financial advice & planning

College Life Hacks to Save Money That Every Student Should Know

By Jim RaychrudhuryLast updated on March 24, 2025

College can be a wonderful experience, but it can also severely drain your bank account. You’re already spending thousands on tuition, so instead of taking out even more loans for your daily needs, try to stick to your budget as much as possible. We know the average part-time student job only goes so far, to …

student loans

Pros And Cons Of Taking Out Multiple Student Loans

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 26, 2025

Many college students find themselves taking out a student loan to afford college. Some students end up taking more than one student loans simply because one loan is just not enough to cover the cost of their college tuition. Taking out multiple student loans is not all-good, neither is it all-bad. There are a few pros …

student loans

A Question To Ask Your Student Loan Lender About Borrower Protections

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

Borrow protection programs are put in place to offer students a few alternatives if they are finding it difficult to repay their student loans. However, not all lenders treat student borrower protection the same way. When it comes to any aspect regarding student loans, never take anything for granted. Always ask and preferably, get the …

scholarships

3 Scholarships for Hindu Students

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on February 26, 2025

Hinduism is a minority religion in the United States. Reportedly 1% of American citizens practice Hinduism. Thankfully, some organizations want to help this less-recognized group of students pursue their educational goals and provide scholarships for them. SVS (Balaji) Temple of Greater Chicago Amount: $10,000 Deadline: TBD  This scholarship helps students and their families. Two students …

student loans

Lost Your Eligibility For A Student Loan? Here’s What To Do

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

You are eligible for a federal student loan if you meet certain basic criteria. Sometimes however, your circumstances may change and you may lose your eligibility for a student loan. This could have a considerable impact on your finances and your higher education. Without a loan, you may not be able to afford the cost …

questions & answers

What Happens if I Refinance or Consolidate My Student Loans?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

Refinancing and consolidation may be smart solutions when you are looking for ways to renegotiate the terms of your loan, lower monthly payments or reduce the loan interest rate. However, this may not be the best decision for everyone. Interest Loan Rates All student loans come with different terms and interest rates. These will change …

financial aid

Scholarships vs Grants: The Similarities And Differences

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 26, 2025

In your search for financial aid to pay for college, you’ve likely come across the terms “grants” and “scholarships”. In fact, these two terms are often grouped together in most discussions related to financial aid, and there’s a reason for this. Grants and scholarships are the only two types of free financial aid available to …

student loans

Are There Student Loans That Go Directly to You?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on July 7, 2025

Key Takeaways: Most federal and private student loans go directly to the college. After the college balance is paid, any leftover loan money can be transferred to the student. Only direct-to-consumer private student loans are sent directly to the student to cover education-related expenses. Many students need loans to cover the cost of college. While …

questions & answers

How Do You Get Out of Student Loan Default?

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 25, 2025

Well, the best way to get out of student loan default is not defaulting on your student loans in the first place. However, if you have already defaulted on your federal student loans, there are ways to get out—in fact, there are four major options. Pay Off the Loan in Full Let’s start off with …

questions & answers

What are Competitive Student Loan Interest Rates?

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 25, 2025

You may have heard the term “competitive interest rates” while browsing around for a good student loan option. But what exactly makes an interest rate competitive? Interest Rate Percentage The percentage of the rate isn’t the only factor that makes a rate competitive. If Company A offers a loan with a 2.65% rate, and Company …