FOREX -How will I get the loan money?
For both the Direct Loan and FFEL programs, you'll be paid through your school in at least two installments. No installment may exceed one-half of your loan amount. Your loan money must first be applied to pay for tuition and fees, room and board, and other school charges. If loan money remains, you'll receive the funds by check or in cash, unless you give the school written authorization to hold the funds until later in the enrollment period.
How much can I borrow?
It depends on your year in school and whether you have a subsidized or unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. If you're eligible for a subsidized loan, the government will pay (subsidize) the interest on your loan while you're in school, for the first six months after you leave school, and if you qualify to have your payments deferred. Depending on your financial need, you may borrow subsidized money for an amount up to the annual loan borrowing limit for your level of study (see below).
How can I get a FFEL or Direct Loan?
For either type of loan, you must fill out a FAFSA. After your FAFSA is processed, your school will review the results and will inform you about your loan eligibility. You also will have to sign a promissory note, a binding legal document that lists the conditions under which you're borrowing and the terms under which you agree to repay your loan.
Stafford Loans (FFELs and Direct Loans)
In addition to Perkins Loans, the U.S. Department of Education administers the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Both the FFEL and Direct Loan programs consist of what are generally known as Stafford Loans (for students) and PLUS Loans for parents and graduate and professional degree students
Borrowers Currently Enrolled in school can no longer Consolidate Their Loans
The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 eliminated the provision that allowed a FFEL or Direct Loan borrower who is enrolled in school on at least a half-time basis to request to enter repayment early on his or her Stafford Loans if the lender approves. Repayment is now defined as not beginning until 6 months and one day after the date the student ceases to carry at least one-half the normal full- time academic workload, as determined by the school. Therefore, a FFEL or Direct Loan borrower who is still enrolled in school at least half-time may no longer request to enter repayment early to apply for a FFEL or Direct Consolidation Loan.
Repayment Plans
Consolidation loans provide access to several alternate repayment plans besides standard ten-year repayment. These include extended repayment, graduated repayment, income contingent repayment (Direct Loans only) and income sensitive repayment (FFEL only). If you do not specify the repayment terms, you will receive standard ten-year repayment.
Interest Rates
The interest rate on a consolidation loan is the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest 1/8 of a percent and capped at 8.25%.
For example, suppose a student has just unsubsidized Stafford Loans originated on or after July 1, 2006. These loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. When they are consolidated by themselves, the consolidation loan will have an interest rate of 6 and 7/8ths of a percent, or 6.875%. So the interest rate increases only slightly.
If the borrower has a mix of loans with different interest rates, the weighted average will be somewhere in between. For example, if the borrower has $5,000 of Perkins Loans (at 5.0%) and $10,000 of unsubsidized Stafford Loans (at 6.8%), the weighted average is
$5,000 * 5.0% + $10,000 * 6.8%
------------------------------ = 6.2%
$5,000 + $10,000
For example, suppose a student has just unsubsidized Stafford Loans originated on or after July 1, 2006. These loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. When they are consolidated by themselves, the consolidation loan will have an interest rate of 6 and 7/8ths of a percent, or 6.875%. So the interest rate increases only slightly.
If the borrower has a mix of loans with different interest rates, the weighted average will be somewhere in between. For example, if the borrower has $5,000 of Perkins Loans (at 5.0%) and $10,000 of unsubsidized Stafford Loans (at 6.8%), the weighted average is
$5,000 * 5.0% + $10,000 * 6.8%
------------------------------ = 6.2%
$5,000 + $10,000
Search for Scholarships - NextStudent
69,000 college funding sources comprised of more than 5.9 million individually awarded scholarships valued at over $16 billion. Using the NextStudent database to find money for college is fast, completely private, and totally free of charge.
Simply enter your (or your student's) personal and academic information, and the NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine will select those awards that match your profile. It also provides, for all scholarships, the funding source's eligibility requirements, due dates, number of awards, award amounts, and contact information.
Simply enter your (or your student's) personal and academic information, and the NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine will select those awards that match your profile. It also provides, for all scholarships, the funding source's eligibility requirements, due dates, number of awards, award amounts, and contact information.
Federal Student Loan Holders
Whether you have one or multiple federal education loans, with the Federal Consolidation Loan program, you could significantly lower your monthly payments and get up to 30 years to repay your parent or student loans. Apply Online... now with Electronic Signature!
No-hassle application.
Anyone with an eligible federal student loan or federal parent loan can consolidate with the NextStudent Federal Consolidation Program. There are no credit checks, you don’t need a co-signer, and you don't need to know the details of your current student loan portfolio. Just complete the simple four-step online application with Electronic Signature, and you could be on your way to lower payments each month.
Do the math.
Federal student loan rates are low right now, but consolidating your student loans with NextStudent could help you lower your student loan payments even more.
And when you consolidate your student loans, you could get more time—up to 20 more years—to repay.
How much can you save? Use our consolidation loan calculator to find out.
And when you consolidate your student loans, you could get more time—up to 20 more years—to repay.
How much can you save? Use our consolidation loan calculator to find out.
Student Loan Consolidation
Please be aware that due to current conditions in the student loan market in particular and in the financial sector in general, NextStudent is not currently able to accept any new PLUS, Grad PLUS, Stafford, or Federal Consolidation Loan applications. However, you may be able to apply for these federal student loans from one of our trusted partners.
Generous borrowing limits
The cost of college is more than just tuition. With a PLUS loan, you can borrow up to your child’s full cost of attendance, which includes school-related expenses like books, supplies, and even a transportation allowance
Get the loan that financial experts recommend.
Financial experts agree: Federally guaranteed PLUS loans are a smart financial strategy for parents of undergraduate students—they can help families meet college costs at below-market rates and generous terms. Federal PLUS Loans give eligible parents another option for college financing that serves as an alternative to dipping into the family savings or borrowing against a home.
Fixed, low interest rate of 8.5%
Loan amounts that cover up to 100% of the cost of your child’s college education
Available throughout the school year—even if you’ve already paid tuition and other educational expenses, apply for a PLUS loan and reimburse yourself!
Eligible for federal loan consolidation
Interest that may be tax-deductible (consult your tax advisor)
Quick, no-hassle application process
Fixed, low interest rate of 8.5%
Loan amounts that cover up to 100% of the cost of your child’s college education
Available throughout the school year—even if you’ve already paid tuition and other educational expenses, apply for a PLUS loan and reimburse yourself!
Eligible for federal loan consolidation
Interest that may be tax-deductible (consult your tax advisor)
Quick, no-hassle application process
Get the best deals with NextStudent Loans.
Cover up to 100% of your children’s college expenses with a low-interest, fixed-rate Federal PLUS Loan from NextStudent. You can help your children pay not just for tuition and room and board, but for other school-related expenses, like books and fees. PLUS loans aren’t based on financial need or income, so you can’t be turned down for making too little or too much money. Even Bill Gates could get a PLUS loan!
PLUS Loans *
Please be aware that due to current conditions in the student loan market in particular and in the financial sector in general, NextStudent is not currently able to accept any new PLUS, Grad PLUS, Stafford, or Federal Consolidation Loan applications. However, you may be able to apply for these federal student loans from one of our trusted partners
Federally guaranteed student loans
Awarded both with and without consideration of financial need, Stafford student loans give undergraduate and graduate students a self-help financing option that’s available to you regardless of how much money you or your parents make.
Stafford loans are given to students in their own names without a credit check, so you don’t need to worry about finding a co-signer to get money for college or graduate school.
Stafford loans are given to students in their own names without a credit check, so you don’t need to worry about finding a co-signer to get money for college or graduate school.
Federal Stafford Loans*
Please be aware that due to current conditions in the student loan market in particular and in the financial sector in general, NextStudent is not currently able to accept any new PLUS, Grad PLUS, Stafford, or Federal Consolidation Loan applications. However, you may be able to apply for these federal student loans from one of our trusted partners
NextStudent Private Student Loans
* Please be aware that due to current conditions in the student loan market in particular and in the financial sector in general, NextStudent is not currently able to accept any new applications for NextStudent Private Loans. However, you may be able to apply for a private student loan from one of our trusted partners.
