When it comes to paying for college, every little bit counts. And scholarships can help more than just a little bit. So it begs the question: how often should you apply for scholarship programs? The short answer is you should apply for scholarships as often as possible. Consider these two features of scholarships: Scholarships are …
Is It Too Late to File the FAFSA?
Deadlines can be stressful, more so when you are juggling multiple. High school seniors come up against numerous deadlines: papers, scholarships, and college apps. One of the most important is the FAFSA deadline. You miss this one, and you’re missing out on all types of financial aid that can help lower the cost of college. The …
How Can I Change My Student Loan Interest Rate?
Here’s something that you should know if you are planning on borrowing money to pay for college—you’re not necessarily stuck with the interest rate that you are offered at the time of taking the loan. When you take out a student loan, don’t just resign yourself to the rate that you borrowed at. There things …
Do I Have to Refinance Student Loans With A Cosigner?
Student loan refinancing is a great way to get a lower interest rate or lower monthly payment. Of course you can only do this if you meet the lender’s criteria. Not only that, every lender has their own eligibility criteria. If you do not meet the specified criteria then the lender may ask you to …
Does Your GPA Affect Your Student Loans?
The subject of student loans is mired in misconceptions and myths. One thing that many students wonder about is whether or not their GPA affects their student loans. Some students think it does, some think it doesn’t. So what’s the right answer—does GPA affect student loans or not? Let’s take a look at the relation between …
Can You Change Student Loan Repayment Plans?
When you sign up for a student loan—whether federal or private—you’ll also sign up for a certain repayment plan. Options will vary from loan to loan. As time goes on, you may find that the monthly payments are too high, or that you’d save more money on a different plan. So it begs the question: …
Does Having Financial Need Affect Your Acceptance Odds?
When it comes to college, there are two major things most students and families think about: getting accepted and paying for it. They are two big pillars of the college process, and one can greatly affect the other. So it begs the question: does having financial need affect your acceptance odds? How to Find My …
How Are Student Loan Interest Rates Calculated?
If you took out student loans, you know that you have deal with interest rates. Interest rates have a big affect on the overall cost of your student loan. But how the interest rates are calculated for each type of student loan? We outline the answers below: How Federal Loan Interest Rates are Calculated The …
Federal Student Loan Interest Subsidy: What Is It?
When it is time to start repaying your federal student loans, if you are not earning enough to cover your monthly payments, you have the option of choosing an income-driven repayment plan. While researching these, you may have come across the term ‘federal student loan interest subsidy.’ Let’s dive into what that means. Income-Driven Repayment …
Are There Penalties to Paying Off Student Loans Early?
Student loans, both private and federal, have very specific repayment plans attached to them. These plans outline interest rates, monthly payment amounts, strict terms and conditions, and estimates on how long it’ll take to repay the loan. Additionally, the plans lay out how many years it will take for you to pay off the loan …
