What Is An Undergraduate Student Loan

Graduate Student Loans Typically Have Higher Interest Rates

The 2019-2020 federal student loan interest rates for graduate and professional students are 6.08% for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for Graduate or Professional students and 7.08% for Direct PLUS loansmuch higher than the 4.53% interest rate on federal undergraduate student loans.

Private student loans, another option for grad students, can come with even higher rates.

Graduate students can typically use federal Direct PLUS loans for anything not covered by other financial aid, including tuition, fees, college textbooks, and living expenses.

PLUS loans are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and require a credit check, although the credit requirements are not as stringent as they would be with a private lender. At 7.08% , they have the highest interest rates of all the federal student loans.

Federal loans also have fees that should be factored into the total cost of borrowing. For Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, the loan fee for the 2019-2020 school year was 1.059%. For Direct PLUS Loans, the fee was 4.236%.

These fees are deducted proportionally from each loan at the time of disbursement. This means that the amount of money a borrower receives will be less than the total value of the loan. Borrowers are still responsible for repaying the total value of the loan.

Federal Student Loans Vs Private Student Loans

When it comes to paying for college, first look for money you wont have to pay back, like scholarships and grants. Then explore federal student loans. Finally, consider a responsible private student loan to cover the rest .

Estimate what your monthly student loan payment might be with just a few pieces of information.

Borrow responsiblyWe encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.

Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loans Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. Payments may be required during the grace/separation period depending on the repayment option selected. Variable rates may increase over the life of the loan. Advertised variable rates reflect the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Advertised APRs assume a $10,000 loan to a borrower who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae loans.

Federal loan rate and fee information is provided by Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

Sallie Mae loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank.

Economic Impact Of Debt Cancellation

The sheer size of student debt can be characterized as a weight on the U.S. economy as well as a burden on the millions of individuals who owe it. About 92% of student loan debt is backed by the U.S. government. That fact has made it a political issue. During the 2020 presidential election, some Democratic candidatesamong them Sen. Elizabeth Warren and then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested canceling some or all student debt. They said it could be done by a president’s executive order rather than through legislation. In 2021, Sen. Warren continued to call on the administration to cancel up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt for each borrower.

The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in March 2021 includes a provision that student loan forgiveness issued between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2025, will not be taxable to the recipient.

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How Much Can You Borrow

In addition to private loans, there are three main types of federal student loans: Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS.

First, consider a Direct Subsidized Loan. Subsidized federal loans are simple to obtain, usually less expensive than PLUS or private loans, dont require a or cosigner, and have built-in protections and repayment options that unsubsidized, PLUS, and private loans don’t have. Subsidized federal loans are available for undergraduate students only. Unsubsidized federal loans can be taken out by both undergrads and graduate/professional students.

How Do Student Loans Work

Student loans are money borrowed from the government or a private lender to pay for college. The loan has to be paid back after graduation, along with the interest that has been accrued. The loan can usually be used to cover tuition, room and board, books and other school related expenses. Student loans are different from scholarships and grants which dont have to be paid back.

You can apply for a student loan online and fill out your financial information. Student loan qualifications are different depending on the type of loan you receive but can include FICO score and income. Typically, you will need multiple student loans to cover your entire tuition and all related expenses. A financial aid counselor from your high school or your future college should be able to help you better navigate the process.

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Ascent Student Loans Disclosures

Ascent loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills, Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: AscentFunding.com/Ts& Cs

Rates are effective as of 09/01/2021 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% OR 1.00% . Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates.

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions, please visit AscentFunding.com/Cashback. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student borrowers must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest APRs are available for the most creditworthy applicants and may require a cosigner.

Annual And Lifetime Loan Maximums

Annual loan amounts may be limited based on other financial aid received and your cost of attendance while enrolled. Your total student aid, including loans, may not exceed your Cost of Attendance, even if you have not reached the annual loan maximum.

The following table outlines maximum annual and career/aggregate loan limits for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loan maximum eligibility for Teacher Certification is $12,500 for the academic year. Due to federal statute, eligibility is based on fifth-year undergraduate loan limits, even though you are required to have a bachelors degree and your admission is administered by the Penn State Graduate School.

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Pros And Cons Of Debt Cancellation

Moody’s Investor Service predicts wiping out student debt would yield a stimulus to economic activity that is comparable to tax cuts in the near term, according to reporting by CNBC. Over the longer term, it could increase homeownership and boost the creation of small businesses. Outright debt cancellation would boost real gross domestic product by $86 billion to $108 billion per year, according to one study from Bard College’s Levy Economics Institute.

However, analysts warn of the risk of moral hazard caused by implying that the cost of your decisions will be borne by someone else. This could lead to even higher student debt burdens, as borrowers assume forgiveness will be ongoing. Another argument suggests that forgiving student loan balances provides, at best, a weak stimulus to the economy, because the savings are realized in small amounts over a long period of time, depending on how much a borrower pays back monthly with full or partial forgiveness.

Federal Undergraduate Student Loans

Mines participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program where the lender is the Department of Education, not a bank. You will be considered for a Direct loan once we receive a completed FAFSA and you are enrolled in at least 6 credits . Students who are graduating in December will have a pro-rated loan offer. Your loan will be serviced by a federally appointed company. Most students have only one servicer who will take one payment for all your federal Direct loans. Repayment will begin after a 6 month grace period that begins when you graduate, drop below half-time, or withdraw. There are no prepayment penalties.

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Thinking Outside The Box

When you think about paying for graduate school, its natural to consider student loans, but there are additional avenues likely worth pursuing. For example, your school of choice may offer scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

Typically, the college will use the information in the FAFSA® to decide what funding, if any, they can offer you.

Other times, though, there may be separate applications unique to your school you can ask for specifics at the financial aid office. Sometimes, the award might be small other times, it might be full tuition reimbursement.

Some graduate students work on campus as teaching or research assistants . These opportunities could offer the opportunity for students to expand their skill set while earning some income.

If youre pursuing a graduate degree while working full time, you can check with your employer to see if they offer a tuition reimbursement plan.If they do, the program will have its own parameters and processes.

Sometimes, if you accept funds from this program, youll need to stay at the company for a predetermined amount of time other times, they might fund only certain degrees.

Still other times, they may not specifically have tuition reimbursement funding available, but there might be professional development dollars you can access. Or, your employer may be willing to allow you to work a more flexible schedule to accommodate your class schedule. It doesnt hurt to ask!

Which Are The Most

Levels of educational attainment vary widely across the country. The states with the most bachelors degree recipients age 25 or older are Massachusetts , Maryland , Colorado , and Connecticut . The states with the fewest bachelors degree holders are West Virginia , Mississippi , Arkansas , and Kentucky .

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Are Student Loans Worth The Cost

Student loans can be expensive, with application fees and making monthly principal and interest payments. They can get especially expensive if you choose to go to grad, medical or law school in addition to a 4-year college. If you have an alternative way to pay for college, then its great to explore that first. Otherwise, student loans are generally worth the cost because youre investing in yourself and your education, which should help you land a higher paying job or acquire the knowledge and skills to start your own business.

Rate Ranges For Pnc Solution Undergraduate Loan

Annual Percentage Rates displayed are for the immediate repay option and include a 0.50% discount for automated payments. Unlike interest rates, APRs represent interest rates inclusive of any fees and deferment periods.

Financial knowledge and help with finances can improve your college experience. Here’s a chance to get both. Learn more.

No application fees or origination fees. Also, get 0.50% off your rate with automated payments from your checking or savings account.

Borrower can apply for a cosigner release after 48 consecutive on-time monthly payments.

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Who Services My Federal Student Loans

Borrowers dont make their federal student loan payments directly to the U.S. Department of Education. Instead, loan servicers act as go-betweens, handling a variety of important tasks including:

• Billing
• Processing and keeping track of payments
• Helping borrowers change payment plans
• Dealing with requests for deferment or forbearance
• Certifying borrowers for loan forgiveness

Four servicers handle the majority of federal direct loans and Federal Family Education Loans. The largest of these is FedLoan Servicing , which controls 31% of the total. The others are Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation with 23%, Navient with 21%, and Nelnet with 17%. Multiple nonprofit servicers handle the remaining loans.

How Much Do Student Loans Cost

The main cost associated with student loans is the interest. However, some loans may also charge origination fees, prepayment penalties, and late fees. Federal loans tend to have lower interest rates so its best to apply for them first. Currently, the interest rate on federal student loans for undergraduates is 3.73%.

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Provide Details About Your Home And Job

Information like your mortgage or rent payments, where you work and how much you make per year.

You will need to provide personal information like:

• Social Security number, driver’s license , date of birth.
• Home phone number, home address and the number of years you lived there.
• Email for your cosigner .

Types Of Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans

There are about 10 federal student loan repayment plans and options. Many of them are similar. Here is a brief description of the various student loan repayment options. For a more detailed description see our repayment plan page.

Standard Repayment: This is a 10-year student loan repayment plan. This is the repayment plan you will be automatically placed in if you dont choose another plan. Under this plan, you will repay your loan in 10 years with fixed monthly payments. This is the fastest repayment plan and you will repay the least amount in total . Loan payments under this repayment plan do count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Example: If you had $50,000 in federal student loan with a 5% interest rate, your monthly student loan payments would be about $530 under a standard repayment plan.

Graduated Repayment: This is a 10-year repayment plan. Under this plan, you will repay your loan within 10-years. However, your loan payments will start small and increase every two years. This is a great repayment plan if youre just starting out and expect to earn more money over time. Payments under this plan do not count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Example: If you had $50,000 in federal student loan with a 5% interest rate, your monthly payments would start around $300 and your last payments will be around $900 under a graduated repayment plan.

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Best Overall: Rhode Island Student Loan Authority

When looking for an undergraduate student loan, it’s important to pay attention to interest rates, loan terms, and lender perks that can improve your borrower experience. With those factors in mind, the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority stands apart as the best overall lender.

Despite its name, residents from any state can qualify for a RISLA loan. However, applicants who live, work, or attend college in Rhode Island may be able to get a lower interest rate than other borrowers.

Loan Amounts

Applicants can borrow $1,500 to $45,000 per year to pay for their undergraduate degrees. There are no application, origination, or prepayment penalties.

Interest Rates

Unlike some other lenders, RISLA only offers fixed-rate loans. However, these loans have fairly low interest rates. The interest rate on a loan with Student Immediate Repay is 2.99%, while a Student Deferred Repay loan has a rate of 4.74% .

Repayment Options

As an undergraduate borrower, you have 2 repayment options:

• Student Immediate Repay: With this option, you begin making payments 15 days after the final loan disbursement. You’ll get the lowest possible interest rate.
• Student Deferred Repay: If you opt for Student Deferred Repay, you’ll get a higher interest rate. However, you won’t have to start making payments until 6 months after you leave school.

Extra Perks

While RISLA offers low interest rates and a variety of repayment plans, what really sets the lender apart is the benefits it provides borrowers:

How Do You Get Your Student Loans Forgiven

The U.S. government will currently forgive, cancel, or discharge some or all of an individual’s student loan debt only under a number of specific circumstances. Teachers in low-income schools and public service employees may be eligible for forgiveness of a portion of their debt. People who are disabled may be eligible for discharge of the debt. In August, the U.S. Department of Education said it would cancel $5.8 billion in student loans for borrowers who qualify as having a total and permanent disability.

The Federal Student Aid office indicates that those who think they may qualify for loan forgiveness should contact the student loan servicer for their loans. That is the company that handles the loan payments.

As noted above, a federal emergency relief measure suspended student loan repayments from March 2020, and the deadline has now been moved to Jan. 31, 2022. Collections on payments that are in default also were halted. This is a suspension of repayment, not a cancellation or even a reduction of the debt.

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Federal Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans

The University of Colorado Boulder participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan program . The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. You are considered for a Direct Loan after submitting your FAFSA if you are enrolled at least half time. Note: Loans must be processed by our office by the last day the student is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.