The Ultimate Guide to Student Loans and Scholarships
Your brother got a free ride for college on a basketball scholarship, and your best friend has a hefty inheritance. Will you have to attend the local community college, or just wash a lot of cars to pay for the university of your choice? Don't worry…no matter your situation, there are loans to fit your needs.
Paying for college is an investment in your future. As costs continue to rise, motivated students like yourself need to juggle expenses, tap into resources, and basically do what it takes to make it. In the end, you'll be rewarded with the potential to earn that much more over your lifetime.
Obtaining a college degree can be thought of as an extended test of your resourcefulness and perseverance. Your first challenge in the process may be your most difficult-figuring out how to pay for your education.
Expenses on the Rise
The average cost of attending a four-year, private university has been steadily increasing over the past decade. The average annual cost of tuition and fees at private universities has already risen above $30,000. State residents at public colleges aren't getting off easy either, averaging over $9,000 annually. Though less expensive, this is still a monumental amount of money to find.
You don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand that these are big numbers, and unfortunately they're only going to get bigger. Experts foresee continual increases in university fees and that's not changing any time soon.
Estimating Your Costs
How much will that degree end up costing you? Many schools won't automatically send you cost estimates - the numbers are just too scary. It's best to call the school and ask for estimates on tuition, fees, and room and board. Then, add in another $4000 to cover the cost of books, supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses
Now comes the tricky part. You have an estimate for the first year, but the program will likely take four years to complete. Before you multiply that first-year estimate by four, consider these additional points What are the potential cost increases over these years? Can you work part-time to cover some of your expenses? Can you live at home to keep costs down? Will you have travel costs?
Once you can estimate the total price of attending and completing college, you should start researching scholarships or fellowships to lower your out-of-pocket outlays. Call it a sub-challenge to the larger goal of financing your education.
Student Scholarships and Fellowships
You don't have to be a child prodigy or superstar athlete to win a scholarship. More than likely, it's enough just to be you a motivated, forward-thinking individual; most scholarship recipients are just regular folk who know how to work the system.
Scholarships (for undergraduates) and fellowships (for graduate students) are financial gifts that help you pay for college. There are thousands of programs available, and each has its own eligibility requirements. Some are reserved for students with financial need, while others are based on different factors academic record, athletic prowess, field of study, musical talent, or cultural background. Most scholarships are awarded in small amounts. Full scholarships are increasingly rare, but are sometimes given to elite athletes in high revenue-producing sports.
Finding awards and grants
Thanks to the Internet, finding scholarship opportunities is much easier than it used to be. Here are the dos and don'ts
- Do ask your school guidance counselor for advice
- Do check your college website's scholarship section (protip: this is usually found under Financial Aid)
- Do look for scholarship notices at your local public library or local college's aid office
- Do register and search opportunities on free scholarship database websites
- Do ask your employer about tuition reimbursement and employee scholarships
- Don't wait until the last minute. Application deadlines are usually five to six months prior to the start of the semester
- Don't pay a fee for online scholarship matching.
Once you secure a scholarship or two, revisit your estimated costs. You can subtract the amount of your financial awards from your first-year estimate; but don't count these awards for later years unless it's highly likely that you'll continue to qualify.
Now it's time to move on to challenge number 2; borrowing money to cover the rest of your costs.
Loans for Students and Families
Almost two-thirds of undergraduate students attending four-year programs have to borrow money. Some students get in way over their heads, but it doesn't have to be that way if you plan ahead and stick to your means.
Introduction to student loans
Education-related loans can be made to students or parents through federal programs and private lenders
- Federal student loans: Federal student loans include Stafford Loans and Perkins Loans. The former are made through a bank or the U.S. Department of Education, while the latter are made directly through the school. Both programs are heavily regulated, thus protecting borrowers from high rates and fees. But these same programs also limit the amount of money you can borrow. Students who need more must turn to private lenders.
- Private student loans: Private loans made by banks and other financial institutions are not subject to federal regulations. Fees, rates, and available loan amounts vary significantly from lender to lender. Shopping around for the best deal is a must.
- Federal Loans to parents: Federal PLUS Loans are made to parents and guardians of college students. These are based on credit histories rather than on financial need. Parents with good credit can borrow as much as the full cost of education at competitive, fixed interest rates.
- Private loans to parents: Parents can also borrow money from banks and credit unions. As with private student loans, these vary dramatically in cost and type. Some financial institutions offer loans specifically for tuition, while others may recommend home equity loans or personal loans to cover these costs. Parents may also be able to borrow against life insurance policies or retirement funds.
Repayment of your student loans after graduation will be your final college-related challenge. While the deferred repayment structure of student loans makes sense, it can create some problems. Since you don't know what your income will be, you don't know what size repayment you can afford. For this reason, it's best to borrow only what you need and not a penny more. Even so, you still might find your repayment requirements to be unmanageable. That's when it's time to consider debt consolidation.
Student Loan Consolidation
You make it through college on the strength of frugal living, scholarships, and student loans. When you're finally earning the big bucks in the work place, loan repayments may annihilate your paycheck. Debt consolidation allows you to adapt your loan structure to better suit your personal situation.
Introduction to consolidation
6-12 months after graduation, you'll start making debt payments. Most students have several loans, and each will have its own repayment requirements.
You can streamline this repayment and lower your monthly obligations by consolidating. This process involves taking out one large loan to replace several smaller ones. Rather than making payments on three Stafford Loans and a Perkins Loan, you can make one payment to a new debt consolidation loan. In the interest of fairness, the federal government regulates the interest rate and repayment term for Student Loans Forgiveness.
Did you know that you can have some, or all, of your student debt cancelled by performing volunteer work? Sounds good, right? But don't expect it to be easy; a year of service in the Peace Corps might make most alternatives look like a vacation.
Introduction to loan forgiveness
Loan forgiveness programs give you the option of paying off your student debt with volunteer work, military service, or qualifying professional work. Essentially, if you perform the qualifying duties, the government will cancel all or part of your student debt.
Volunteering makes a difference
Several volunteer organizations offer variations of loan forgiveness. The AmeriCorps will pay both a salary and give loan forgiveness, based on a 12-month commitment. The Peace Corps allows volunteers to defer Stafford, Perkins, and Consolidation loans, and provide partial cancellation of Perkins Loans. The Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) pays its volunteers in the form of a stipend.
A 12-month stint with AmeriCorps, for example, earns you $7,400 in stipends plus a $4,725 credit to your loans. The Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), an organization aiming to help end hunger, homelessness, poverty and illiteracy, offers a $4,725 loan credit in exchange for 1,700 hours (approximately 42 weeks working full-time) of service. Or you can volunteer with the Peace Corps for a year, and work off 15 percent of your loan balance.
Military programs at your service
The armed forces offer merit-based programs that can repay part of their loans, with amounts varying by branch. The National Guard and Reserves will also repay student loans, although amounts may differ by state.
Other qualifying activities include teaching in low-income areas, serving with the Army National Guard, practicing law with non-profit organizations, or medicine in economically depressed regions.
Teaching has its rewards
For educators, numerous programs forgive students loans in exchange for teaching low-income families. The National Defense Education Act is one program that forgives a portion of the Perkins Loan for teachers who work for select elementary or secondary schools. Help is also needed in special education, math, science, and other areas.
Legal and medical opportunities
For doctors and lawyers, opportunities for loan forgiveness also exist. Positions include serving the public interest, but vary by state and even occupation. There are also specific programs for occupational and physical therapists.
Tax implications
Loan forgiveness does come at a cost when April 15th rolls around. Current tax laws stipulate that the loan amount must be counted as taxable income in the year it's forgiven.
There are loopholes, however, and there are numerous proposals on the table to make loan forgiveness completely tax-exempt, notably the Student Loan Tax Relief Act trumpeted by Senators Bob Menendez and Elizabeth Warren. These, though, have yet to become legislation.
Student loans have provided the means for countless high school graduates to attend college. The burden of repayment for these loans can be steep and extend for many years. But thanks to a number of programs, students can exchange service for loan forgiveness and stipends. It's a great way to repay a debt while helping those in need-a win-win scenario for students and society alike.
Don't Default On Your Student Loan
If you have student loans, you can expect a rather unpleasant graduation present from the real world: Your lender will want you to start making loan payments. If you don't, you may wind up in default, and the consequences could be serious.
"Goodbye, cool world," say teary-eyed college students on graduation day. They know that they have to say hello to the real and cruel world, a place where bills start appearing for mortgages, autos, and, of course, student loans.
Student loans are due even if you're not gainfully employed, or you stopped taking classes prior to graduation. If you don't make a payment for 270 days, your loan will be in default. If that occurs, you'll quickly learn how cold and cruel the real world can be.
Fail to pay - pay the price
If you fail to make a loan payment and don't have forbearance (only requires payment of the interest on a loan), or deferment (delay of payment for a specified time), you face rather dire consequences. A lender may turn your loan over to a collection agency, and you'll be responsible for the costs of collecting the loan, including attorney's fees.
The fun doesn't stop there. You can also be sued, your wages garnished, and your lender can take your federal and state income tax refund. The government can also deny you access to any more federal aid and withhold any Social Security payments that you're currently receiving.
Needless to say, all this will wreak havoc on your credit score, which impacts your ability to get loans and access credit.
Preventing and emerging from default
The first and most obvious way to stay out of default is to make your payments on time. Keep your lender posted on any address changes that you have. If you can't make your loan payment, contact your lender immediately. You can request a deferment, forbearance, or some other payment arrangement.
If you do fall into default, it's not the end of the world. You can get out of it by making 9 of 10 consecutive payments within 20 days of the due date. Making these payments may require some negotiation with your lender, in which a "reasonable and affordable" payment amount is set. This is considered "loan rehabilitation." Consolidating your delinquent loan may be another option suggested by your lender.
You may also be eligible for additional Title IV federal aid if you've made six consecutive on-time payments.
The consequences of loan default can be severe and have a significant long-term impact on your finances. Even though you can climb out of the jam by making a series of payments on time, it will wreak havoc on your credit score. Choose a healthier economic path: Make your payments on time and stay out of default in the first place. It's the best way to ensure that the real world welcomes you with open arms.
Student Loan Tips
Traditionally, students throw mortarboards into the air when they graduate. For many college students, graduation is also a time when they begin throwing their money away by not repaying student loans properly.
After suffering through years of cramped apartments and ramen noodle diners, most college graduates are eager to get a job and start earning money. One more lesson, however, must be learned. Students need to understand the correct way to repay their student loans. To effectively manage their debt, grads should follow these five strategies:
1. Pay on time or call your lender
New jobs and salaries also mean more financial responsibilities. Sometimes, a loan payment gets missed in the transition. To keep their credit reports unmarred, many graduates opt for an automatic repayment plan. This simple procedure automatically deducts the loan payment from a checking or savings account.
If a financial setback makes a late payment unavoidable, contact your lender and explain the situation. You may be able to work out a plan to deal with short-term problems. If you say nothing and the loan goes into default, you face serious legal and financial problems.
2. Choose the right repayment option
As graduates get a handle on their cash flow, they can pick out the best loan repayment option. People in low-paying, entry level jobs may opt for income-sensitive repayment programs that align a monthly payment with their income. For those earning a heftier salary, a better fit is the standard repayment option with fixed payments and low interest costs. Watch out for interest-only payments that shrink monthly obligations but don't reduce debt over the long haul.
3. Consider consolidation
Debt consolidation is a great choice if you have more than $10,000 in loans at rates higher than current market interest rates. Be aware that the move can extend the term of your loan repayment, so make sure that you understand how much you'll be spending in long-term interest. Also, avoid combining government loans with private loans. You'll negate federal benefits such as deferment or subsidized rates.
4. Don't repay right away
Life after school isn't always rosy. Unemployment, economic hardship, or a desire to return to school can crimp your ability to repay your student loan.
You do have options. Deferment, for example, allows you to stop making payments for a specified period of time. There's a three-year limit for cases of economic hardship, but the time is unlimited if you re-enroll in school. You can also choose forbearance. Reserved only for cases of severe hardship, forbearance is granted in yearly increments. In either case, interest continues to accrue on all student loans.
A diploma in hand doesn't mean a student's education is finished. Students should study all the repayment and consolidation options, if financial times get tough. The learning curve can be unforgiving out in the real world. Smart graduates will improve their debt management IQs by learning how to best repay their student loans.
Student Loan Consolidation
To consolidate or not to consolidate? Hamlet might have asked this question if he had graduated from college with student loans. If you're considering a loan consolidation, you'd be wise to follow a few simple tips.
The great thing about graduating from college is that you don't have to worry about homework hanging over your head. On the flip side of the coin, you may have something far worse to be concerned about-a student loan payment.
Many graduates consolidate their loans to lessen the pain of repayment. But no financial transaction should be taken lightly. Not only must you carefully analyze your current situation and goals, you need to consider what types of student loans are on the market. Here are some student loan consolidation tips to keep in mind.
1. Shop until your payment drops
You don't have to stick with the same lender if you're going to consolidate your loans. Shop around and look at different opportunities. Rates may not vary, but you could find that different lenders offer different discounts (see next tip). You may also find that the lender that you're currently with has included extra charges that you don't need to pay. It's always wise to comparison shop, no matter what your purchase.
2. Go discount shopping
As you're shopping for the best consolidation package, ask about discounts. Lenders today offer them for a variety of items, including everything from making a payment on time, to using automatic withdrawals from your checking account. Lenders highly value graduates who can make their student loan payments on time, primarily because so few of them do. Discounts for on-time bill paying might include reducing your payment by one full percentage point if you can rack up a 36-month consecutive payment streak.
3. Tame the terms
By extending the repayment term of your loan, you can lower your monthly payment. For most graduates struggling in an entry-level job, that's a very enticing prospect. But don't judge a payment book by its cover-an extended loan term can be as frightening as term papers. Those lower payments don't come cheap-you're going to get whacked long-term by higher interest costs. Ask your lender to tell you the difference in long-term interest costs for loans with different repayment terms. The results will startle you.
4. Do a reality check
Most importantly, don't choose a lower loan payment just so that you can buy a really cool car. Unless you've landed an exceptionally high-paying job out of college, you'll probably have to choose more of a utilitarian vehicle until you can afford a nicer ride.
As a graduate, it's great to be free from the constraints of endless exams and required reading. Unfortunately, the financial equivalent to academic pain is waiting in the wings. Repaying a student loan will be a concern of yours for a long time to come. Make sure that the debt isn't with you one day longer than necessary by carefully shopping for the right consolidation loan.
The articles and calculator tools in the section below will provide you with more information and ideas on paying for college, and don't forget to take a look at our College Finance Guide too!
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