student loans

4 Things You Must Understand About Student Loan Debt

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 25, 2025

Taking student loans is often the only way that most students can fund their higher education. It has in fact become so commonplace that students don’t think twice about taking on huge loans just so they can attend the most prestigious college on their shortlist. Unfortunately, some student loan applicants mistakenly presume that once they …

scholarship search & applications

Cliches to Avoid in Scholarship Essays

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 12, 2025

Imagine you’re a scholarship sponsor and you have to read 50 some apps a day. If all 50 essays start off the same way, or contain the same tired elements, they might blur together. Applications that don’t stand out, won’t get picked. That’s something you definitely don’t want. Avoid these scholarship clichés and you’re already …

myths

Myth: I Don’t Have to Worry About Repaying My Student Loan Until After I Graduate

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 24, 2025

When it comes to student loans, many a college student push thoughts of repayment to the backs of their minds. It’s a problem for another day, right? They can worry about repaying loans after graduation… Well, that may not be the best plan. College Costs List Repay As You Go Ideally, you should start trying …

questions & answers

Can You Apply for a Student Loan Any Time of the Year?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 20, 2025

You can apply for some types of student loans any time of the year. Federal student loans have a specific window within which you can apply for all types of federal financial aid including student loans. Private lenders are generally more flexible and will allow you to apply for a student loan any time of …

questions & answers

What Happened to the Perkins Loan?

By Morgan StaubLast updated on March 3, 2025

On September 30, 2017, after sixty years of operation, the Federal Perkins Loan will cease to exist. The program’s shutdown has been in the works for sometime. Originally, the death of the Perkins Loan was scheduled for two years prior, September 30, 2015, but a piece of legislation, the General Education Provisions Act, extended its …

questions & answers

Difference Between Student Loan Lender and Student Loan Servicer

By Allison WignallLast updated on February 25, 2025

If you’re new to the world of student loans, and you see the term “lender” or “servicer” you might mix the two up. Though some places use the titles interchangeably, it can lead to confusion. So let’s clear up the difference between a student loan servicer vs lender! What is a Student Loan Lender? Lenders …

financial advice & planning

How To Graduate From College With Minimum Debt

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

With the cost of college, graduating with no debt is reserved only for a lucky few. For the majority of students, graduating with some amount of debt is inevitable. There’s nothing you can do about that reality. However, with some savvy planning, you can reduce your overall debt substantially. If graduating with minimum debt is …

student loans

3 Tips To Help You Start Paying Off Your Student Loans While You Are Still In College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 25, 2025

You may not be able to pay off your entire student loan while you are still in college, but if you start now you will be able to reduce your debt considerably by the time you graduate. That is incentive enough to make a few sacrifices and start paying off your student loans earlier rather …

student loans

Struggling To Pay Back Your Student Loans? Consider These 6 Options

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

The first few years after you graduate can be pretty rough financially. As a new graduate with little or no experience, finding a job can be difficult. Even when you get hired, more likely than not the starting salary will not be enough to cover your loan payment, rent, and other necessities right off the …

questions & answers

Can I Transfer My Student Loans to a Different Servicer?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 25, 2025

Many students are unaware of this and are caught by surprise when their federal student loans get transferred to a different servicer. So why would a loan get transferred? All federal student loans are handled by different third-party loan servicers. If the loan servicer decides to sell their portfolio or there is some other change …