Choosing the right student loan for you
Choosing a lender for student loans can be a daunting process. Your financial aid package for your new school probably includes loans, all of which must be repaid with interest. You have many lender options in front of you, and so it is important to understand the details of each option and what works best for you. If you understand a few basics, you can usually find the loans that fit you best.
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA).
This is a must. Without it, you won't have access to federal student loans - many of which are not based on need or income.
Always use federal loans first, such as the Perkins, Stafford, and PLUS loans, as they carry lower, fixed interest rates and often have better terms than private (or alternative) loans.
Know the difference between the types of loans in your financial aid award.
- Subsidized Stafford Loans: the government pays interest while you are in school
- Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: you pay interest while you are in school
- PLUS loans: loans for graduate students and parents of undergraduate students
- Private student loans: loans from banks or other non-government sources, often with competitive rates.
If you need to use private student loans, consider all of the costs.
Private loans can have origination fees, different ways of compounding interest, and higher interest rates or higher APRs. It pays to compare.
Know your credit score.
The lower your score, the higher your rate will likely be on a private loan. If your rating is poor or non-existent, you will need a co-signer. It’s extremely difficult for students to receive a private student loan without a co-signer, unless somehow the student has an extensive (and good) credit history. Fees and penalties can be higher than with government-backed or federal loans and your repayment terms may not be as favorable if you have a low credit score.
Investigate your options carefully.
Consider the following:
- Total cost of the loan (after all of the interest and fees have accumulated)
- APR or annual percentage rate of interest
- Borrower rewards or benefits (such as cash back or interest rate reductions if you make payments on time)
- The lender’s customer service record
Shopping for a student loan? Here's some advice:
Avoid turning to credit cards to pay for college. Many credit cards come with high interest rates.
Put together a budget and do your best to follow it. If you keep expenses to a minimum, you can lessen your borrowing needs and save money to repay your loans.
Consider a part-time job and/or federal work study. Earning a couple of thousand dollars per school year can have a significant financial impact by reducing your borrowing – do as much as you can to minimize the amount you borrow.
Review educational expenses, including student loan interest, when preparing your taxes. There are a handful of meaningful tax credits and deductions that may be available to your family.
Imagine your future income and expenses before taking out any student loan debt. Industry experts advise that student loan payments should not exceed 8 to 10% of gross monthly income.
Be aware of your debt even though you won't begin repayment for years. The better your understanding of what you will owe after graduation, the more likely you are to be responsible about taking on more debt.
When you are about to graduate, consider consolidating your student loans. Graduating students can bundle outstanding federal student loans (even just one) into one new loan with one fixed-rate monthly payment. The loan term can be extended up to 30 years, which can lower your monthly payment, but might raise the total cost of your loans.
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