Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Student Loans - Ray of hope

Life before getting a job is perhaps the toughest time. Your studies at the university or college have been completed, but the study loans(student loans) are now pending. You are still paying the interest charged by these loans. The job market is now more competitive than ever. You have to be patient during the unemployment period while waiting for employement. If there is winter now, can spring be far away! Your ego does not permit you to ask your friends for favors. Do not be half-hearted. The UK loan market has loan plans suiting your needs. These loans do not have the residential property security clause. Hence until you get a job, your requirements can be met with these loans.

During the unemployment period, the installments of previous loans often face a delay. Everybody is not born with a golden spoon. As you are unemployed you do not find means to regularize the repayment pattern. These delays may create problems in future. Credit history is correlated with the past credit behavior and credit worthiness of the borrower. Cheap unsecured loans offer an opportunity the unemployed youth to regularize their repayment pattern.

Your study loans can be repaid with the help of unsecured loans for unemployed. If there are multiple study loans you can consolidate them into a single loan. The new loan charges a less rate of interest. As the total interest burden on you is decreased, you can easily maintain regularity in installments . Cheap college loans charge the borrowers a lower interest rate as compared to credit cards. As the interest is calculated annually, the repayment amount is also less. Repayment period can be extended up to 10 years. Hence job seekers need not blame the financial constraints anymore. Apply for the online unsecured loans for unemployed today to make these tough periods of life easier.


http://www.bestsyndication.com/

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Student loan rate : Doubled to highest rate for 16 years

Graduates are having to pay double the rate of interest on their loans compared with last year. The Student Loan Company has put the rate of interest up from 2.4 per cent to 4.8 per cent making it the highest rate since 1991. It means that a graduate who went to university in London and borrowed the maximum of £17,970 could be paying back an extra £400 a year.

But many graduates and students say they only became aware of the increase when they spotted an advert in a national newspaper. Now they are hoping an online campaign will help reverse the Student Loan Company's decision. So far 15,000 people have signed up to the Facebook group "The Student Loans Rip-Off". Last month a similar group helped reverse the decision of HSBC to cut interest-free overdrafts for graduates.

The group's creator Rahul Thakrar, a student at University College London, wrote online: "This is extremely unfair, especially given the limited notice we have had to this massive change. "The aim of this group is an attempt to get this change reversed." Student Adam McGee, 21, from West Hampstead, who is studying History and Politics at Nottingham University, said: "The 2.4 per cent rate was a reasonable amount and students can live with that, but now that it has been increased by twice the amount it is indeed an absurd change - from what seemed to be something that was a 'fair' amount to a perceived greedy profit on their behalf. "They seem to be just profiteering, thinking about themselves instead of the students.

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Monday, September 3, 2007

3 Schools Act To Settle College Loan Questions

Three private colleges in Connecticut will add a total of $75,000 to their scholarship funds to settle allegations of questionable arrangements with a student loan agency, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Monday.

Trinity College, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University all denied any wrongdoing but agreed to abide by a code of conduct that would no longer permit the kind of arrangement they had with the College Board.

The three schools received discounts on computer software from the New York-based college loan agency as part of an arrangement that included placing the agency on their list of preferred lenders. The arrangement had not been disclosed to student borrowers and "potentially violated consumer protection laws," Blumenthal said.

The schools were among 17 private colleges and universities in Connecticut signing a new code of conduct that Blumenthal called "the gold standard for the whole country in conduct and standards for student loans."

The code is the result of a continuing investigation of student lending practices in Connecticut, Blumenthal said. Officials at the state's public colleges - including the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut State University system and the Connecticut Community Colleges system - also are considering similar codes of conduct.

The student lending industry came under intense scrutiny this year after investigations in New York and elsewhere uncovered conflicts of interest and questionable lending practices. In New York, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo reported finding illegal steering to preferred lenders along with cases in which college financial aid officers received gifts, held stock in lending companies or got consulting fees from lenders.

Source : http://www.courant.com/

Monday, August 6, 2007

Student loan survival guide : drowning in student loans

Philip Jones wanted nothing more than to marry his fiancee, fly away to Costa Rica, and embark on the rest of his life. But something was holding him back--the $40,000 in student loans he owes to Direct Loans and Sallie Mae.

Jones, 30, was stressed out because he knew that if he fell behind on his loan payments, the U.S. Department of Education could provide offsets against Social Security payments and garnish his wages and tax refunds, without a court order. Until recently, only the Internal Revenue Service wielded such power.

Luckily, the 2004 graduate of Rutgers University College of Engineering knew a little something about forbearance, a temporary suspension of loan payments that most lenders will allow when times are tough. For Jones, his wallet was being pulled in too many directions; he was trying to pay for a house, a wedding, and a honeymoon within a six-month period.

"I didn't have to make a payment for six months, so that money went toward the wedding and honeymoon. It's easing the financial stress," says the mechanical engineer, who works for Hayes Pump Inc., an industrial equipment distributor in Fairfield, New Jersey.

Source : http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_11_35/ai_n14816909

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Do I qualify for a student loan?

Student loans come in several types, and you obviously have done some research as you named the Perkins and Stafford programs correctly. Perkins is awarded by the Financial Aid Office. The Stafford loan also is processed by the university based on the same FAFSAA, however, the Stafford can either be subsidized (government pays the interest for you while you're in school - determined by your income and current resources), or unsubsidized.

People who do NOT qualify for "need based aid" can still get an unsubsidized Stafford loan, and simply allow the interest from the in-school period accrue and be repaid along with the original principal amount at repayment.

Source : http://www.youngmoney.com/financial_aid/student_loans/102

Monday, July 2, 2007

How the end of the single holder rule affects you, the student loan borrower

Until July 1, 2006 if all of your student loans were issued through one lender, you were forced to consolidate with that lender—regardless of whether that lender had the best student loan consolidation deals for you. If you’re like most students, you probably have no idea which lender was supplying your federal student loans.

If you did, you probably didn’t pour through the fine print of their student loan consolidation terms while in line at the financial aid office. Now, it doesn’t matter who issued your original loan, you can consolidate college loans with the lender that offers you the most benefits.

source : http://www.scholarpoint.com/Articles/

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Student car loans for college students

Student car loans for college students

Many students don’t have a source of income, but they still need to borrow money to buy a car. Although many online lenders out there offer car loans to college or university students, there are some car loan programs that are targeted at students but are not flexible. It is important to distinguish between the student car loans that are easy to repay and the ones that are offered by banks and other traditional credit unions. Online lenders are known to provide various loan solutions to people who do not have a steady income.

Student car loans have a lower interest rate and the repayment period can be extended so that the students can afford the monthly installment. In addition to these, there are other benefits of student car loans as well. In order to opt for a student car loan program, you have to be a US resident currently enrolled in a college or university. While looking for online car loan lenders, choose a company that offers a comparison of the different options and lenders.

Before you choose a lender, make sure that you have read the terms and conditions carefully. Buying a car isn’t that easy. You will not only have to consider the monthly loan payment, but also any other overhead charges that are associated with the purchase of a car. These additional costs include car maintenance and insurance.

In addition to lower interest rates, some online lenders also offer other concessions to students. If a student happens to have a bad credit history, he/she may not be eligible for a lower interest rate on a car loan. However taking out a student car loan is useful because it will actually help to improve their credit score.

If you are a student you will no doubt have either a poor credit history or no credit history at all. All students borrow money, and so their credit score will no doubt suffer. There are options to borrow money for a car even if the student has a bad credit history.

source : http://www.add-articles.com/Article/Student-Car-Loans/86952

Friday, June 1, 2007

Consolidating your student loans

Consolidating your student loans

Why these factors matter to you when consolidating your student loans

Best Rate Guarantee : ScholarPoint's Best Rate Guarantee ensures that you'll lock in the very best rates, no matter how the interest rate changes on July 1st!

Get Started Today
1. The annual government-initiated student loan interest rate change

Most of your student loans have a variable interest rate – specifically loans taken out before July 1, 2006 can potentially gain a higher rate while you’re repaying them as the government changes student loan rates each year on July 1st.

So how do you know when to consolidate? If the interest rate is higher than it is today, you’ll pay more after July 1st. If it’s lower, you’ve missed a chance to pay a lower amount each month. Whether you consolidate today or wait until after July 1st, you’re taking a gamble on the changing interest rate – right?
Apply Today to Get the Best Rate, Guaranteed

ScholarPoint has a unique program called the Best Rate Guarantee that removes the risk of paying too much. When you begin the consolidation process before July 1st, the Best Rate Guarantee ensures that you’ll lock in the lower of the two interest rates.

source : http://www.scholarpoint.com/Articles/BestRateGuaranteeConsolidationFeature.aspx

Monday, May 21, 2007

Other resources

BlogRankings.com

Online Help In A Hurry - Fast Cash Loans

Everybody at some point in their lives gets in a tight spot with money, which is where finding fast cash loans online can become helpful. What is a cash advance loan you might be asking and how will one help me?

A fast cash loan is also commonly referred to as a payday loan. When you have applied for a fast cash loan online you will need to have an active checking account or savings account, as this is the method that the loan company will use in order to collect the money that they are owed.

The term of fast cash loans are normally between one to six weeks and usually no more then two or three months.

How can a fast cash loan help me?

A fast cash loan can have money in your hand in less then 24 hours, many times even the instant that you are approved. This can be very helpful if you have a dire need for money. You don’t need to have stellar credit in order to qualify for a fast cash loan. Most all cash advance companies will only require and active checking (or savings) account and that you have proof of how much money you make in a month. Many companies additionally require that you have been at your current job for at least six months. Fast cash loans can also help you bring your credit score up if the company happens to report to any of the three major credit reporting agencies.

source : http://getloansonline.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Subsidized student loans secure

Subsidized student loans secure financing for individuals wanting to go to college. The cost of a four year college education is astounding. Most prospective students can not afford to pay for college tuition out of their own pockets. If there is a prospective student who has siblings in college, the burden of college expenses maybe too much for the parents to help the oldest with their tuition. Fortunately there are many different types of financing that can help pay for an education. College student loans is usually guaranteed by the U.S. government. They pledge to pay the interest to the lending institution while the scholar is attending college and during the student's grace period of about six months. Also, the U.S. government makes an agreement with the lending institution that if the borrower defaults, they will repay the lender.

This does not mean that the borrower will not have to repay the balance if they default. The United States government will then strive to get the money from the borrower to repay the subsidized student loans. Applying for and obtaining student car loans is a great way to pay for college. Earning a higher education will excel a scholar professionally, socially, and personally. Before applying for a subsidized student loan, seek after God's will to ensure that it is what He would direct. Remember that making the decision to apply is only the first step and it should be noted that the borrower should exhaust all other areas of financial aid before resorting to lent funds.

source : http://www.christianet.com/studentloans/subsidizedstudentloans.htm

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Student car loan quote

7 out of 10 students get a better loan than they would from their parents credit union. We get at least 2 emails a week from parents asking me which car loan service I recommend for students or young drivers.

There are tons of quote services out there, but they usually just resell your information to a local bank or dealership, which is not all bad, but you are not getting the lowest rates.

So what can a student do?

GET A FREE STUDENT CAR LOAN QUOTE

The rate quote is free, and there are NO obligation to buy or do anything...so try it.

1. Super fast
2. Students welcome
3. Credit situation not a problem
4. No obligations
5. Super low rates

Have student car loans now...

source : http://www.trustmymechanic.com/

Monday, April 23, 2007

Types of UK Student Loans

A student loan varies a lot from that of a scholarship and grant. It is something which a student has to pay back after completion of his/her education with interest according to the terms of interest. A student can choose from various kinds of available Student Loans such as Private Students Loans, Stafford Students and Federal Students Loans.

A Federal Stafford Students’ Loan is of two types. One is subsidized and the other which is unsubsidized. Subsidized student loan requires the individual student to repay the amount of the loan provided while he/she is still attending University or college classes.

This is another kind of loan which students refer to as the Federal Direct Loan. Students in the UK can easily borrow such loans from the respective college’s financial aid office, rather than having to borrow the loan from banks.

source : http://www.loansnmortgages.co.uk/student_loans.htm

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Lenders Sought Edge Against U.S. in Student Loans

In a fierce contest to control the student loan market, the nation’s banks and lenders have for years waged a successful campaign to limit a federal program that was intended to make borrowing less costly by having the government provide loans directly to students.

he companies have offered money to universities to pull out of the federal direct student loans program, which was championed by the Clinton administration. They went to court to keep the direct program from becoming more competitive. And they benefited from oversight so lax that the Education Department’s assistant inspector general in 2003 called for tightened regulation of lender dealings with universities.

For example, Sallie Mae, the nation’s largest student lender, offered $3 million that the university could use for “opportunity loans” to some students if it left the direct loan program. Indiana left the direct loan program but said the $3 million was not the reason; Sallie Mae currently administers their loan program.

source : http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/education/15direct.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Monday, April 9, 2007

Student loans basics

Student loans come two primary sources -- the federal government and private lenders. In order to obtain federal student loans, you will first need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is your application for all federal financial aid including federal student loans. There are four main federal loan programs:

* Federal Stafford Loan
* Federal PLUS Loan
* Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
* Federal Consolidation Loan

You can learn the ins and outs of each at their respective page on this site. The Federal Stafford loan is made in the name of the student, is based on need, does not require a credit check (it's guaranteed by the government rather than credit/income/assets, etc.) and does not have to be repaid until after the student graduates, leaves school or stops attending on at least a half-time basis. Some school offer Stafford loan directly through the federal government. These are commonly known as Direct Stafford Loans. The schools that offer Direct Loans are known as Direct Lending Schools. Other schools offer Stafford loans ( college loans) through banks or other lenders. These schools are commonly called FFEL schools (Federal Family Education Loan). In order to obtain a federal Stafford loan through a FFEL school, you will need to choose a lender.

source : http://www.estudentloan.com/

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

New Math For Calculating College Loans

Is there such a thing as a guaranteed personal loan? Well, sort of. First of all, there is no guarantee of you receiving any loan apart from the official approval of the lender. Second of all, the type of loan being offered may not meet your needs. Let’s take a look at guaranteed personal loans and how you can apply for one today.

Words matter. They really do. The term “guaranteed personal loan” is used to describe different lending vehicles, but for the sake of ease it generally covers the following names:

1.Payday loan

2.Cash advance loan

3.Cash flow loan

4.College student loans

In other words, these types of loans are short term loans charging a very high interest rate, rates that are well above what you could expect to pay even with the worst credit card plan. College Loans are also one kind of personal loans that can be guaranteed.

For instance, let’s say you want to borrow $1000 until the next payday. One such lender will be happy to let you borrow the funds provided that you have a checking account and a job. By filling out an online application, approval can be given in as little as one hour and the funds deposited immediately to your checking account.
source : http://www.content-articles.com/

Thursday, March 29, 2007

College Loan Options

Education Loans Come in Many Shapes and Sizes

  • 54 percent of all financial aid comes in the form of loans.
  • Some loans are need-based—meaning that they're awarded when the family demonstrates financial need.
  • Other education loans are not need-based. Instead, they're designed to help pay the family share of costs.

Some Advice

Need-based loans tend to have better terms, so you should consider those loans first.

Student Loans

There are four main types of college student loans:

Private student loans : A number of lenders and other financial institutions offer private education loans to students. These loans are not subsidized and usually carry a higher interest rate than the federal need-based loans. The College Board private loan program is an example of a private education loan for students.

College-sponsored loans : Some colleges have their own loan funds. Interest rates may be lower than federal student college loans. Read the college's financial aid information.

Other loans : Besides setting up scholarships, some private organizations and foundations have loan programs as well. Borrowing terms may be quite favorable. You can use Scholarship Search to find these.

source : http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/loan-center/433.html

Thursday, March 22, 2007

College Loans Legislation

Missouri's college loan authority would gain new powers to make loans to families of K-12 students under legislation passed by the Senate on Wednesday night.

The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority already can make loans to the families of high school juniors and seniors enrolled in college credit courses, though the agency has not been doing so, said Quentin Wilson, the agency's associate director for access and success.

The bill by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would allow loans to be made for any elementary and secondary student, regardless of whether they are enrolled in college credit courses.

It also gives MOHELA authority to create or fund college preparatory programs, which generally provide guidance to middle, junior or senior high students interested in later going to college.

source : http://www.cheapcollegeloans.co.uk/

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

College loans or student loans ?

Are you going to a graduate school or college ? You can have a lot of things to consider besides studying for GRE/GMAT and choosing the right location and area of study that will definitely determine the remainder of one's life. Additionally you have to be sure that you don't fall to far into the debt after your college. Thats why, one must research for college student loans. One of the best ways to save money is student loan consolidation as it only requires to pay the loans back in small amounts or EMI. One can also look into college loans and private student loans.

If you have a college loan, a borrower may take out more money but it will have to pay it at a higher rate.

source: http://loansonline.blog.co.uk/2007/03/12/college_loans_or_student_loans~1889145

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Student loan consolidation

With the vote now in the hands of the Senate and expected any time, students can make their voices heard and ask their senators to do the right thing and repeal the single lender rule. Here’s why:

Currently, the way the bill stands, students do not have that many choices. Firstly, college student loans have to go through the Department of Education. Because students are prohibited from using other lenders for student loan consolidation, for years they can be stuck with one lender that does not offer advantageous benefits. With the single lender rule in place, student loan consolidation also is unavailable to students along with the benefits of that program.

If the Senate does approve the bill, elimination of the college loans single lender rule would not take place until July 1. The Senate now can make changes to the reauthorization bill; if any changes are made the bill is sent back to the House for approval.

source : http://www.1888articles.com/students-should-ask-senators-to-eliminate-single-lender-rule-05s7rx315h.html

Monday, February 19, 2007

Can college students have a credit card

For those youngsters leaving the nest and going out on their, a student credit card is ideal for them. More and more college students are paying with the plastic these days, and more so now than ever it is becoming a trend to not carry any paper money with you. It seems sometimes the more you have the better status you have.

For the most part a student credit card is ideal for those emergencies that tend to pop up at the worst times, like a flat tire in the middle of now where, with no one within a 50 mile radius. Another use for college loans is let’s say you need some books, and the only place you can find them anywhere cheap is online, well without a credit card you would have to be shelling out more, so with the credit card you might even save money. Some credit card companies even offer discounts on school supplies or even travel rewards for those long trips home to do your laundry.

When applying for a student credit card you are indeed taking risk, a risk on your future financial status. You are potentially setting yourself up for payments for the rest of the cards life. You are tied down to make a payment every month whether it is for the full amount or only a partial amount, it must be made. You also take the risk of the APR going up. The majority of credit card holders including college students loans do not pay attention to what they sign or turn in as far as applications go, this gets them into some trouble down the road unfortunately.

source:http://www.ezinearticles.com/?I-Go-To-School-Can-I-Have-A-Credit-Card?&id=460358

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Tips on getting a College Student Loan

A college student loan has given many people all over the United States a chance to further their education, even if they are not making a lot of money. Education student loans can be a big help in paying for college. You'll find most of these federal student loans offer a low interest rate and a generous repayment terms. Of course, all direct student loans, federal student loans and private student loans must still be repaid, usually with interest, although some educational student loans have provisions for cancellation if the borrower performs a program-related service.

If you are looking for a loan, be aware that there are many different types of loans. Try to find the student loan that suits your needs best. For example, there is a government college student loan called the Federal Stafford Loan, This loan is the most widely used student loan in the student education loan program. Federal guidelines limit the maximum interest rate to no more than 8.25% and outline repayment terms of up to 10 years. Also remember that if you ever need help or are falling behind on payments, consider a consolidate student loan.

If for some reason you are unable to meet your monthly payments, consider a college student loan deferment. A deferment is a suspension of payments for special reasons. Usually, those who borrowed their first Stafford Loans are eligible to defer payments if they are enrolled in at least half-time at an eligible school, unemployed, in a graduate fellowship program, in a rehabilitation training program for people with disabilities, or suffering economic hardship.For more info visit http://www.cheapcollegeloans.co.uk

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Sunday, February 11, 2007

College student loan

A loan is a debt, which entails the repartition of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower. The borrower receives an amount of money from the lender, which should be paid back to the lender. The cost of the service depends on interest on the debt.
College student loan is a loan offered to students to assist in payment of professional education. It doesn't matter if you are graduate or undergraduate student. You can borrow money in all cases. Parents may also borrow to pay the cost of education for dependent undergraduate students. Maximum loan amounts depend on the student's year in college. These loans usually carry lower interests than other loans and are usually offered by the government. Often they are supplemented by student grants which do not have to be repaid.

The cost of professional education rises every year that is why today, student loans are a fact of life.

The key role belongs to the government as in any government sponsored program. While included in the term "financial aid" professional education loans differ from scholarships and grants in that they must be paid back. College student loans provide a variety of postponement options and extended repayment terms and do not require credit checks or collateral.
The federal funds for education are limited and government and private lenders give the students flexibility in choosing the type of college that is right for them.
source:http://simplysearch4it.com

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Don't worry if you opt for student loans

Student loans are the most common debt for an individual who has bee currently studying in the college or has graduated from a college recently. It surely can put a great deal of financial pressure, specially mentally on people(here students), particularly if they also have other debts to manage those debts as well (which is often the case). If a large number of debts are causing the financial pressure, debt consolidation may be an solution for it.

The thing is that whether you qualify for consolidation assistance or not , it will depend on the following number of factors. The first factor is the type of student loans you opt for.

There are generally two types of student loans -

1.Government loans and

2.Private loans.

Government loans are offered by the Deptt. of Government's Education Student Program. Such type of student loans tend to be an easier one, of the two , to qualify the consolidation assistance.

Private loans , on the other hand, are usually used when an student/person does not qualify for the above government assistance program, and as a result the student tends to have and pay higher interest rates and of course less favorable terms. Comparatively, these loans are more difficult to qualify for debt consolidation. For more information visit http://www.cheapcollegeloans.co.uk/

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Student loans : Better than credit cards

You need some more money for college expenses this semester, surely student loans. Do you whip out a credit card to pay for your books, or do you apply for a federal or private loan? Well, consider the options -

  • With a federal loan, your interest rate will be low (around 5%) and your payments will be deferred until 6-9 months after graduation.
  • With a private college loan, the interest rate will be slightly higher than with a federal loan but will still be lower than average. In addition, you will only need to make interest payments until after graduation.
  • With a credit card, on the other hand, the interest rate can be as high as 21%. Interest begins accruing almost immediately, and you need to begin paying off the bill the next month.
This is not to say that credit cards do not have a place in your college life. It is good to have one national card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) on hand to help you build a positive credit history and to provide security in emergencies.
source:http://www.nextstudent.com

Monday, January 22, 2007

College student loans

Car loan for college students provide financial assistance to individuals who have little or no credit. Information on a car loan for college students can be found through many online financial sites. This service often requires high interest rates because of the individuals lack of credit history. While funding may be hard to receive, a cosigner makes the probability of receiving assistance much more likely.

Receiving a College student loans with debt and little credit is often rare, but many financial companies with websites do provide this option. Often banks and other financial institutes will not approve car loans for college students because most students have no credit or collateral to back up the loan. Since websites have more offers in this situation than others will provide, students have the option to seek assistance online, but must be aware of the lenders before agreeing to anything. Young adults can sometimes be naive or overly excited in situations and make decisions without properly thinking them through.

In situations where an individual is financing their education and they have little or no credit, the rate of interest is very important. With little or no credit, it is very difficult to receive a low interest rate on a college students car loan. Also, having no collateral can hinder the individuals abilities to receive lower interest rates on any type of funding program.

One of the best options to pursue when seeking a car loan for college students is to use a cosigner. By asking a parent or guardian to cosign the loan, the individual can receive the funding to purchase a vehicle and possibly lower interest rates if the cosigner has a good credit rating. This is an excellent way to assist someone in receiving car loans for college students and still give the student the responsibility of making the monthly payment.
source:http://onlineloans.blog.com/

Friday, January 19, 2007

Private College Loans

At least 20% of college students need some type of loan to help pay for their college education. Such a statistic can lead to students graduating with an unmanageable debt load. An alternative is for parents to help out by taking out loans themselves. But which is the better option - college student loans or parent loans? Each has distinct advantages and uses.

Federal student loans have the lowest interest rates and best repayment options. If you need to take out loans and you qualify for federal loans, this is your best choice. Just be sure to accept only the funds you need, even if you are offered much more. Parents can always help their children pay off these loans once repayment begins after graduation.

Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students are another loan option that comes with low interest rates. If you are a parent with dependent students attending college at least part-time and you have a good credit history, you are eligible to receive a PLUS Loan. These loans are not needs-based. You can borrow up to the total cost of undergraduate education expenses, minus other financial aid already received. Unlike federal student loans, payment is not deferred until after graduation; instead, your first loan payment will be due about 60 days after the loan is disbursed. Also unlike federal student loans, PLUS Loans require an application fee.

Both students and parents can take out private college loans to cover funding gaps. Terms are basically the same for these loans, although students may be able to have their repayment deferred until after graduation. Another consideration is that students may wish to take out small loans to begin to establish a credit history. You may need to cosign for private student loans.

Parents do have some additional options for college funding, such as home equity loans. These often have rates as good as private loans.

source:http://nextstudent.com