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The Truth About Student Loans

When it comes to getting a college education most people can agree that the costs can be staggering at best. Even the least expensive colleges in the nation can add up over a four or five year period of time creating crippling debt for those who do not qualify for some of the better grant programs of substantial scholarships.

The problem lies in the fact that the parents of most traditional college students make too much money to qualify for the free financial aid that is needs based and very few qualify for the limited number of scholarships that are available to students based on merit. Even among those that qualify competition and fierce and there are no guarantees. Enter the student loan. There are all kinds of student loans and unfortunately with rising costs associated with college attendance and the growing necessity of a college degree for success in this country it is becoming more and more difficult to pay the price that is associated with higher education.

There are three types of loans that are commonly found for college students. They include federal student loans, federal plus loans, and private student loans. Each type of loan has advantages and disadvantages that are unique to that particular loan. Below I will give a little information about each of the loan types and whom they may benefit.

Student loans. There are three different types of student loans: subsidized, unsubsidized, and Perkins loans.

Perkins loans are only available to students who display exceptional financial need. These loans are available at a 5% interest rate and are available to both graduate and undergraduate students. Perkins loans are extended through the university you attend and will be repaid to the university unlike the other types of student loans, which are repaid to the lending agency.

Subsidized student loans are loans in which the interest is deferred until graduation or you cease to be a qualifying student. What this means is that while you are responsible for repaying the loan upon graduation the interest on these loans does not begin to accrue until your begin repayment 6 months after graduation or your cease to be at least a half time student of the university. You must qualify based on your income in order to receive a subsidized student loan. While the needs requirements for these loans isn’t as grave as those required in order to receive a Perkins loan you must still qualify.

Unsubsidized student loans do not require qualification on a needs basis. You must be a student and enrolled at least half time in order to receive an unsubsidized student loan. The good news however for those who do not qualify based on needs for other student loan options is that this type of loan is available to all qualifying students regardless of need. The interest on these loans however begins to accrue immediately, which means they can really add up over time.

PLUS loans are loans that are taken out by the parents of students who need the funds in order to cover educational expenses. The maximum amount that can be borrowed is the cost of attendance minus any financial aid awards the student has already received. The repayment on these loans begins 60 days after the loan is dispersed and the repayment period can be up to 10 years.

In order to cover the costs involved in education that go above and beyond what the government recognizes as acceptable college related expenses you can opt to go the route of private student loans rather then relying solely upon federal financial aid for your student loan source. These loans require that you qualify in order to receive them based on your credit rather than your need and must be used for educational purposes only. With these particular loans you really need to make sure you read all the fine print as different companies offer different conditions and different perks. You should really take the time and compare prices and options before taking out a private student loan and this should be done only as a last resort.

Student loans for many can be the difference in attending college and getting the education you are hoping for and not being able to pay the high costs that go along with higher education. For this reason you should treat them with respect and not take them lightly.

College Loan Deferment

This article is going to look at college loan deferment in general as well as key types of deferment available for federally supported student loans. For private student loans it might be possible to obtain a deferment, but that choice is at the discretion of the lender. A private loan borrower doesn’t have right to a deferment as they do with a government loan program, and that is an additional legitimate reason to stay clear of private student loans if at all possible.

For government loans the loan originator can’t deny a deferment if you meet the qualifying criteria. You will naturally need to finish all the appropriate paperwork. When you’ve got a subsidized loan product the U.S. government is going to make the loan interest payments during deferment, but if your loan isn’t subsidized the actual interest will be combined with the borrowed funds balance, or capitalized. You are permitted to make repayments on a loan that is in deferment and not relinquish deferment status. If at all possible it is definitely advisable to make at least interest installments on non-subsidized government loans during deferment so as to maintain the loan balance at the amount it had been. In the event that borrowers let their loan balance get too large they might find it hard to ever get out from underneath their student loans.

In School Deferments

If you are enrolled at least half-time with an accredited institution of higher learning you can qualify to receive an in school deferment. Obviously you will need to complete all of the mandatory documents and also inform your loan company. There is no time limit for an in school deferment so long as you stay in school. If you take a semester off or perhaps transfer schools you must tell your loan company.

Unemployment Deferment

Should you be working under thirty hours weekly you are considered to be substantially unemployed, and you can meet the criteria to get an unemployment deferment. You can get this type of deferment by qualifying to get state unemployment benefits or simply registering through an employment agency along with looking for regular work. For the first six months there’s no requirement to document precisely what you did for a work search, however to obtain an extension beyond that you need to prove you applied to at least six organizations within six months. Unemployment deferments may be prolonged up to three years for federal student loans granted by 1993 and afterward. They will just be prolonged for 24 months for federal student loans written prior to 1993. These types of deferments are available for people who have Perkins loans, Stafford loans, and Direct loans, and for parent borrowers with PLUS loans when the parent is actually jobless.

Economic Hardship Deferment

This kind of deferment is actually for people who are not eligible for the unemployment deferment. You are eligible if your full-time monthly income doesn’t exceed the larger of the federal minimum wage or 150% of the poverty level for your size of family from the state you are living. You also meet the requirements if you have already received an economic hardship deferment through a different federal program for instance a Perkins loan, or perhaps when you are receiving state or government assistance, including food stamps, or if you’re in the Peace Corps. You’ll need to maintain pay stubs, tax information as well as financial records pertaining to funds you have received, because you are going to be required to document all earnings along with other assistance obtained to qualify for this particular deferment.

Military Deferment

A person having a government student loan who is called to active duty could qualify for this kind of deferment. This deferment can also be readily available for students who go into the military on active duty and who want to come back to school after concluding military service. This deferment finishes 13 months after the active duty service is concluded or when the student re-enters college, whatever comes first. Make sure you consult with your loan adviser to complete the mandatory documents for this deferment.

Graduate Fellowship Deferments

This kind of deferment is for people doing graduate studies that are outside the classroom, for instance carrying out research, independent study or training. You need to possess a bachelor’s degree as well as be certified through a member of the program. These deferments are accessible for people with Perkins loans, Stafford loans, and Direct loans, as well as for parent borrowers with PLUS loans taken out earlier than 1993.

Perkins Loan Deferments

Perkins loans, which are awarded to students with exceptional monetary need, have their very own deferments. Many of these types of loans might qualify for loan forgiveness if for example the borrower takes part in a public services kind of career. For those who have attained a Perkins loan ensure that you connect with your loan guidance counselor from your school as well as understand what these kinds of public service professions are, so you’ll know if you would possibly qualify for a college loan deferment or perhaps even loan forgiveness.