Is an Alternative College Loan Right for You?

College repayment can be an overwhelming process. Luckily there are lots of ways to cover the costs of your higher education. In addition to grants and scholarships, there are different types of loans that can provide you with the money you need. There are federal loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education, and there are alternative or private loans provided by credit unions, banks and lending companies. Whether or not you should seek an alternative college loan depends on your particular circumstances.


The very first thing any student needing money for college should do is apply for as many scholarships and grants as they are able. Scholarships are merit-based awards while grants are given for various purposes. The Pell Grant is given to students based on financial need. Grants and scholarships do not require repayment, which makes them so appealing. Once you've sought help from these sources, you can start investigating the different types of loans available.

Federal loans like the Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford Loan are recommended for students. Perkins loans from the government are for students with extreme financial hardship. If you do not qualify for these loans, or you have these loans but need more money for college expenses, an alternative loan may be the right choice. These loans are not based on need, rather they are based on credit and income just as any personal loan from a bank, credit union or other lender would be. Credit reports are pulled and income history is verified before approval is given.

It can be difficult for the average undergraduate student to obtain an alternative college loan by themselves. This is usually because these students have not yet established a favorable credit history. In this case a cosigner is necessary. A cosigner, such as a parent, accepts responsibility for the loan if the borrower does not pay. Many loans allow the borrower to request the cosigner be removed after a certain number of payments are made on time. One of the most popular loans is the Signature Loan from Sallie Mae, second only in popularity to the federal Stafford Loan. There are also private or alternative loans for professional and/or graduate students that can help fund continuing education.



College Loans Grants


 

 



Scholarship Guide

 

College Consolidation Loans News:

 

'Pay As You Earn': What students need to know
For families struggling to pay for college, 2012 won't be pretty. This year, interest rates on some federal loans will increase, tuition will go up, and it will become harder to qualify for a full Pell Grant. But there is also some good news...


Apply for Financial Aid Now at UW, Wyoming Community Colleges - University of Wyoming News

Apply for Financial Aid Now at UW, Wyoming Community Colleges
University of Wyoming News
Students interested in receiving federal grants, loans or work-study awards for college financial assistance are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). UW and the community colleges are offering free information .

and more »
..


Wonkbook: Robert Kagan, Obama's favorite Romney adviser
Robert Kagan is a prominent neoconservative who advised John McCain in the 2008 race and is advising Mitt Romney in 2012. But after publishing a cover story in the New Republic arguing against "the myth of American decline," he has found himself a new fan: President Obama. Read full article >>..


OJSC Transcontainer - Replacement - Results for the Nine Months 2011
 This is a replacement for the announcement sent on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 at 07:00, RNS number 6739V. The amendments have been made to the dates in the first two tables in the Key operating results ...


Paying off a student loan? New federal program may help
People trying to pay off student loans might be able to save a little money, thanks to a new loan consolidation program sponsored by the federal government...


Can I combine parent and child student loans?
Dear Dr. Don,Someone recently told me you could consolidate all student loans, or the government is working on that to happen in the near future. My daughter has federal and private loans in her name. ...


Consolidating Privarate Student Loans to Lower Debt Repayment - ClimbTheNet

Consolidating Privarate Student Loans to Lower Debt Repayment
ClimbTheNet
It -s becаuѕе оf thе many student loans thаt уou neеd tо obtain to assist yоu thrоugh yоur college requirements. However, w-th thе number of loans slowly but surely piling up, уоu gеt neck-deep in debt. If indeed, уоu аre in suсh a burdensome situation .

and more »
..


Good Reasons to Love Those Darn Student Loans - DailyFinance

Zimbabwe Tribune

Good Reasons to Love Those Darn Student Loans
DailyFinance
By Molly McCluskey, The Motley Fool Posted 6:30AM 01/31/12 College Finance With student loan default rates rising due to persistently high unemployment rates, it's easy to vilify the seemingly endless monthly payments that follow graduation.
Jobless grads rap Sallie Mae over loan feeMarketWatch
Unemployed Graduates Fight Sallie Mae on Forbearance FeesNextGen Journal
Judge Certifies Class in Suit Against Sallie MaeCourthouse News Service
Huffington Post -The News Journal -Credit Union Times
all 9 news articles »
..


Editorial: Tax refund loans a bad investment - The Sheboygan Press

Chicago Tribune

Editorial: Tax refund loans a bad investment
The Sheboygan Press
Information on Lakeland College's income tax assistance program is available by calling Brett Killion, Lakeland accounting instructor, at 920-565-1028. Now that we are in the "tax season," people are working to complete filing of state and federal .
Money Matters: Using your tax refund wiselyTravelers Rest Tribune

all 355 news articles »
..


How You Pay for College Impacts Your Tax Bill - Fox Business

How You Pay for College Impacts Your Tax Bill
Fox Business
When considering how to pay for a post-secondary education, experts recommend knowing which tax credits and deductions you qualify for before deciding whether to use a combination of monies in a 529 plan, personal savings, federal student loans, .

and more »
..


Why we make the financially wrong choice when paying off debts
A study says "debt account aversion" drives us to pay off small debts first, even if paying the highest-interest debt is always smarter financially..


Student loan debt keeps going up
Outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1 trillion in 2011, an amount that now exceeds what the entire nation owes in credit card debt. The amount of money owed on student loans has continued to rise, even as recession-minded consumers pay down debt elsewhere...


Sallie Mae Partners with ConnectEDU to Help Ensure a Generation's Financial . - MarketWatch (press release)

Sallie Mae Partners with ConnectEDU to Help Ensure a Generation's Financial .
MarketWatch (press release)
Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae turns education dreams into reality for its 25 million customers. With products and services that include college savings programs, scholarship search tools, education loans, .

and more »
..


OJSC Transcontainer - Results for the Nine Months 2011
 For immediate release OJSC TRANSCONTAINER Interim Unaudited Results for the nine months ended 30 September 2011 OJSC TransContainer (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "TransContainer" ...



Technorati Tags: , ,