Financial Aid

Ask the Experts: Private Student Loan Consolidation

The following question was submitted to our experts through the Ask the Experts form:

“I just graduated from a private university last month.  With each year costing about $52,000, I am leaving college with about $70,000 owed to NelNet and and the Dept. of Education for loans.
What do you suggest would be my next step in paying…

Planning Ahead When Applying for Private Student Loans

As you start putting together your financial resources for the fall semester, you may be wondering whether it makes more sense to take out two private student loans (one for each semester) or one loan for the school year. Planning ahead can save you time and avoid the risk of changes that could impact your…

Student Loan Terms You Should Know

Because a student loan is such a big financial commitment, it’s good for you to know as much as you can about any loans that you take out. We know that financial terms can be confusing, so we put together a short glossary of student loan terms you should be familiar with. We’ve also included…

Private Student Loans – The Top Ten Questions to Ask

Students and parents who are considering getting private student loans to cover small gaps in college funding should shop around – this is by far the very best way to ensure that you’re getting the lowest interest rate as well as the best loan terms for you and your family.
We know that loans are sometimes…

A Simple Guide to Understanding PLUS Loans

Not too long ago, Doug Schantz of CheapScholar.org wrote a great post talking about the differences between private student loans and PLUS loans and what borrowers should consider before choosing one. PLUS and private loans are often compared to one another because both are supplemental educational loans, meaning that they are not included in the…