student loans

Tips For Getting The Lowest Student Loan Rates

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 25, 2025

Did you know that private student loans have varying rates of interest? This means you can shop around for loans and find some pretty good deals. You cannot do this with federal student loans. Those rates are set for the year and are fixed for that particular year. They are also the lowest rates you …

questions & answers

Should I take a student loan for all four years at once or one year at a time?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 4, 2026

Key takeaways: In most cases, you can only take out student loans once a semester or annually. Borrowing student loans for all four years at once can lead to higher accrued interest and debt the student doesn’t need. Multi-year student loans could speed up the approval process each semester, but only disburse funds as needed. …

student loans

Student Loan Borrower Protections 101

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 25, 2025

After you graduate college, you (and your co-signer if you have one) will be responsible for repaying any student loans you’ve taken out, private, federal, or both. Some loans, like federal loans, will have a six month grace period after you graduate or leave school, while others will require payment immediately. However, before you get …

scholarship search & applications, student loans

What’s a cosigner—and why might you need one on your student loan?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 12, 2025

Alright, let’s imagine you applied for as many scholarships as you could, you submitted your FAFSA, and you qualified for some federal financial aid. What if you still don’t have enough money to pay for college? That’s when you might think about a private student loan. And for that, you’ll probably need a cosigner. What …

student loans

Capitalize On Income-Based Repayment Plans To Avoid Student Loan Default

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

Student loan default is becoming increasingly common across the USA. Unfortunately, this can have serious repercussions. Not only does it earn you a black mark on your credit history but it also pushes you even further in debt. But what do you know if you are just not earning enough to pay back your student …

student loans

What Can Parents Do If They Have Been Denied A PLUS Loan?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

The PLUS Loan for Parents is a federal loan program that allows parents to borrow money to fund their child’s college education. One of the main criteria in determining the parent’s eligibility for PLUS is their credit history. While the requirements for PLUS are not as rigorous as most other types of loans, in order …

myths

Myth: Only Top Athletes and 4.0 Students Get Scholarships

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

There is a pervading myth that you have to be the best of the best in order to win a scholarship. At a glance, scholarships can seem like they are only easily available to the elite. This means people with extremely high levels of skill in their field of choice–whether it be athletics or academics. …

student loans

Responsibilities of Being a Student Loan Co-Signer

By Morgan StaubLast updated on March 24, 2025

In any area of life, it’s generally a good idea to be aware of what something entails before you sign your name to it. When it comes to anything that involves your finances, though, you need to be extra vigilant. If—and when—someone asks you to be their student loan co-signer, you should read every single …

financial advice & planning

A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Budget in College

By Morgan StaubLast updated on March 12, 2025

As they go away to college for the first time, many students find themselves slightly unprepared to be handling their own finances. While you may have had some experience in high school with managing money, the odds are good that you’ve never been entirely responsible for your own budget the way you are in college. …

financial advice & planning

10 Smart Ways for College Students To Save and Manage More Money

By Joel CordleLast updated on March 24, 2025

Since college students are newly in charge of their finances, some can be extravagant and impulsive spenders, that don’t budget their money well. This can later lead them to financial woes due to their overspending. There are, however, a few students who plan upfront on how to use their cash and thus end up financially …