Information on
direct loans student loans federal
Student Loan Consolidation - Five Ways That Can Save You Money
Consolidating Student Loans Can Boost your Credit Score
Most students take out numerous loans for college, each with its own interest rate and its own monthly amount. The plethora of different loan sources is a great benefit in terms of paying for college, but when it comes to credit rating, this long list of outstanding loans can put a serious damper on your overall score.
By consolidating student loans, your credit report will show one combined loan, usually with a much lower overall payment, which equates to a more favorable credit rating. By consolidating student loans, you most likely also benefit from a much lower payment, thus lowering your debt to income ratio.
Consolidating Student Loans Reduces Debt to Income Ratio and Increases Buying Power
Having a low debt to income ratio, or the monthly amount owed compared to the amount earned, makes an incredible impact on the amount of money you'll be able to borrow and afford for a first home or reliable transportation.
The total amount of household debt in the US last year was more than 100% of disposable income. Rising education costs have created a vicious cycle for today's graduating students. As your debt to income ratio rises, so do the interest rates of each new loan. Keeping this ratio low by reducing your monthly bills can literally save you tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.
Consolidating Student Loans Reduces Dependence on Credit Cards
Having lower bills in the years following college means less reliance on high interest credit cards and other loans. The average college student carries a whopping 6 credit cards with a total balance over $2100.
This means that the $100 credit card purchase for new work attire could cost more than $200 over the 12 months it takes to pay the full balance. Fortunately, smart financial planning, including consolidating education loans, can help students and young professionals live a life free of high interest debts.
By Consolidating Student Loans, You are Locked into Today's Low Fixed Rates
Just because interest rates are low today doesn't mean they will stay that way. In fact rates over the last several years are lower than they've ever been in recent history. It's amazing how much a small percentage point can save or cost on a college education bill over the course of a loan repayment.
The Federal Consolidation Loan allows you to lock into today's low interest rates when consolidating student loans. Consolidation loans usually have a longer repayment period and a lower monthly payment than is available on the underlying education loans.
By Consolidating Student Loans, you can Receive Additional Interest Rate Discounts
Companies that specialize in consolidating student loans like ScholarPoint.com offer additional consolidation benefits such as auto payments, and consecutive payments.
- Auto Payments: Receive a reduction in your interest rate for making your payments automatically from your bank account when you consolidate your student loans.
- Consecutive Payments: Some student loan consolidation companies give you the opportunity to reduce your repayment interest rate up to one full percentage point by simply making payments on time.
- No Interest Deferral: Take advantage of the flexibility of student loans by deferring loans during qualified times. While enrolled in graduate school, serving in the military, or volunteering with the Peace Corps, you can not only defer payments, but stop interest from accruing as well.
- Grace Period: Consolidating during your grace period allows you to lock in a rate that is often much lower than the standard repayment rate.
ScholarPoint Financial, Inc. is a national online consumer lending company specializing in student loans. We believe in combining state-of-the-art technology with world class service to help students and parents easily gain access to data, become informed, and enjoy the process of obtaining a college loan. Learn more about Student Loan Consolidation at http://www.scholarpoint.com
More Useful Resource and Updates on direct loans student loans federal
- Color of Money Book Club (Washington Post)
Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary will host a discussion with Laurence Shatkin, author of "150 Recession-Proof Jobs."
- Scotiabank Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Earnings per share of $3.05 versus $4.01, includes $0.82
- Practical money tips for rocky times (MSNBC)
Many folks are looking for reassurances that the financial choices they're making ? whether they're about credit, their homes or student loans ? are the right ones. TODAY Financial editor Jean Chatzky addresses the concerns of four readers.
- How to Pay for an MBA (BusinessWeek Online via Yahoo! News)
Lindsey Aponte, a first-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, made all the right moves when it came to preparing her finances before entering the MBA program.
- Charles Brandes Buys XL Capital Ltd, Nokia Corp., Texas Instruments Inc., Sells Adaptec Inc., First BanCorp., H&R ... (Guru Focus)
Charles Brandes' buys and sells during the third quarter. Value investing seems dead. Charles Brandes owns 206 stocks with a total value of $27.6 billion. Charles Brandes buys XL Capital Ltd, Flextronics International Ltd., Texas Instruments Inc., Nokia Corp., Canon Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Office Depot Inc., Syneron Medical Ltd., The First American Corp., Huntsman Corp., Zions Ban Corp., ...
- Answers to your questions on money woes (Provo Daily Herald)
Money is at the top of everyone's minds these days and that means that questions are flooding my inbox. Here are a few answers that should help give a bit of clarity in this confusing and rocky economy:
- How safe is your job? (The New Statesman)
This has been a year of financial panic, but 2009 will be dominated by unemployment. In a flexible labour market, with few legal protections, the indebted young will be hit hardest
- Demand for student loans on the rise; cash is short (Austin American-Statesman)
Carlos Richardson , a sophomore studying psychology at Austin Community College, hasn't had to take out student loans ? yet.
- Federal Direct Student Loans
Federal student loans provide capital directly from the Federal government ... In order to receive a Direct Subsidized Loan, all borrowers must undergo a ...
- William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
One of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs provided by the Department of Education that provides students with a way to borrow money to pay for education after ...
- FinAid | Loans | Student Loans
Student loans include the Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins Loans. Stafford Loan ... Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) loans, administered by "Direct ...
- Federal Student Aid - Direct Loan Servicing
Services include account management, online payments, loan consolidation, and tax information.
- Ford Federal Direct Student Loans at OSU
Ford Federal Direct Student Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) ... All Direct Student Loans can be consolidated into one student loan when you graduate. ...
- Federal Direct Student Loan Summary
The Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) provides low-interest loans to ... Direct Loans and loans received under the Federal Family Educational Loan ...
- Stafford Loans
Student guide from the Department of Education regarding Stafford Loans, including subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.
|