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10 Sources for College Consolidation Loans

By Susan - Thursday 15 Jan 10:36 am

With the emphasis of college loans for students being on affordability and manageable payment plans, college consolidation loans are definitely a number one choice in the right direction. Not only do college consolidation loans allow you to select fixed interest rates and extended payment terms, but they also allow you to simplify your payments by paying only one consolidated amount every month.

There are numerous institutions across America offering students college consolidated loans. Some have ceased their offerings on college consolidation loans due to the changes in financial legislation affecting the student loan markets. Although all the college consolidation loans they offer all offer basically the same end result, some of them have a few special advantages over the rest. Here are some of the more popular choices (in no particular order) to help you begin your search:

  1. Loan to Learn – College consolidation loans from $10000 to $250000 total. Interest rate saving of .25% for automated payments and .5% for paying all your instalments on time 
  2. Graduate Loans Associates – This institution offers an introductory college consolidation loan interest rate of as low as 5.76% 
  3. One Simple Loan – Allows you to apply with a cosigner with a good credit record, allowing you to qualify for a higher college consolidation loan using your cosigner’s credit track record 
  4. Student Loan Consolidator – Safe and easy online eSign method of application for your college consolidation loan that can be completed in minutes. Approval in minutes too 
  5. Edfed - No credit checks, application for your college consolidation loan is completely free. It can take as little as 60 seconds to qualify 
  6. Student Financial Advisors – College consolidation loans taken out with this group are stated to possibly reduce your overall payment by up t 51% 
  7. Sallie Mae – Offering college consolidation loans as well as one monthly repayment on all loans without consolidating. A very popular choice in all college loans as well as college consolidation loans 
  8. Chase – A popular choice in lenders offering college consolidation loans that will assist in improving your credit rating in a completely secure manner. Highly trained loan officials will guide you through the process from start to finish 
  9. Citibank – On line tools to help you determine whether or not you should opt for college consolidation loans, and to determine what your repayments will be 
  10. Debthelp.com – A variety of solutions available online, including the college consolidation loan 

Although there are many other registered financial services providers offering college consolidation loans, these listed here will be a good place to start your search. You will be able to get an idea of what items should be offered as a standard measure, and then see what providers offer services over and above the expected. What you should expect are a reduction in your monthly repayments into one consolidated amount, a fixed interest rate and possibly ending up paying less in the long run by choosing a college consolidation loan.

Posted in: College Loans

How do I get a College Loan if I have bad credit?

By Susan - Tuesday 6 Jan 2:00 pm

Going to college is a costly affair, as we all know, but there are a plethora of viable solutions in the form of college loans for us to take advantage of to make the process more attainable. But what happens if you have a bad credit history? Are you as eligible for college loans? Read more…

Would be students with a bad credit score need not discount themselves from applying for college loans. There are in fact, a decent amount of options available for those with bad credit and the chances of at least one of them being approved are extremely probable.

 The following college loans can be further investigated for those students with a bad credit record:

  • Federal Stafford college loans
  • Federal Perkins college loans 
  • Bad credit rating loans – secured and unsecured 
  • Credit based college loans utilizing a cosigner 

Federal Stafford college loans do not require a credit check and so are completely viable funding solutions for those with bad credit. Some Federal Stafford college loans can be subsidized for those students that display a need for college funding, while unsubsidized college loans are available to all would be students, possibly including those with bad credit. These are the most widely distributed college loans for those with bad credit ratings and those without.

Federal Perkins college loans are not as widely disbursed as Stafford loans, but they also do not require a credit check. If you have bad credit, you would be able to apply for one of these, bearing in mind that approval on Perkins college loans is more difficult and they are usually awarded to those students who display an exceptional need for them.

Bad credit rating loans are not only set aside for college loans but for any form of monetary requirement. They are offered mainly by private lending agencies and financial services providers. They come in two forms: secured and unsecured. Secured bad credit college loans are awarded when the borrower offers some form of collateral that is equal to or higher in value than the total loan amount. In the event of the borrower failing to make payments, the collateral is repossessed and sold to make up the value of the outstanding college loan. Unsecured loans are offered without the backup of collateral, but the interest rates on these bad credit college loans are exceptionally high.

Using a co-signer with a good credit history to sign with you on your college loan application could improve your chances of obtaining one. They would not be held responsible for any debt you incur, but their credit rating would work in place of your bad credit rating to get your college loan approved.

With these options in place for those with bad credit ratings, achieving you goals is still possible and obtaining a college loan is well within your reach.

Posted in: College Loans

5 Best Banks for Federal College Loans

By Susan - Monday 15 Dec 2:00 pm

Federal college loans are the optimal choice for students looking for college funding that is affordable and easy to apply for. Although all federal college loans through separate institutions are very similar, there are some banks and financial providers that can offer you benefits and special offers that are slightly more appealing than others. Read more…

Federal college loans are government funded and federally guaranteed, and can offer students and parents of students extremely competitive interest rates that somewhat relieve part of the burden of college loan debt. All federal college loans will offer you a lower interest rate than private loans, and are offered to people with financial need. 

If you are searching for the best deal in your federal college loans and the most service orientated banks to make your application through, then you might want to consider one of the financial services providers listed below. They all offer federal college loans, but each one has a little something extra to offer over and above that. 

  1. Chase Bank – One of the front runners in the supply of college loans to students and parents of students. Their website offers detailed advice on the differences between private and federal college loans and has a link to the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, which needs to be completed for all would be applicants. 
  2. Sallie Mae – This financial services provider is the leading supplier of college loans in the country. Their federal college loans are divided into Federal Perkins loans and Federal Stafford Loans, one of which will need to be selected. Accounts can be managed online 24/7 for better convenience.
  3. Wells Fargo – With Wells Fargo as well as most other federal college loans, you can qualify to have a certain portion of your loan subsidized. Wells Fargo have loan specialists constantly on standby to assist you with any federal college loan queries you may have. 
  4. Next Student – Next Student have a wealth of helpful and useful information to help guide you through your college loan application process. Their website has numerous tools and applications to assist you in calculating what exactly you will require and how much it will set you back. Also known to be reliable and ready to assist. 
  5. Citibank – One of the benefits of signing your federal college loan with Citibank is that you could receive a further .25% reduction in interest charges by making your payments automated. This reward for you is extra security for them, so everyone wins. 

Although the above mentioned federal college loan providers are industry leaders, there are many more that are worth your interest and investigation. Each one might be federally guaranteed and made possible by government funding, but the individual service providers all need to stand out in some way by offering you the best college loan deal there is. Take your time to explore the pros and cons of each one before making this huge commitment towards your future.

Posted in: College Loans

What College Loan and Scholarship Programs are available to Veterans?

By Susan - Friday 12 Dec 4:06 pm

Veterans need not be excluded from going to college, applying for college loans or scholarships. There are options available for every individual, especially for Veterans, and these options are inclusive of college loans and scholarships.

By serving the country during your military career, it is felt that the country is indebted to your service and it is thought that the opportunity to study might not have presented itself to you before as time was spent in service of your country. For this reason, Veterans are highly eligible for college loans and scholarships, and there are benefit programs in place that Veterans and their families can take advantage of. Scholarships are more frequently offered to veterans than college loans are.

There are numerous college loan opportunities that are funded by the government, but also state funded college loan and scholarship programs. In addition to this, there are many private institutions that will offer veteran college loans and scholarships, but at a slightly higher interest rate. These rates are determined by the individual institutions and should be confirmed before an application for your college loan is made. Scholarships and benefits are also made available to the children of military Veterans.

Application forms for government funded college loans and scholarships as well as for privately funded college loans can be obtained from the colleges or schools that you are planning to study at. These forms can be handed in at the school’s reception and will then be submitted to the Department of Veteran Affairs by the registrar of the school you are applying at. You can apply for your college loan or benefit directly to the Department of Veteran Affairs by clicking here. Veterans have 10 years from the date of being released from duty to take advantage of their education benefit.

Sallie Mae has teamed up with Veterans Advantage to offer a competitive college loan available only to military veterans. Veterans Advantage is a portal that offers veterans incredible rewards in all spheres of retail, financial, health, entertainment and many other dimensions of day to day life. College loans are another dimension that offer veterans an opportunity they might not have received during their service. Sallie Mae has a few options available for veterans, and VA (Veterans Advantage) card holders can use their membership cards to log into the Sallie Mae College Answer website to find further information on college loans specifically tailored to suit their needs and financial situations.

Standard government funded college loans (FFELP) are probably the best place to start when applying as a veteran. Alternatively, college loans can be applied for with private institutions provided the applicant is willing to pay a substantial amount more in interest charges than as would be with federal college loans. By shopping around for college loans, you will become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of all available college loans, and you will be able to make an educated (excuse the pun) decision.

Posted in: College Degrees, College Loans

10 Steps to Being Approved for My College Loan

By Susan - Thursday 4 Dec 2:17 pm

Selecting to apply for a college loan is a responsible direction to choose and one that requires a certain degree of personal initiative. Once you have crossed that bridge and are opting to apply for your college loan, then the steps to having it approved are fairly simple. Not much effort will be required on your part, but it is important to carry out all the steps and to understand the process of college loan approval. Provided you have no drug convictions against your name, and do not presently owe any money on a college loan, then you can proceed further with your application.

These 10 steps to being approved for your college loan will help you to identify with the procedure taking place that could unite you with the future that you always dreamed of.

1. You will need to be applied to your college before you can apply for your college loan. You don’t, however need to have been admitted to the college, but will need to have admission to receive approval for your college loan.

2. Determine your dependency status by completing the Dependency Status Worksheet on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website on www.fafsa.ed.gov.

3. Confirm or investigate the school code that is applicable to your college so that you are positive you have the correct information before applying for your college loan. Some codes change from year to year.

4. For federal loans you will need to apply for a pin on the www.pin.ed.gov website that will give you access to your college loan specifics and allow you to make binding legal obligations.

5. For federal loans you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) eligibility form to verify whether or not you may apply for a college loan through federal means. This can be located at www.fafsa.ed.gov

6. You will need to have your social security number, high school diploma or equivalent and your parent’s tax information in your possession to submit for application. For private college loans you will need to submit all the requirements for a credit check. These may vary from one institution to the next.

7. When submitting your FAFSA form for application to your college loan ensure that you print out your confirmation report as it includes a confirmation number and the date and time that your application was received.

8. Submit your application for a college loan, no earlier than the 1st of January and no later than the 30th of June of the year you are applying for entrance, although some colleges may have different dates for applications so you should check this with the relevant college.

9. Try and apply early enough so that there are still funds available to supply you with a college loan.

10. Follow up by logging into the FAFSA website using your pin for federal loans to check the status of your college loan application. For private loans, each institution will have their own methods of communicating for you to be able to gauge progress on your college loan application.

Posted in: College Degrees, College Loans

We Rate the Top 10 Websites for College Loans

By Susan - Thursday 4 Dec 2:10 pm

The internet is always a hive of activity and source of information with regards to any and every topic. College loans and the information thereto are no different. You can find virtually anything and everything you want to know about college loans and the application process, eligibility requirements, funding available and frequently asked questions. But some sources that offer this important information are better than others.

We rate the Top 10 websites for information pertaining to college loans and application for college loans, based on the amount of valid information they store and the usability factor.

1. Sallie Mae (www.salliemae.com) – Not only does Sallie Mae provide excellent and popular resources for college loans, both private and federal, but the information contained with regards to these topics is vast and well thought out.

2. Chase (Chase) – Also a leader in providing federal and private college loans, and offering an extensive portal of information with frequently asked questions and a user friendly structure

3. Next Student (www.nextstudent.com) – Offering information for before application for your college loan, during application and during study time and then after. Including extensive FAQ’s and thorough background on the internal processes

4. Astrive Student Loans (www.astrivestudentloans.com) – Although not offering college loans at present due to fluctuations in the financial markets, they offer excellent advice on where to take your applications and the processes involved in applying for a college loan

5. E Student Loan (www.estudentloan.com) – Comprehensive information from all the basics to understanding the different types of college loans available. Actual college loan applications are outsourced to a financial services provider, this is purely an information portal, although it is linked to the loan provider

6. Simple Tuition (www.simpletuition.com) – A wide range of resources, tips and helpful information for students and parents requiring college loans of either a private or federal nature. Affiliated with a number of well known money lenders

7. Lending Tree (Lending Tree) – Contains many useful guides and articles for would be students seeking information regarding their future college loans

8. American Education Services (www.aesuccess.org) – In depth information regarding college loans, but also planning guides, money management, college loan comparisons, grants and scholarships and many more topics

9. US Bank (UsBank.com) – A portal for online college loan applications, but also containing valid and up to date information regarding the technical specifics of college loans. Included is a section for counselling is also included which is quite pertinent when dealing with such a stressful responsibility as money lending

10. Wells Fargo – (Wells Fargo) – Another online portal for applications that is inclusive of all the background information that you need to know before applying for your college loan

Although these websites are listed in an order, they are all helpful and useful in their own ways. In order to be 100% positive about what is required and what is entailed with an application for a college loan, it would be a good idea to check them all out and be fully equipped.

Posted in: College Degrees, College Loans

How Can I Get Student Loans for College?

By Susan - Tuesday 25 Nov 7:12 pm

Applications for college can be hugely determined by affordability, and first choices can even be set aside by financial issues. With student loans for college, these problems can be diminished and students are able to actually apply to their first choice education facility without any worry. Student loans for college have in fact become so much in demand that many financial institutions have been set up solely to offer this service.

Applying for student loans for college is a fairly simple process, provided you are armed with the correct information when you embark on this exciting journey. Below is a guide for those who are unsure of where to start and how the process of applying for a student loan for college actually works.

You have a choice between federal finance options and private student loans for college. Federal student loans for college are generally a more attractive choice in terms of repayment options and interest rates, but sometimes the federal route doesn’t cover all your expenses in which case a private student loan for college would have to be applied for. The Federal option is a government secured student loan with minimal interest charges and deferred payments until graduation. No credit checks are carried out on federal student loans for college before implementation and there are no application fees payable. Private loans are a more complicated process, and will require credit checks being carried out on the applicant. Once approved, the interest rates are determined by the financial provider, and can be significantly higher when compared with Federal loans.

It is highly recommended that you apply for a federal student loan for college even if you speculate that you might not qualify. Contrary to popular belief, approval is not solely based on what monthly income comes into your household so it is worth attempting at the very least. You will need to fill out an application form to verify if you are eligible for federal financial loans and grants. It can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or can be mailed to your home address. Your parent’s tax information will be needed for submission when applying for a federal student loan for college, so it is imperative that this information be kept up to date. You will also need to submit your social security number and your high school diploma or equivalent, and you will need to be able to show that you are enrolled in a college program and that your student loan for college will be exactly that: for educational purposes only.

Private student loans for college are offered by most banks and a host of financial institutions that can be located by doing search on the internet. Some institutions are more highly recommended than others and offer more competitive interest rates and repayment options, so it is also important to do your homework and investigate the charges and benefits associated with each provider.

Applying for a student loan for college need not be the difficult process that you envisage when you are equipped with the right information, and you take it one step at a time.

Posted in: College Degrees, College Loans

10 Best Sources for Private College Loans

By Susan - Tuesday 25 Nov 6:54 pm

Applying to college is an important time in every student’s life, and it is something that has a lot of emphasis placed on it from a very early age. There are numerous exceptional schools out there, but some are just not affordable to the general public. Private College Loans allow for anybody to be able to apply to the colleges that they wish to attend, even in lieu of the ever escalating costs of education.

There are a few financial institutions offering private college loans that are highly regarded in offering competitive deals in this niche. Private college loans are generally offered at a higher interest rate than federal loans, and will often require that a credit check and history be compiled before approval is made.

At present, with the increase in stringency on credit applications, there are many private college loans that are currently not accepting any further applications, and those that also stress that their policies are strict and will only accept those you qualify 100%. Here you will find 10 of the best sources for private college loans that are actively accepting new candidates, and can offer these services to a broad spectrum of applicants. The selections are also based on popularity of the private college loans scheme, ease of application and the overall competitive package.

  1. Chase Private Student Loans – a market leader in private college loans offering loans of $1000 – $40000 per year
  2. Wells Fargo – A private college loan with an incentive of .50% reduction if you graduate, and a .25% reduction for making automatic repayments
  3. Sallie Mae – Considered to be the leader in private college loans, offering learners enhanced and informed opportunities across America
  4. College Loan Solutions – A division of Student Loan Network, they offer private college loans for up to .5% lower than prime, based on your credit evaluation
  5. Think Student Loans – Private college loans that pay out as little as 48 hours from the date of approva
  6. Studentloans.com – Easy application process for private college loans with fast and efficient response times for loans of up to $30000 or $40000
  7. Discover Student Loans – Private college loans that offer a 2% graduation rebate for all successful graduates
  8. College Loan Corporation – Offering private college loans for up to the full amount of your tuition fees – temporarily not offering student loans
  9. Citibank – A private college loan where you can receive up to .75% reduction in your loan repayments. .50% for 48 consecutive successful repayments, and .25% for opting for automatic repayment
  10. Student Loan Financial Group – Private college loans for between $1500 and $40000 annually

All of the above institutions offer informative application processes that are easy and stress free. Some are more competitive than others in interest rates, while others pride themselves on being efficient in the application process. Whatever you want from your private college loan will be found in the above recommendations.

Posted in: College Loans

What is a Stafford Student College Loan and how do I get one?

By Susan - Tuesday 25 Nov 6:34 pm

A Stafford student college loan is a federal government student loan that offers would be college goers a fantastic opportunity in terms of affordability of and accessibility to their studies. Stafford student college loans are available to anyone wanting to study. All you need do is apply.

Stafford student college loan are the most popular form of college funding across America, and billions of dollars have already been paid out to stabilize student’s studying careers. These student college loans offer extremely low interest rates and flexible repayment options to suit student situations. Payments can be deferred until after graduation allowing college goers the freedom to focus on their studies and not have to worry about repayments at this crucial time. There is also a 6 month grace period upon commencement of college before the student needs to start making their repayments on their student college loan. The government will sometimes also subsidize the loan for students who require a student college loan on a financial need basis, in which case the government will pay all the interest on behalf of the student while they are in school. Some loans taken out are unsubsidized in which case the student is responsible for the interest accrued throughout the loan repayment period. In the case of student college loans that are unsubsidized, the loans are not necessarily awarded in their full capacity and extensive calculations are made to arrive at an agreeable arrangement for both provider and student.

Before applying you need to be enrolled in a school that supports Stafford student college loans, and you should have a reasonable academic record to prove that you are serious about studying. You need to be a US citizen or a citizen of an eligible area, have a valid social security number and high school diploma or equivalent, and you may not currently be in default. There are many different institutions that offer federal Stafford student college loans, and the school that you wish to attend will be able to put you in contact with a reliable source that you can apply to. Sallie Mae and Chase are popular choices for all student college loans, and they also accept applications for Stafford loans.

To apply for your Stafford student college loan, you will need to fill out a FAFSA form – Free Application for Student Aid Form that can be completed online or downloaded from www.fafsa.ed.gov . For a subsidized loan, you need to establish your financial need through the college you will be attending. After filling out and submitting your FAFSA form, you will be notified by means of an award letter what your eligibility is. You should then apply for your Stafford student college loan.

Take note of the application expiration dates for your school, as you will need to have your Stafford student college loan approved and in motion before application cut off dates. From there on out, all your need to do is keep up a consistent flow of academic progression and you should be able to apply for another student college loan for your years to follow.

Posted in: College Loans