Student Loan Articles

As experts on student loans and financial aid, we decided to provide some general insight for those interested in more about these topics. Feel free to distribute and link to these articles as appropriate.

Of course, if you have any questions about any of the information you see here, feel free to contact us!
List of Student Loan Articles

Types of Student Loans
Learn about the wide variety of student loans available for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Federal Student Loans vs. Private Student Loans
There are a number of differences between federal and private student loans. The Student Loan Network offers products in both of these categories.

Tips for Student Loan Consolidation
Find out how to consolidate your student loans in order to have smaller monthly payments.

How to Fund a Graduate Education
There are many loan options for those in graduate school, which include both federal and private loans.

Continuing Education Loan Overview
Interested in continuing your education after college? Learn about your options for financial aid in these circumstances.

FAFSA Tips and Mistakes
Many make mistakes when completing their FAFSA. Find out common errors and learn how to correct them with this expert advice.

Student Loan Glossary
There is a wide variety of terminology to learn when researching your student loans.

Tips for Inexpensive College Entertainment
Looking for ways to have fun in college without spending a lot of money?

Ways College Students Can Save for the Future
Everyday tips for saving your hard-earned money

Don't Pay for Help Finding Money for College
Learn which financial aid options should not cost you any additional fees.

Scholarships and Grants
One alternative to student loans is to apply for college scholarships and/or grants. These can offer you free money that do not have to be repaid.

How To Avoid Scholarship Scams
Watch out for these headlines from scholarship solicitations you may receive.

College Admissions Advice and Help NEW!
Did you know that your entire high school career affects which college you go to?

Tips for Student Credit Card Use NEW!
Interested in learning how to optimally use your credit cards - while in college?

State of the Financial Aid Industry
Following the allegations from NY Attorney General Cuomo, read what areas of the student loan industry should be watched closely.

School Loans Directory

A directory listing all school loans available to you at your college or university. Listed for each school will be all federal student loans and alternative student loans available at your school. The Student Loan Network offers a variety of student loans for students, always search for scholarships and federal student loans first.

Student Loan Application and Form Center

Welcome to the Financial Aid Officer Form and Application Center. Here you will find the most common forms you will need in relation to federal financial aid. We also can provide you with application forms for various loans.

All Students - to request an application form for Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and Alternative Loans please:
Click here to Request a Loan Application
Financial Aid Help Forms
Financial Aid Checklist Worksheet - A helpful, printable form to keep track of what you need to do for Federal Financial Aid for the 2007-08 school year.
Application Form Tracking Worksheet - Keep track of everything with this easy to use form.
Cost of Attendance Worksheet - The cost of attendance is unique for each student. Use this sheet for personal calculations.
Award Package Comparison Sheet - School offering varying awards and differing packages. Use this comparison sheet to weigh your options!
Sample Scholarship Inquiry Letter
Loan Forms
Loan Forgiveness Form (Childcare)
Loan Discharge Form (Disability)
Loan Discharge Form (False Certification)
Loan Discharge Form (School Closure)
Loan Discharge Form (Teachers Forgiveness Program)
Direct Loans
Direct Loan Forbearance Form
Direct Loan Child Care Forgiveness Form
Direct Loan Economic Hardship Deferment
Direct Loan Repayment Plan Selection Form
Direct Loan Unemployment Deferment
Financial Aid Professionals

Scholarships and Grants Financial Aid Advice

The College Scholarship Search is sometimes overwhelming. Many students use scholarships to augment financial aid awards provided by their school. Every year, a sizeable number of scholarships have fewer students apply for them than they have money to give, meaning that there's still plenty of money not being awarded.

The most difficult part for many students is finding scholarships and grants. A quick check of Google indicates that for the search term "scholarship", there are over 3.2 million web pages to search through. How do you find the best ones?
We recommend our Student Scholarship Search website at StudentScholarshipSearch.com. Updated regularly, StudentScholarshipSearch.com contains many awards and details about how to apply, and best of all, it doesn't require you to give up any personal information in order to search the listings.
Be sure to check out our free eBook, Scholarship Search Secrets eBook, which details 11 methods for finding and winning scholarships.
We also have a site where you can register to win free scholarship money! ScholarshipPoints.com rewards frequent visitors as well as those who participate in the site's online surveys and contests. Every quarter we award lucky site visitors with free money towards their college or university.
ASk questions and help others find scholarship in our scholarship forums and discussion board.
The Importance of Scholarships
FREE Money
for College

Learn how to use
Internet search to
find scholarships.
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A scholarship is an award given to a student for the purpose of furthering their education. A scholarship can be a monetary award, or it can be an award of access to an institution. Scholarships are a vital piece of the financial aid system for three reasons:
They provide money which generally does not have to be paid back
They provide access to money which students may otherwise be ineligible for
When used in accordance with IRS guidelines, scholarship funds are tax-free

The second point is very important. Many scholarships are merit-based as opposed to need-based. There's a gap in education finance that isn't talked about a lot - the family that isn't poor enough to qualify for federal financial aid, but isn't rich enough to pay the cost of education without assistance. Scholarships can fill this gap along with private student loans. Obviously, because scholarships are money that does not have to be paid back, they're preferable to loans.

Edvisors Online Education Directory offers a variety of online education programs and financial aid options.

Financial Aid and Student Loan Introduction

The financial aid process can seem overwhelming and intimidating at first, but it's easier to understand once the process is laid out. Here, we'll walk you through the basics of the financial aid process step by step.
Financial Aid | Determine What You Can Afford

A college degree is likely to be the second biggest investment in any person's life after their home. Just as you'd take the time to shop around and do some research on a potential house to buy, so too should you invest the time to figure out what you can afford to pay for college. Do your personal budget, compare schools, and see what's affordable. Be sure to pay attention to the financial aid calendar so that you don't miss any important deadlines.
Read more on determining costs
Read more about the financial aid calendar year
Financial Aid | Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants are your first stop in the process of finding money for college. Scholarships and grants typically never need to be repaid, and as such are the preferred form of financial aid if you can get them.
Read more about scholarships and grants
$10,000 College Scholarship from the Student Loan Network
FAFSA and Federal Financial Aid Paperwork

The FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the single-most important form you'll complete in the financial aid process for unlocking federal student aid such as government grants and loans. The FAFSA is also dependent on the IRS Federal Income Tax Return; we'll review all of the information you need to know about education tax credits and deductions.
Read more about the FAFSA financial aid form
Read more about education tax credits
Read more about federal financial aid programs
Receiving Financial Aid

Once you've filed your FAFSA and applied for as many scholarships and grants as you're eligible to receive, you'll need to wait for financial aid award letters to arrive from schools. Once you receive them, you'll need to figure out what aid you will be receiving.
Read more about understanding financial aid award letters
Read the Blog - Negotiating your Financial Aid Award
Federal Student Loans for Students

There are three basic federal student loans that students may qualify for after completing the FAFSA. These are the Stafford federal student loan, the Perkins loan, and the Graduate PLUS Loan. Depending on what program of higher education you're enrolling in, loan limits and terms will vary.
Read more about federal student loans
Federal Student Loans for Parents

Parents who want to help undergraduate children afford college are also able to borrow federally guaranteed loans called PLUS loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) to help pay for college.
Read more about federal parent PLUS loans
Alternative Student Loans

When federal financial aid is insufficient, or education expenses exist outside of the coverage of federal student loans, alternative student loans can be used to "fill in the gaps" between federal financial aid and the full cost of education.
Read more about alternative student loans
Repaying Your Student Loans

The process of repaying your student loans is even more important than the process of obtaining them. Prompt, on time payment builds a positive credit history and helps you obtain additional credit in the years after your education ends. Missing payments or defaulting on loans can do the opposite. Happily, there are a number of different options to help you repay your student loans, from payment plans to loan consolidation.
Read more about payment options and plans
Read more about student loan consolidation
Other Edvisors Resources
Search for Scholarships at StudentScholarshipSearch.com
Free College Scholarship Contests at ScholarshipPoints.com
Online Education Degrees at Edvisors.com
College Search at HowToGetIn.com
Graduate Student Health Insurance at GradInsurance.com
Student Credit and Debt Center at StudentPlatinum.com
Search for Graduate Schools at GraduateCenter.com
Find Online Schools at Edvisors.com

There is a vast amount of information online to help you along the way towards securing the maximum financial aid available. Use our Financial Aid Forum if you have questions or need more personalized financial aid advice.

Free eBooks from Student Loan Network

Only seconds to download, with new topics added frequently

Student Loan Network offers many free eBooks covering a wide range of topics including completing the FAFSA, searching for scholarships, and reducing debt. These free guides help everyone from college bound students to recent graduates manage financial aid, save money, and get a head start after college.

Student Resources from Student Loan Network

Student Loan Network $10,000 Scholarship Drawing

Each quarter, Student Loan Network will give you a chance to win a $10,000 college scholarship simply by completing our semi-annual scholarship application for $10,000! No essays or recommendations required! Enter the $10,000 Scholarship Drawing »
Free FAFSA Help eBook!

PDF guide on how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - and not miss a dime of financial aid! Many states have priority deadlines for state financial aid on March 1, so make sure you file your FAFSA as soon as possible!

Federal Student Loans - Pay for Tuition, Books and Supplies

Federal student loans help cover school expenses including tuition, fees, housing, books, supplies, and transportation. Two of the most popular federal loan options are the Stafford loan and Federal PLUS loan. Both loans offer a fixed interest rate, federal benefits, and can be used in combination to cover the full cost of your education. Click the links below to learn more about these great funding options.

College Student Loans

Student Loan Network educates students and parents on the best federal and alternative student loans and loan consolidation. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary knowledge and products to finance your education.

The Best Resource for Student Loans

Finding student loans for college can often be a difficult task for parents and students. Student Loan Network makes it easy by providing the best student loans, as well as the best student loan and financial aid resources on the web. Be sure to check out our student resources pages for financial aid tips, free downloads and the answers to your financial aid and student loan questions.
Resources for Financial Aid Professionals

Student Loan Network is proud to offer a full range of helpful, free financial aid resources that can assist in the financial aid process. We encourage financial aid professionals to share these resources with their students. Click Here to Learn More
Student Loan Help Blog
Practical Uses for a Private Student Loan

- By and large, the most common use for a private student loan is to help cover the remaining cost of tuition when federal loans and scholarships are not enough. But...
3 Great Private Student Loan Shopping Tips

- If you’re like me, you probably did not receive enough money in federal loans for the school year. I graduated this past December and know all too well how frustrating...

A Quick Consolidation Tip

Looking to consolidate federal and private student loans? While you can’t consolidate them together – and you wouldn’t want to anyway, you can take the consolidation of both types of loans to your advantage.

You can consolidate your federal student loans any time after you graduate or drop below halftime enrollment. Always consolidate federal loans first. Consolidating your loans will improve your credit rating, and when you go to consolidate your private loans, which are credit-based, you will have a better score and most likely get a lower interest rate.

Did you know you can get IBR on a Federal Loan Consolidation

It’s true! If you are unfamiliar with Income Based Repayment (IBR), I would recommend reading my blog and then consulting the Student Loan Network’s handy payment estimator chart under the new repayment plan.

Why is IBR better than the normal plan?

There are a couple reasons why. First, IBR takes your income into account when it computes what your monthly payment is going to be for your new consolidation loan. For instance, if you are single and make less than $15,000, you would actually qualify for $0 payments until your income rises closer to $20,000 per year. This income number actually goes up depending on how many people live in your household. Click the link above for SLN’s payment estimator chart for more details.

Second, under IBR you can actually have your loans forgiven and canceled after 25 years (20 starting after 2014) if you never miss a payment during the life of the loan. Kind of crazy, huh? This is a benefit that does not exist in the private student loan world and in some cases the forgiving period can actually be shortened. If you completed your degree in one of the Department of Education’s “hot fields” you can actually get your loans canceled in 10 years instead of 20 or 25…. and it doesn’t even matter how far along you are in paying for them.

Have a Consolidation Question?

If you aren’t already familiar with our Financial Aid Forum, it is an awesome resource for answering questions about virtually every kind of financial aid or loan a student can take out toward their education.

We have three dedicated Student Advocates (myself included) that are available Monday-Friday to help out and an informed user base of several hundred people. Between all of us, your question will be answered quickly and accurately (generally within a day or two).

Also, we have a great loan consolidation FAQ page that might be able to immediately answer any questions or concerns you have about the process.

As always, thanks for reading and make a post in our forum if you need help!

From Our Forums: Consolidation Question Quartet!

There was a great question in our loan consolidation forum this week from a new user with lots of loans from medical school. James recently finished his Master’s degree as a physician assistant (congratulations!) and wrote to us looking for some consolidation advice:

I have the following types of federal loans:
Subsidized Stafford
Unsubsidized Stafford
Grad PLUS
Previously consolidated federal loans from my Bachelor’s in Nursing (‘97-’01)

My questions are as follows:
Can I consolidate the above 4 types of loans together?
When should I consolidate? Before or after July 1st? Does it matter? (Grad school was from 8/07 – 12/09)
Who can consolidate? Are there any options now other then the federal government? Will there be lower interest options in the future?
I’ve read about the PLUS loan loophole. Should I consolidate my PLUS loans separately to save 0.25%?


Question 1: Can I Consolidate the 4 types of loans together?

Absolutely, through the Direct Loan Consolidation Program. Since the loans described are all federal student loan products, you can opt to consolidate them together through the Department of Education.

Question 2: When should I consolidate?

This question could go a number of different ways. Due to the fact that he finished school in December 2009, he is now almost 5 months into his grace period (6 months total) before his student loans enter repayment. Consolidation can take anywhere up to 45 days to complete (though usually is less), so logic would dictate that he should start the process soon.

I recommended that he begin his loan consolidation in early-mid May to take advantage of the grace period as long as possible. As soon as the consolidation is completed, the new loan immediately goes into repayment… so if you have time left that you don’t need to be making payments, take advantage of it and make a savings account or use the money elsewhere.

Question 3: Who can consolidate?

At this time, the only entity that is authorized to perform federal loan consolidations is the Department of Education’s Direct Loan Program. In the past, other banks and institutions were allowed to do this, but regulations and reform ended the practice.

As far as lower interest options in the future… who’s to say? My professional opinion is biased toward a yes answer due to the aggressive legislation happening in Congress, but the next question would be “when?”. As the popular adage goes, “Hindsight is 20/20.” My best recommendation is to take advantage of what is available on the market now and create a solid plan for paying down your debt.

Question 4: Consolidate PLUS loans separately?

This really depends on how many of them you have and if your PLUS loan debt is significantly higher than your Stafford/Perkins debt. If yes, then it might be a good idea to keep them separate and therefore not drastically increase the interest that would be paid on your other, lower interest loans. That being said, the point of a consolidation is to cut your bills down to one and make payments more affordable, isn’t it?

Keep in mind that when the interest rate is calculated for your consolidation, it is taken based on a weighted average of your current loan interest rates, not to exceed 8.25%. If the PLUS loans make up the highest debt volume, it might make sense to keep them separate.

How to Get Your Student Loans Forgiven

Imagine waking up tomorrow and discovering you don’t need to pay back your federal Stafford, PLUS and Perkins loans. For many Americans, that dream is a reality, thanks to a number of programs that allow you to have some, if not all, of your loans forgiven.

Aside from applying for a loan discharge, which is available only under extreme circumstances, some career paths and post-graduate options will cover the cost of repaying your student loans. Here is an overview of some of the careers that may take advantage of those options:

Public Service Employees: If you work full time in a public service position, and make 120 payments (approximately ten years) on your loans while employed, you may be eligible to have the remaining balance forgiven. Public service positions include law enforcement officers, early education teachers, public librarians, emergency medical technicians and more.

Volunteers: Many volunteer organizations offer stipends and loan forgiveness options if you provide a certain number of hours of service. For example, AmeriCorps will offer $7400 in stipends on top of $4725 to be used toward your student loans, as well as partial cancellation of your Perkins Loan in exchange for 12 months of service. The PeaceCorps and VISTA also offer similar forgiveness options.

Teachers: Under the National Defense Education Act, full-time teachers in an elementary or secondary school for low-income families may be eligible to have as much as 30% of their Perkins Loan forgiven. Contact your school district’s administration to see which schools are eligible.

Lawyers: Sorry, the ambulance-chasers on TV aren’t eligible. But many law schools will forgive the loans of students who serve as a non-profit or public interest attorney. For more information, contact the National Association for Public Interest Law at 1-202-466-3686. Or, contact your law school’s financial aid office.

Physicians: Physicians who agree to practice for a certain number of years in economically depressed areas may be able to get some of their medical school loans forgiven by the National Health Service Corps. Check with your state agency for similar programs.

There are other options for repaying your student loans, including income-based repayment, forbearance and deferment. For more information on these options, visit our student loan repayment page.

If you are not eligible for any of the aforementioned repayment options, you might consider student loan consolidation, with can turn multiple loans (federal or private) into a low, single monthly payment and possibly lower your interest rate. For more information on student loan consolidation, visit our help page.

Should I Consolidate my Private Student Loans

Federal student loan consolidation is fast, easy, free and highly recommended to lower your monthly payment. Private student loan consolidation is a bit trickier. Here are some notes to remember if you choose to go down this road.
For starters, not everyone who applies for private loan consolidation will be accepted. One only a few lenders, such as Wells Fargo and Chase, will even handle a private loan consolidation.
The aforementioned lenders and almost any bank that will consolidate your private loans will likely require a minimum amount to be consolidated.
If you can get a private student loan consolidation it may lower your monthly payments significantly, but the lifetime interest of the loan will greatly increase. It is highly recommended that once your grace period expires and you begin the process of repayment, that you aim to pay down your private loans as quickly as possible to avoid the spike in interest.

Have questions about private loan consolidation? Visit the Consolidation section of our Financial Aid Forums!

Graduating? Consider student loan consolidation.

It’s that time of the year again folks; the end of finals for the Class of [insert this year here]. If you’re part of the graduating class, you likely have your Commencement soon or have already taken the walk of glory to get your degree. Congratulations!

This post is devoted to you (yes, you!) to make sure that you start off your life as a degree holder right, with as little financial confusion or anxiety as possible. To get started, I recommend you take a second to read my blog post on exit counseling.

Once you have chosen your repayment plan, it is time to consider your current financial picture. Do you have a full-time job lined up already? If not, are you working part-time?

More than likely, you will have some sort of job when you graduate… so the question becomes one of how much can you afford in living expenses per month. Depending on the amount (and type) of loans you took out for school and the repayment plan you selected, the monthly payments may still be out of your reach by the end of your grace period.

Do I have any alternatives if I can’t afford my payments? Absolutely. A student loan consolidation can significantly reduce your monthly payments at the expense of lengthening the repayment term for your loans. For federal loans, if you selected the “extended repayment plan”, this won’t really apply to you. Where consolidation really shines is private student loans.

Depending on your credit (or with the help of a creditworthy co-signer), a private student loan consolidation can net you an excellent variable interest rate with a longer repayment plan. The result: lower monthly payments, but more interest paid overall.

Although this trade-off might leave you wondering which is the lesser of the two evils, I say with certainty (being extremely familiar with the process and how personal finance works) that it is in your best interest to be able to make your monthly payments consistently every month instead of letting any of your loans go delinquent or even drop into default. The latter will do nothing but destroy your credit and leave you in a tough situation for years.

What NOT to do when Consolidating your Student Loans

There are a great many benefits to consolidating your student loans, such as the convenience of making one or two monthly payments as opposed to six or seven, as well a lower monthly payment. But to take advantage of the perks of consolidation, there are some things not to do:

1. Consolidate federal and private together. While it’s not possible to involve your private loans in a federal loan consolidation, it is theoretically possible to involve your federal loans in a private consolidation. But that doesn’t mean you should. Such a consolidation would do away with many of the benefits of federal consolidation, including better interest rates and forgiveness options. Always consolidate your federal and private loans separately.

2. Consolidate if you are close to paying off your student loans. If you only have about a year or two worth of student loan payments, you may be better off not consolidating. In that instance, consolidation will simply spread out your federal and private loan payments with the possibility of more interest.

3. Consolidate if you are asked to pay a fee up front. Some private lenders may have consolidation fees, but not for federal. Simply contact the Department of Education’s consolidation department at 1-800-557-7392 or visit Student Loan Consolidator for all of your consolidation needs.

Confused about reform and consolidation

If you’ve heard the word about the reform currently in progress across the country, you probably are aware of the end of the FFEL program and exclusive federal consolidation returning to the Department of Education. If not, read this page on upcoming changes to get acclimated.

One question we get a lot is, “If FFEL is ending, where do we apply for consolidation now?” The answer is Direct Loan Servicing of the US Department of Education. You can apply for consolidation here: Loan Consolidation Center

Make sure to have all your account numbers and payoff balances ready to make the process quick and error-free as possible. Good luck!

Responsible Borrowing

Even with savings, gifts from family, and Scholarships and Grants you may find that you need additional funding to pay for your higher education.

Student loans can make up the difference between what you have and what you need to make your college dream a reality. Unlike scholarships and grants, however, borrowed money must be repaid - most often with interest - regardless of whether you complete your education or not.

How you manage this debt can affect your credit and your ability to borrow later on for a house, a car or anything else. Defaulting on a student loan can damage your credit for up to seven years.

Should you have trouble making your student loan payments, a Deferment will allow you to postpone payments for reasons such as unemployment or disability. A Forbearance is an agreement with your lender to postpone payments when you are having financial difficulties but are not eligible for a deferment.

For more information, see our Deferment & Loan Forbearance information. Otherwise, to combine your student loan payments into one manageable monthly payment, you may want to consider Loan Consolidation.

Borrow only what you need. Our Loan Counseling can explain the federal requirements you must meet to borrow a Stafford Loan, and help you better understand your Repayment Options. The loan counseling process includes an Entrance Interview, for when the student begins college and learns about his/her loans, and the Exit Interview, which take place upon leaving school and explains the repayment options,

Estimate the amount of debt you can afford. Use the Repayment Calculator to figure how much you'll need to make your monthly loan repayments once you graduate.

Understand your borrowing agreement fully - including all interest calculations. Our student loan glossary can help you understand all the terminology you may encounter in the financial aid process. It covers everything from accrued interest to variable interest.

Stay on schedule! Repaying a student loan on time can create and build an excellent credit history.

If you can prepay a student loan, do it! You won't incur any penalties, and you'll save on the total interest due.

Student Loan Consolidation Borrower Benefits

H.R. 2669 contains provisions aimed to increase Pell grants through 2017, gradually cut federal student loan interest rates in half over the next 5 years, and institute several cuts to lenders and guarantors. Other provisions include Title IV loan forgiveness changes, increases for income protection allowances, and Title VIII Partnership Grants.

Borrower benefits will no longer be available due to the lender and guarantor cuts:
Elimination of "Exceptional Performer" status which allowed lenders to receive higher insurance rates on defaulted loans
A reduction in the insurance paid by the federal government for defaulted loans from 98% to 97%
Reduced amount guarantors may keep when collecting on defaulted loans
Reduced special allowance payments to lenders
Increased loan fee lenders must pay to the Department of Education(DOE)
Decreased account maintenance fees paid by the DOE to guarantors

A full summary of all the provisions contained on H.R. 2669 can be reviewed by visiting: http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2007/G2669Summary091007.html

Again, any federal student loan consolidation that has been completed prior to October 1, 2007 will not be affected by the changes.

Locate Your Student Loans

As a result of recent changes at the Department of Education, you'll need to provide your student loan information with your consolidation application. There are several ways that you can easily locate your student loans. To apply for new Student Loans, visit: Student Loan Network. National Student Loan Data System


This federal database contains a detailed list of your federal student loans, including interest rates and loan amounts. Check out our helpful guide that will assist you through each step of the process.
Get started now >>
Use Your Free Credit Report


You can get a copy of your credit report free of charge. Your report will have a detailed list of all your student loans. We have prepared a helpful tutorial that illustrates each step along the process.
Get started now >>
Monthly Loan Statements

Another option for gathering your loan information is to review your monthly student loan statements. Each statement you receive from your lender(s) will list the total amount due for your student loan(s).