Easy Alternative Student Loans - For When No-One Else Will Lend You

Such loans can fill a funding "gap." Often such a "gap" is created when a student is awarded a Stafford or Perkins loan, and then realizes that the amount in the loan does not fully cover all of the student's expenses.

The Lenders of Alternative Student Loans

The lenders of alternative student loans have put their loan applications online. Those applications are for secured loans. The lenders thus seek some "security" when providing a student with loan money.

Students can easily download an application for one of the alternative student loans. Once downloaded, the application can be filled out and sent to the prospective lender. One word of warning: Students should study the details on the alternative student loans before submitting any application.

The lenders of the private, alternative student loans hope to profit from their ability and their willingness to loan money to college students. As a result, they often attach stiff fees to the loan. Those fees are sometimes paid at the time of the loan application.

In other instances, lenders have added those fees to the interest rate for the student's loan.

Comparing Different Alternative Student Loans

Students who want to compare the offering of the various lenders might feel like they are comparing "apples and oranges." Students might wonder how a high fee and lower interest compares to a low fee and a higher interest rate.

Students should remember this: a 3% fee is equal to a 1% rise in the interest rate. When keeping those facts in mind, students can better compare the various alternative student loans.

Students might also consider how quickly they can obtain the loan. The Act private loans are fast, and they do no require the completion of a FAFSA. Still, students should take note of the fact that awarding of the Act private loans is based on the applicant's credit.

Different lenders have different repayment options. The student in need of a loan should study those options. An ideal lender is willing to defer payment until after the student has graduated.

Some lenders, such as Astrive, give student loan recipients an opportunity to refinance any of their alternative student loans.

The Best Time to Go After Alternative Student Loans

Unlike many student loans, the money for the alternative student loans is sent directly to the student, not the institution that he or she is attending. Students are not encouraged to look at alternative student loans as a "first choice," when searching for a way to pay for a college education.

Not infrequently, a student with a Stafford Loan will "max out" on that loan while still in school. If he or she hopes to continue and finish his or her education, then that student needs to look at the alternative student loans.

The same student might also want to consider getting a PLUS loan.

Private Student Loans Could Be The Life Preserver That Rescues Your College Education

It is common to hear college students griping about their financial problems today. Universities and campuses are offering high quality courses, but these courses usually cost a huge amount of money to take them. Often times, students resort to student loans and other means of earning extra money just to help them complete their studies.

Sometimes, the student loans that are granted by the federal government are not enough to cover the cost of one's education. In this kind of situation, you will benefit greatly from having a high credit score. Why?

If you have a high credit score, you will not have much of a problem applying for a private loan. A private loan is another alternative for students that lack in their funds for college. Most student loans financed by the government are limited amounts, and private loans can help fill that gap.

Some students and parents turn to private loans because they need flexible options for repayment. If your parents are the ones applying for your student loan, they will likely apply for a private loan to be taken out by your parents because repayment of government loan programs can not be deferred.

Student loans granted by private lenders are dependent on the student's major or course to be taken by the student. One of the prominent private student loan lenders is Citibank. Citibank offers the following loans to students: undergraduate loans, law/bar loan study, graduate loans, health and professions loans, and residency loans.

One important thing you need to remember about private student loans is that they cost more than government-funded student loans. But if you try to compare it with a credit card, it is still less expensive.

Currently the number of students choosing to get private student loans is rapidly growing compared to federal loan programs. If this situation continues, in just a decade, private student loans will exceed federal student loans.

Before you start considering a private student loan, make sure that you have already exhausted your federal student loan options. You should always try to measure things out, because in a few years from now, you will have to start repaying them.

If you're looking at the interest rates charged by private lender, you should also look into the fees being charged. It is good to stick with this rule concerning interest rates and fees charged: an interest rate 1% higher is the same as 3% fees charged.

There are private student loans that have different terms of repayment according to their APR, so be careful when comparing such loans. The best loans for students by far are those which have low interest (at 2.8%) and charge you no fees. But this kind of loan is granted only to students having a co-signer who has a high credit rating. Hence, very few students qualify for this loan.

Private lenders will usually require students to submit a school certification which contains information regarding their specific education cost minus the financial aid that's already been received. Most of the private lender does not disclose any information to students unless they file an application with them. This is because it usually prevents comparison between private student loan lenders.

Remember, it doesn't matter if you already have a government-funded loan. A private student loan can still help you in your educational financial matters. And don't forget that these loans don't come free - that after you graduate and start your own career, you will have to re-pay these lenders.