There are numerous options available for financing your education. The problem is that with so many different types of student loans, containing different terms and conditions it can be difficult to choose the right financing.
The Stafford loan is a popular choice. There are many benefits to this loan which draws many students to consider it as a good option.
The Stafford loan has no pre-payment penalty - you can pay off any remaining balance any time. There’s no credit check performed, so almost everyone will qualify. There are no payments required while the student is taking courses, provided they maintain at least a half-time status. And, after leaving school there’s a six-month grace period during which no payments are required.
There are a few drawbacks to this type of loan. The interest rates appear to be low when compared to other loans, however at times the loan fees can be costly. For example, a Federal default fee of 1% or an origination fee of 2% may be added. Also, there is a cap on the amount they will lend you during the course of a year.
When you calculate the overall interest on the loan, which is usually amortized over ten years, you will find it to be quite expensive. A loan with a rate of 7% can build to the point that in the end you pay almost 40% of the base amount of your loan back in interest.
Because of this students may find that other options may be worth considering. Conventional loans may require the student to work part-time to begin payments right away. But in the long run it could save a lot of money. Taking advantage of scholarships or grants could help offset the cost. Many parents have found that when helping their children pay for their education it is wise to explore their options as well.
Early investment for your child’s future is definitely one of the best financial choices. This can be risky however, because the financial world of investments is hard to predict and at times your investment has gained little value at the time you need to draw from it.
Investigate options - tax-free municipal bonds, inflation-adjusted hedge funds, and others, for example - that can help offset those effects.
The cost of education is ever increasing and sadly it is difficult to meet the demands. However, researching the different financing options available will result in better peace of mind and successful decisions.
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