Maximize your Education Dollar | Special Education

The cost of higher education increases each year. With an increase in tuition and fees comes the will need a lot more and a lot more financial assistance. Students and parents should understand how to maximize their education financing possibilities. This article will talk about the actions that should be taken and the financing alternatives that are available.

To aid you in the procedure of applying for financial aid here are en issues that you and your family ought to consider:

1. Develop a financial plan. Realize how much cash you will be spending for your education. Do you have funds set aside to assist in paying for your education? Can you work whilst you are in school? Can your parents assist with any of the costs of your education? Are there any scholarships or grants that you may well apply for to decrease the price of your education? Take the time to map out your future to see how much debt you will be taking on. Once you have done this you will be much better equipped to make solid financial/educational decisions.

2. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Regardless of your financial situation you need to complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA opens the door to the financial aid process. This application will help figure out if your family is eligible for Stafford loans, Graduate PLUS loans, PLUS loans, Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, and other sources of federal funding/financing. For federal Stafford and PLUS loan the interest rate can vary from about 4 percent to 9 percent. Perkins loans have a fixed interest rate of 5 percent.

three. Find out what loans/grants you have been awarded. Once you have completed the FAFSA, you ought to obtain a SAR (Student Aid Report) which outlines the loans and grants you have been awarded.

4. Do not borrow a lot more than you absolutely need. Always keep in mind that most of the funds you are provided is not free. You will be needed to pay it back when you graduate. Look at alternatives to student loans. For example, see where you can cut expenses in your budget or you might want to work off campus in the course of breaks or summer vacations. Do you have family that is willing to contribute to your educational expenses? Answering these questions will bring you closer to understanding your financial commitment.

5. Discover totally free dollars! Make certain that you have exhausted all scholarship/grant opportunities prior to you apply for Stafford, PLUS or Perkins loans. Apply for any scholarship that may possibly pertain to you. This might be hard work now, but you will thank your self once you have graduated. If needed you may want to appeal the financial aid package from the school of your choice. They may well be able supply you more money. In this case, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

6. Move speedily to complete your loan application. Once you have determined your financial want apply for a loan right away. It may possibly take up to two months for approval of the loan. Accept all federal loans just before you think about accepting any private loans. Federal loans have a lower interest rate and generally have better terms than private loans. The lower your interest rate the much less dollars you will have to pay when you graduate.

7. Understand the terms of your loan. Most lenders will provide you with the data required to grasp the repayment terms, make positive that you recognize these terms. Ask questions if you do not realize. Most importantly, the student ought to understand that once they accept the loan funds they have accepted the repayment terms of the loan.

8. Fill in the gaps. Not everyone?s financial requirements are met by federal student aid, scholarships and grants. Consumer private loans really should be seen as a last resort for college funding. The interest rates can be as high at 16. percent and the repayment terms tend to be less forgiving than any federal loans.

9. Recognize your repayment terms. As you near the end of your college career make certain that you comprehend the repayment alternatives accessible to you. If you are struggling to repay your loans there are alternatives available deferment and forbearance enable you to forgo payments for up to one year at a time. You will also have diverse repayment choices available to you that enable you to make a smaller monthly payment for the 1st few years of repayment. These programs vary from business to organization. Be sure to ask your lender about these repayment options.

10. Consolidate your loans. Combining all of your student loans into 1 monthly payment can save you cash. You are able to extend your repayment period for the loan, thus lowering your monthly payment by as significantly as 60 percent. By consolidating, you are able to fix the interest rate of your previously variable interest rate loans. Consolidation also helps you to enhance your credit score. Furthermore there are no fees for consolidation. It is also recommended that you lock into your interest rate throughout your grace period. This will lower the interest rate of your consolidation loan by .6 percent.

Federal Education Services is a business that specializes in federal student loan consolidation, Stafford loan origination, PLUS and Graduate PLUS loan origination and as a resource for students with questions regarding educational financing. For any questions concerning this write-up please contact Federal Education Services.

Source: http://www.belcampus.org/maximize-your-education-dollar.html

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