Education Loan Consolidation Options
So you've worked your tail off for the last several years eating Ramen and pulling all nighters while living on your student loans that almost covered the bills, and now you've got a great job, a new life and a mountain of debt. Life next pop quizWhat do you do? Fortunately for today's education Loan borrowers there are plenty of options to help you get your new life started without having the old one hanging around your neck like an anchor. There are plenty of student loan consolidation options available for the savvy borrower, and one of them will probably fit your life.
The first place many borrowers will look for a consolidation program is FFEL consolidation. Federal Family Education Loan consolidation offers the option of putting all of your federally funded education debt - both subsidized and unsubsidized - under a single plan. This option can even work for those unfortunate souls who have been in default in the past, and offer fixed rates, extended terms to help you get started in your new life without worrying about loan payments eating up most of threat tiny entry level salary.
In addition to traditional federally funded loans, many students finance their advanced education with a variety of private loans. Private consolidation of these loans offers borrowers many of the same benefits as federal consolidation - fixed rates, longer terms, and lower payments. Conditions may be stricter for a private consolidation and you cannot usually combine private and federal loans under a single consolidation package. You may end up with two consolidation loans, one for your federal debt, and one for private; be sure to shop around for the best rates.
Many parents use the PLUS loan program to borrow for the children's education. PLUS loans can be consolidated using a PLUS consolidation program much which offers similar benefits and potential pitfalls of FFEL and private consolidation - fixed rates, and lower payments spread over a longer term. Plus loan consolidations are great for some people but parents need to take a good look at all of their options before consolidating.
Another option to a traditional loan is an additional mortgage on a piece of real property like a house of land that you may own. Some students parents will take this option to pay off the loans and the student can they make payments directly to mom and dad. Private personal loans from family members are yet another possible way to get the worry of several large monthly payments off your back, and some businesses offer tuition reimbursement for their employees.
One of the newest innovations in lending is the idea of micro-financing. Peer to peer lending networks provide the same type structure as peer to peer file sharing networks. With a P2P lending network, borrowers submit their request usually backed by some type of credit check and a variety of lenders bid on it. Usually the P2P organization will service the loan, which may be funded from friends, family members, or even complete strangers.
Making the transition from school life to your career is a road with more than its share of lessons and challenges. Having to make large student loan payments on an entry level salary while trying to save cash for a professional wardrobe, deposits on housing, and other "grown-up" essentials is enough to stop that progress dead in its tracks. There are many things to consider when applying for a consolidation, but knowing that you have options available can help make your transition manageable.
The first place many borrowers will look for a consolidation program is FFEL consolidation. Federal Family Education Loan consolidation offers the option of putting all of your federally funded education debt - both subsidized and unsubsidized - under a single plan. This option can even work for those unfortunate souls who have been in default in the past, and offer fixed rates, extended terms to help you get started in your new life without worrying about loan payments eating up most of threat tiny entry level salary.
In addition to traditional federally funded loans, many students finance their advanced education with a variety of private loans. Private consolidation of these loans offers borrowers many of the same benefits as federal consolidation - fixed rates, longer terms, and lower payments. Conditions may be stricter for a private consolidation and you cannot usually combine private and federal loans under a single consolidation package. You may end up with two consolidation loans, one for your federal debt, and one for private; be sure to shop around for the best rates.
Many parents use the PLUS loan program to borrow for the children's education. PLUS loans can be consolidated using a PLUS consolidation program much which offers similar benefits and potential pitfalls of FFEL and private consolidation - fixed rates, and lower payments spread over a longer term. Plus loan consolidations are great for some people but parents need to take a good look at all of their options before consolidating.
Another option to a traditional loan is an additional mortgage on a piece of real property like a house of land that you may own. Some students parents will take this option to pay off the loans and the student can they make payments directly to mom and dad. Private personal loans from family members are yet another possible way to get the worry of several large monthly payments off your back, and some businesses offer tuition reimbursement for their employees.
One of the newest innovations in lending is the idea of micro-financing. Peer to peer lending networks provide the same type structure as peer to peer file sharing networks. With a P2P lending network, borrowers submit their request usually backed by some type of credit check and a variety of lenders bid on it. Usually the P2P organization will service the loan, which may be funded from friends, family members, or even complete strangers.
Making the transition from school life to your career is a road with more than its share of lessons and challenges. Having to make large student loan payments on an entry level salary while trying to save cash for a professional wardrobe, deposits on housing, and other "grown-up" essentials is enough to stop that progress dead in its tracks. There are many things to consider when applying for a consolidation, but knowing that you have options available can help make your transition manageable.
About the Author:
Dennis Powel frequently writes about the consolidation of federal loans for non-students as well as student loan consolidation rules.
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