student loan consolidation rebate

How To Get The Best Student Loan Consolidation Rates?

2008-11-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

Do you have lots of different students loans, and are slowly going crazy trying to remember when they're all due and how much you need to pay? If so, then consolidating your student loans into one loan will make your life a lot easier. But before you sign a loan contract, make sure you shop around for the best interest rate you can get.

One of the most important things you can do in order to get a good interest rate is to have good credit. This sounds very simple, but plenty of people go loan shopping without even knowing what their FICO score is. There are plenty of places you can go online to check your FICO score for free, so do a search and find one. Having this information makes it much easier to search for a student consolidation loan that suits your credit profile - and so find the best interest rate.

The federal consolidation loan has a fixed interest rate, based on the weighted average of the interest rates of the student loans being consolidated, excluding Health Education Assistance Loans (HEALs), rounded up to the nearest 0.125% or 8.25%, whichever is less.

The weighted-average interest rate calculation is based on the official interest rates for the student loans being consolidated, exclusive of any borrower benefit or other special rate discounts.

By law, all lenders are required to use the same interest rate formula for federal consolidation loans. Instead, you should consider customer service, flexible repayment options, online account access and applications, reputation and industry experience when selecting a lender.

student loan consolidation rebate

Finding a Reputable Student Loan Consolidation Lender

2008-10-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

A typical consolidation loan designed to deal with student loans combines several student or parent loans for students into one comprehensive loan from one single lender. Consolidation loans are available for most federal student loans including FFELP (Stafford, PLUS and SLS), FISL, Perkins, NSL, HEAL, Guaranteed Student Loans and Direct loans. Generally, a person can end up saving money on the interest rate associated with a consolidated student loan. The interest rate is computed on a consolidation loan by weighing the average of all the existing interest rates on the student or parent loans that currently are in place. The consolidated student loan will be capped at 8.25% and will also be rounded up to the nearest 1/8 of a percent. While you can save money on the consolidated rate in some instances, you do need to keep in mind that the weighted average actually may not change the underlying interested cost of the loan overall because it actually is the average of the interest rates for the overall loan balance of the individual existing loans.

However, if the cap does come into play depending on current interest rates, there can be a savings in regard to the interest rate charged. The bottom line is that you do need to be aware of how your interest rate ultimately will be effected should you elect to consolidate student loans. You simply cannot make any assumptions about the ultimate interest cost associated with a consolidated student loan. You need to keep in mind that no reputable lender will require you to pay any sort of fee upfront and in advance of making application for a consolidated student loan.

If a lender does require you to pay any sort of fee in advance of applying for federal education loan or to consolidate your student loans, there is a problem with the lender and you must beware. In other words, you need to go somewhere else.. A student or a parent borrower can consolidate student loans although the student and the parent cannot combine the loans into one consolidation. In other words, if a student has received both direct student loans and financing for college through a parental student-intended loan, there will need to be two separate loan consolidations – one for the direct students loans and one for the parent student-intended loans. As an aside, married students historically could consolidate their student loans together but this no longer is the case. They must each obtain their own, individual consolidation loan.

When it comes to seeking a consolidated student loan, there can be a rather significant different in the other fees, costs and charges that are assessed by a lender. Therefore, it is important for a person looking to consolidate student loans to closely examine all options that are available. Ideally, of course, a person looking for a student loan consolidation will want to obtain financing that provides the lowest charges when it comes to these various fees, costs and charges.

When you consolidate student loans, you can lower your monthly student loan payment by as much as 60 percent. The key is to find the right lender and the right interest rate.

When comparing lenders, you should consider payment fees, interest rates, and loan terms. If you are looking for reputable student loan consolidators online, there are three companies that I highly recommend. These companies can offer you the best rates and save you money by consolidating your student loans.

student loan consolidation rebate

Student Consolidation Loans- New Low Rates

2008-09-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Some online lenders are now offering lower interest rates on student consolidation loans. Some of these lenders are offering to take an additional 1.25% off the federal governments already low 7.5%. This could add up to a great savings for anyone who may be considering refinancing their student loans right now.

Loan consolidation is the process of combining multiple student loans into one new loan. Most federal student loans can be consolidated. Fortunately, consolidation can occur while you are still in school, during your grace period, or when repaying your loans. However, you can only consolidate your student loans once. It's crucial to have a thorough understanding of student funding options in order to make smart financial decisions that will inevitably have a long-term impact and benefits. Consumers must choose experienced, trust-worthy loan consolidation specialists that can answer all questions and equip families with up-to-date information on current interest rates, as well as rates over time. Be sure to read all fine print; there are no fees associated with consolidation, go somewhere else if a lender requires fees.

The savings from student loan consolidation means you not only reduce your monthly payments now, but also lock in a low or reduced interest rate for future savings. Simplified, lower payments make it easier to save money and improve your credit score.

Basic federal student loan consolidation offerings include federal Stafford loans and federal Parent Plus loans. These are available to you as a student, or as the parent of a student. Stafford loans allow you to finance your education with federal resources before resorting to private loans. Federal Parent PLUS Loans help finance your child's education and keep your child from having to take out high-variable-rate private loans. The Federal Parent PLUS program is the next step after exhausting Stafford Loan limits.

By consolidating loans, students will be able to ease the pressure on their monthly budget by 10 to 60 per cent reduction in their monthly budget. In fact, students could also save money by using their student loan payment savings to pay off their credit card debts, and consolidation will also help the students' credit scores as well as debt-to-equity ratio.

By shopping for your loan online you can also take advantage of looking around for the options that suit you best. These new rates will probably not last long.

Some of the lenders that are offering these programs are better known for consolidating personal loan debts and credit cards.

Student Loan Consolidation Rebate

Difference Between Student Loan Types?

2008-09-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

Federal v. Private (Student Loan Consolidation Rebate)

Before we even look at the difference between these two types of loans, let’s set the record straight: federal loans (which come from, or are guaranteed by the government) are your best option when it comes to student loans. Private loans - known as “alternative” loans (which come from private lenders or banks that are not guaranteed by the government) should absolutely be your last resort!

Wondering why?

The basic answer shows up in dollars and cents: federal loans generally have lower interest rates than private ones and have a fixed rate rather than variable. This means you will likely pay less for the same loan amount when you pay it back. Nice right? Another reason federal loans are a better option is that they have a lot more built-in protections for you (the borrower) than private loans do. (For example, a check the government sends you is less likely to bounce!)

Borrowing Smart

There are several types of federal student loans-the Subsidized Stafford Loan (you don’t pay or accrue interest while you’re in school), the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (you do accrue interest in school, but the interest rate is relatively low), and the federal Perkins Loan (reserved for students with the most need and at the most attractive interest rate: 5%) are all intended for students. Your school will let you know which ones you qualify for. It’s best to borrow them in this order (depending on which ones(s) you are able to get access to):

Perkins Loan
Subsidized Stafford Loan
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Going Private

If you decide to borrow an alternative loan (one that comes directly from a bank or other lender), be sure you understand the risks and fees associated with it. Check the interest rate and see if it varies, find out if there is a penalty for paying the loan back early, and make certain that you understand all the loan terms. You might want to go over it with a parent or financial advisor to make sure you are getting the best deal.

You can pick and choose the types of student loans that meet your needs during all of your education. This can be a great way for you to be able to get fully educated, without having to worry about paying for it right at that moment.

One of the best parts about student loans is that you don't have to pay back the loans until you are finished with school. You can keep taking out student loans while you are in school to cover the costs of going to college. You can also have an extra 6 months after you graduate in order to pay back your student loans. This is a great way for you to be able to pay back your student loans, and because of this you will be able to put your finances in order as you go through your school career.

Summary:

Federal student loans are offered through Sallie Mae (SLMA, the Student Loan Marketing Association) and are sold to investors. Repayment on these loans is guaranteed, so student loan debt cannot be “discharged” even if you file for bankruptcy.

Private student loans, on the other hand, are no different than any other unsecured personal loans. Because they are not guaranteed, you most likely will pay higher interest rate on private student loans than you would on federal loans.

Student Loan Consolidation Rebate

Questions To Ask Before You Consolidate Your Student Loans

2008-08-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

Federal apprentice accommodation alliance is a chargeless federal affairs that allows anyone with outstanding federal apprentice accommodation debt to amalgamate their loans, extend their claim term, and lock in their absorption rate. The agreement and altitude on all federal apprentice accommodation consolidations are set by the U.S. Department of Education, acceptation that all federal apprentice accommodation consolidations are, at atomic initially, created equal. There are no accommodation penalties or fees, and every lender has to action the aforementioned federal abstinence and adjournment options and the aforementioned antecedent circumscribed absorption rate. This bulk is based on a abounding boilerplate of the absorption ante of all the outstanding apprentice loans angled to the abutting 1/8th percent.

So, if every lender is alms the aforementioned federal agreement and conditions, and every circumscribed accommodation will accept the aforementioned antecedent rate, what's the aberration amid alliance lenders? The aberration amid lenders is in the borrower allowances that are offered. These differences can be appealing substantial, and by allurement the appropriate questions, acute borrowers can get the best accord on their federal apprentice alliance loan.

Interest Bulk Reductions (student loan consolidation rebate)

The best accepted annual offered on a federal apprentice accommodation alliance is an absorption bulk reduction. This annual is usually offered in two parts: a .25% abridgement for auto debit and a 1% absorption bulk abridgement afterwards 36 months of on-time payments. This is a abundant annual that can abundantly abate the absolute bulk of absorption paid on the circumscribed loan. On a $30,000 loan, this annual abandoned can save a borrower over $6,500 in interest! Although this is an adorable benefit, there are a brace things to ask your alliance lender afore proceeding with the loan:

1. Ask the lender if the annual will lock in afterwards you've fabricated 36 months of on-time payments. This agency that, afterwards the 1% absorption bulk abridgement is awarded, the annual can never be taken away, alike if payments are fabricated backward in the future. Best alliance companies will add the 1% aback in if any acquittal is backward afterwards the annual has already been awarded. Abounding bodies don't anguish about this, bold that they will consistently accomplish their acquittal on time. However, best alliance loans will booty over 10 years to pay aback and the allowance are a acquittal will be backward eventually. Clarify with the lender aback a acquittal is advised late. Any acclaimed aggregation should accommodate at atomic a 10-day adroitness aeon afore a acquittal is advised late. Remember, aloof because you accept your payments set up to be auto-debited from a coffer annual doesn't beggarly they will consistently be on time. If there are bereft funds in the coffer account, the acquittal can be alone and advised late.

2. Ask the lender if the on-time payments accept to be afterwards to accept the absorption bulk reduction. Abounding companies will booty abroad the annual if you put the accommodation into a abstinence or deferment. This can alike accommodate a adjournment on payments if you adjudge to go aback to school. Acclaimed lenders will not booty abroad your annual for appliance your federal appropriate to put your alliance accommodation into a adjournment or forbearance.

3. Ask the lender what will appear to the annual if the accommodation is sold. Regardless of what a lender tells you, abounding alliance loans are sold. Accomplish abiding that if your accommodation is sold, you will not lose your bulk reductions. There are abhorrence belief of borrowers authoritative 30 on-time payments to acquisition out that their circumscribed accommodation had been awash to a new lender who will not account the 1% bulk abridgement they were initially promised.

Cash Aback Rebate (student loan consolidation rebate)

A almost new annual actuality accustomed by alliance companies is the banknote aback rebate. This is usually a allotment of the arch accommodation antithesis that is either activated to the outstanding accommodation or beatific to the borrower as a banknote payment. This can be a actual adorable offer, abnormally aback in the anatomy of a banknote acquittal to the borrower.

It's adamantine to abide a analysis for bags of dollars, but aback compared to the accumulation from the absorption bulk reductions, the banknote aback abatement is usually not the best banking discount.

For example: ( student loan consolidation rebate)

One lender is alms a 1.25% bulk abridgement for on-time payments, and the added lender is alms a 3% banknote aback abatement on a $60,000 circumscribed loan. The lender alms the banknote aback abatement will mail the borrower a analysis for $1,800 afterwards they accomplish 10 payments on time. The added lender will accord the 1% bulk abridgement afterwards 3 years of on-time payments. The banknote abatement sounds tempting, but aback you apprehend that the 1.25% bulk abridgement could save over $32,000, it is bright the absorption bulk abridgement is the above benefit.

1. If you adjudge to go with a aggregation alms the banknote abatement option, accomplish abiding to apprehend the accomplished print. Abounding companies crave that a abatement anatomy be submitted by a assertive borderline to action the banknote aback benefit. If the banknote aback abatement anatomy is not received, they will disqualify the borrower from the rebate.

2. Ask the lender what absolutely is appropriate to accept the banknote aback abatement afore appointment a active alliance accommodation application. Abounding companies amalgamate the banknote aback abatement with added borrower obligations. One aggregation requires that a borrower accept in their cyberbanking newsletter with a accurate email abode afore the abatement is awarded.

The federal apprentice accommodation alliance affairs is an accomplished way to administer apprentice accommodation debt as able-bodied as save bags of dollars in absorption payments. By allurement the appropriate questions and alive what to attending for, you can aerate your accumulation and accomplish abiding that you get the best accord accessible on your alliance loan.

Student Loan Consolidation Rebate

Student Loan Consolidation – Escape to a Debt Free Future

2008-08-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

After a certain stage, student loan consolidation becomes a necessity for students who complete their studies with the help of loans. It is a reality that once you start taking loans, you become dependent upon loans, and for every little need, you start looking towards a new loan for respite. This happens in most of the cases. You start earning the moment you start working and it could be as early as your high school but you at the study stage you can only get part time jobs that are not very highly paid. You can only get a stable job after completing your studies; until then, every student, even after repaying small amounts through meager earnings, usually accumulates a huge amount of debt impossible to erase with starting salaries along with household expenses.

Hope Is On Its Way

There is no need to despair if you have accumulated huge amount of debt under similar circumstances. You can manage your college loans in a simple way by taking student debt consolidation. You can manage your loans in a much more efficient and economical way with the help of student loan consolidation. You can leave all your worries for the consolidating company.

Student loan consolidation simply means that you combine all your present loans and find the total amount due to the creditors. It is quite obvious that since you have taken the loans according to your need from time to time, you must have taken the loans at different rates of interest. You have to find the weighted average of all the loans you have taken. Now you have to take all the documents and other details including the repayment slips to the consolidating company undertaking your student loan consolidation program. The company will then offer you two or three ways in which you can get rid of your debts in a few years.

Consolidation companies usually offer the plans of total settlement, consolidation loan or student loan consolidation to the students opting for debt consolidation. Total settlement is the best option for students who have small amount of debt and are not neck deep into debt yet. In the student loan consolidation program, your creditors are asked to relent in certain charges to reduce the total amount of payment due to all the creditors. Then a fixed installment is decided for a fixed duration which you will pay to become debt free forever thereafter. In the third case, the creditors do not have to wait for years to realize their due; a new loan, of the amount due is taken and all the present creditors are paid off right away then the loan taken is repaid to the consolidation company over 3-5 years.

Student Loan Consolidation Rebate

Best Student Loan Consolidation deals

2008-07-25T01:22:00.000-07:00

For Ohio students/residents:
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1.5% interest rate reduction that is PERMANENT after 36 months
or
6% principal reduction immediately that is permanent after 36 months

For non-Ohio students/residents:
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1% interest rate reduction that is PERMANENT after 36 months
or
3.33% principal reduction that is PERMANENT after 30 months

ELC
**not currently offering any incentives 10/10/07**
.5% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit.
1.25% interest rate reduction after 24 monthly payments (reduction continues so long as all payments are made on time). If you miss a payment beyond 14 days of due date, you could lose this incentive permanently. However, their website says something about reinstatement.
$15k minimum, may NOT take in-school consolidation
Service: Great Lakes.
They stamp the side of the promissory note with: "ELC Guaranteed Benefits Package: 1.25% Interest rate reduction after making the first 24 on time payments & .5% interest rate reduction for using Auto-debit"; and they will send a side letter confirming guarantee of benefits.
Alternate package: .25% auto debit, 2.25% after 48 payments (minimum $30k).

Next Student
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit.
They offer three different plans in addition to the .25% auto debit:
1: 1% reduction after 36 months of on time payments is locked in unless you miss 6 payments-in that case gone forever. OR:
2: .375% reduction after 6 timely payments. Plus after 36 months of timely payments an additional 1%. Not locked in: one default and gone forever. OR:
3: 2% reduction after 48 timely payments Not locked in.

The Loanster

theLOANSTER Consolidation Loan:

10/11/07 update:
.25% auto debit and-
.50% Permanent rate reduction after 36 on-time payments (within 14 days past due-Do not need to be consecutive so deferment/forbearance is ok)

ScholarPoint
.5% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1% interest rate reduction after 24 monthly payments. This incentive lost for ever if you miss single payment within 14 days of dou date.
Minimum Consolidation Amount: $10,000 (per Craig, 12/9/06)
Not locked in.

College PayWay
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1% interest rate reduction after 30 monthly payments (forfeited if you ever miss a payment by 15 days)
OR
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1.5% cash rebate on loans from $20k to $39,999
2.5% cash rebate on loans from $40k to $59,999
3.5% cash rebate on loans $60k and up

Education Services Foundation
Mississippi connection needed.
- up to 1% cash rebate on loans from $6,500 to $40,000*
- up to 2% cash rebate on loans over $40,000*
- interest rate reduction of as much as 1.75% on loans of $10,000 or more**
*The cash rebate is paid after the equivalent amount is paid in interest during the first 12 months of the loan.
**On loans of $10,000 ore more, receive a 0.5% interest rate reduction for payments automatically debited from a bank account and receive a 1.25% interest rate reduction after 24 months of on-time payments.

CollegeInvest.org. CollegeInvest: part of Colorado Government Student Loan program:800-448-2424:
.25% auto debit,
1% off interest after 24 months of timely payments,
1% off the top of principal of the loan immediately.
Guaranty that they never sell off your loan.
Loans serviced by Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation (probable, might be NelNet for in-school)

NelNet
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
3.33% principal balance (NB: not interest rate) reduction after 30 monthly payments--NOT PERMANENT
(or 1% interest rate reduction after 36 monthly payments)
NB: In Sept. 2006 an Inspector General report found that NelNet used a scheme to claim illegal government subsidies of > $250 million.

T.H.E. (aka Northstar)
.75% immediate annualized monthly credit, roughly equivalent (see below) to a .75% interest rate reduction ***SUSPENDED***
no further reduction for anything else, ever

ISL
Iowa Student Loan
for non-Iowa connected people
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1.1% interest rate reduction after 36 monthly payments

ISL
Iowa Student Loan
for Iowa Connected people:
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
.75% interest rate reduction after 6 monthly payments
1.5% Principal Reduction after 6 monthly payments.

College Foundation of North Carolina
North Carolina connection needed.
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
2% interest rate reduction after 48 monthly payments

North Texas HEA
Need a TX connection? Spoke to CSR and specified you don't need Texas connection (chimera451)
.25% immediate reduction for auto debit
1% reduction after 36 payments
Forgives the last $600
Cash Back program:
Consolidate $5500-$9999 and get $295 cash
Consolidate $10k-$15k and get $595 cash
Consolidate $15k+ and get $595 cash + a $595 principal reduction after 12, 24, & 36 months
Note: If you do not hold a loan through NTHEA you are not eligible for cash rebate, however,
you are still eligible for the $595 principal reductions (basically applies to those without
a Texas connection)

OSLA
1% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1% principal reduction after 6 payments

AllStudent
.25% immediate reduction for auto debit
1.25% reduction after 24 payments for California residents/ or people who went to school in CA
OR
No Interest for 1st year (Interest credited back after 12 months) and .25 auto debit reduction.

Graduate Leverage
.25% immediate reduction for auto debit
1% reduction after 30 payments (for first consolidation) or 17 payments (for subsequent consolidations)
9-month forbearance at graduation (only for some?)
Offers custom loan assessments to optimize consolidation, but you can always take their suggestion and consolidate elsewhere.

====
Most others (including CFS, Access Group, Student Loan Xpress & AES/Keystone)
.25% immediate interest rate reduction for auto debit
1% interest rate reduction after 36 monthly payments
Note that (nearly?) all lenders give .6% reduction when you consolidate during a grace period

SL Loan Servicers: it is also important to know or try to figure out who is going to actually service your loan.

Student Loan Consolidation Rebate

Information about Student Loan Consolidation Rebate

2008-07-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Student loan consolidation rebates are usually given by a private company when student loans are consolidated equaling more than $20,000. The more student loans consolidation, the higher the student loan consolidation rebate. This is usually a percentage of the principal loan balance that is either applied to the outstanding loan or sent to the borrower as a cash payment. This can be a very attractive offer, especially when in the form of a cash payment to the borrower.

If you decide to go with a company offering the cash rebate option, make sure to read the fine print. Many companies require that a rebate form be submitted by a certain deadline to process the cash back benefit. If the cash back rebate form is not received, they will disqualify the borrower from the rebate.

Ask the lender what exactly is required to receive the cash back rebate before submitting a signed consolidation loan application. Many companies combine the cash back rebate with other borrower obligations. One company requires that a borrower enroll in their electronic newsletter with a valid email address before the rebate is awarded.

The federal student loan consolidation program is an excellent way to manage student loan debt as well as save thousands of dollars in interest payments. By asking the right questions and knowing what to look for, you can maximize your savings and make sure that you get the best deal possible on your consolidation loan.