How to Get a Student Loan

If you are off to school there is a very good chance that you and/or your parents will need to secure additional funding. The cost of higher education is steep, but it is a worthwhile expense. If you are thinking about your financing options, there are a few things to consider.

First, you will need to determine how munch money you will need to borrow to cover your educational expenses. Will you need to pay for your room and board, or will these costs be included in your overall tuition bill? Many times schools will include dormitory and cafeteria plans as part of the tuition. Books and lab fees are expenses you will need to cover on your own.

Next it is time to have an open and honest conversation with your family. Do they have the ability or the intentions to help you with your educational expenses? If so, what will they pay for and what expenses do they expect you to pay for on your own?

You also need to build a realistic budget including all your expenses. These will include: tuition, books, food, housing, transportation, supplies, clothing, entertainment, and travel. Once you have listed your expenses, it is time to add in any salary you expect to earn, grants and scholarships you have been awarded, and whatever savings you will be putting towards your education. This will help you to gain an understanding of how much money you will need to borrow to make up the shortfall. There are a number of financial calculators online which can also assist you in coming up with that final number. Your college or university will also have a financial aid department and they will be able to assist you in calculating your financial needs.

After you have determined the amount of money you will need to borrow for your education, you will need to find out what kind of loans are available to you. Perhaps you are eligible for student loans, or maybe your parents will get a loan to help pay for your education? If not, private loans are more easily available.

Most students need to supplement the scholarships and/or grants they earn. Private loans can often be the answer here. Private education loans are usually less expensive than other types of debt. You will need to research the terms of all loans you are considering in order to ensure that you take the best offer you are made.

After receiving loan offers from various institutions, you will need to compare the terms of the loans. Is the loan fixed or variable rate? If it is a variable rate loan, how high can the rate be raised, and how often can it be readjusted? Some loans require payment to begin immediately; others require repayment to be made upon graduation. Are there pre-payment or late payment penalties? Is the loan convertible? You will need to evaluate these factors in order to select the best loan available to you.

If you are having difficulty securing a loan under your own credit score, you may want to ask your parents to co-sign a loan for you. Often they will have a higher credit score than you and that will result in more favorable loan terms, which means you will pay less for your loan over time. Bear in mind however, that the co-signor is ultimately responsible for the loan if you default.