world these students normally lack the ability to carry their financial burden successfully upon their shoulders. Considering this fact the government offers federal loan consolidation programs that can mitigate the need of paying numerous bills each month. The new loan offered by the federal government student loan consolidation program is a fixed rate loan unlike any other student loan, these loans are very easy to apply for compared to other federal loans for regular students and can also help you to save a lot of money at the end of repayment period.

The two most common direct student loans are: (i) subsidized Stafford loan and (ii) unsubsidized Stafford loan. The subsidized loan has an interest subsidy and paid by the Government. Students who are awarded don't need to worry about paying interest and hence can concentrate on his or her study in full.

Not all students will receive subsidized direct loans (Stafford loan). Only those students with very few resources and with greater financial needs are qualified for subsidized loans. Students who are dependent, or have parents that are able to help pay for their schooling are usually given the unsubsidized direct loan which doesn't have an interest subsidy.

For graduate students who are considered independent or have families of their own to support, or no living parents to assist with educational funding can apply for PLUS loans. PLUS loans are low interest loans for graduate students and parents. These loans are under the same criteria as the Stafford loans, you're required to complete and submit FAFSA and a MPN. Typically direct student loans have a limit on the total amount. Most students manage to get by with loans of $8,000. Direct student loans have a fixed interest rate that is set every July 1st. There is also a loan fee that can be up to 4%. This fee is usually used to offset the cost of the programs or services.




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