Personal Finance and Investing » Student Loans

How to Save Money on College Education and Get Free Tuition?

admin — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:50:15 +0000

If you have read this book by Robert Kiyosaki, “Rich dad, Poor Dad”, you will realize that getting a college education, securing a 9-5 job and then climbing the corporate ladder is not the most effective way to get rich.

However, this doesn’t mean college education is getting cheaper, just because the rat race is no longer in vogue among the younger generation. In fact, it cost a decent amount of money which requires financial planning right from the child’s birth.

Between the costs of tuition, books, room and board and school service fees, the total bill can add up fast. However there are ways to get reduced or even free tuition for your college education.

Aim For Scholarships

This is obvious but you will be surprised that many students don’t apply for scholarships. There are many scholarships available and while good grades are a must, you don’t need to be the valedictorian of your class. Check with your high school counselor or college academic adviser for application criteria.

Get Free Tuition

Some states offer free tuition for bright students from lower income families so that they can attend college. In New Jersey, you may be eligible for free tuition at your community college if you are in the top twenty percent of your high school class. Just do some research online and see what is available.

As of 2008, Stanford University will no longer charge tuition fees to students whose parents earn less than $100,000 a year. In addition, all room and board fees will be waived for students whose families earn less than $60,000 a year. The program also eliminates the need for student loans.

In 2008, MIT also announced plans to offer free tuition for those whose families are earning less than $75,000 a year.

Other ways to get free tuition include:

1. Employee Benefits

Human resource is one of the most important assets in a company, hence, a lot of employers are focused on retraining and upgrading the skills of their workers to become more productive and gain a competitive edge.

If you want to advance your education, there are usually partial to full reimbursement, especially for tuition classes related to your job description.

To qualify, you will usually need to get a passing grade of no less than a “C”. Check with your employer for the terms regarding any tuition reimbursement policy.

For school employees (in colleges and universities), there are usually perks like reduced or free tuition. In some cases this extends to immediate family members. This could be one more incentive for working as a college volunteer helper for the sake of your children.

2. GI Veterans

If you are a veteran of the United States military, you may be eligible for free tuition which includes college courses, job training, certification tests, and much more.

3. Test Out of A Class

This means you take a test out of the class which is usually cheaper (about one-third) than paying for the full class. However, you have to possess in-depth knowledge of the subject and it is up to the college discretion. You have to convince them with your resume and reasons.

Obtaining free tuition is not an impossible task. There are options available, but it is a matter of getting creative, pro-active and persevering. For saving the exorbitant cost of between $25,000 to $80,000, I think it is well the effort though.

How to Get Student Personal Loans

admin — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:34:55 +0000

If you are a college student looking for a personal loan, the best place to start is at the bank your parents use. Most student personal loans will need a co-signor. If your parents are in good standing credit wise, they may be able to co-sign a loan for you at their bank. Not all banks will make this type of loan though. If their bank does not make this type of loan, you may need to have them help you through another bank, however they may be in a much better position to help you get the loan, rather than you applying completely on your own.

Before, you even consider getting a student personal loan though, check to see if you can get your loan through the FAFSA program. This is the federal government’s student loan program. If you have not used up all your funds from this program, this is a much better program to get a student loan from. Typically, you will not need a co-signor, but if you do, your interest rates are likely going to be much lower with this program. If you are maxed out on this plan though, getting a student personal loan will be your next option.

You should prepare a monthly budget of tuition expenses, books, other school related expenses, room and board expenses and transportation expenses. When you go to the bank to apply for the loan, you will need to have this information. If you are working part time while attending school, this is likely to help you get a positive decision. If you are an older student and are going back to school after working for a while, your credit history will be important. If you own a home, this is be helpful in getting the loan. Obviously, the lender simply wants to be sure they will be repaid.

Increasing Your Student Loan – Personal Finance Tools

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:31:02 +0000

Gaining a university degree is not easy. Firstly, there is the competition involved. Then there are the financial arrangements to be sorted out since everyone knows that a university degree is not cheap. A good university education helps students land a good job with brighter career prospects. This in turn leads to better lives and hopefully more financially secure futures as well.

Now, in order to fund for one’s college or university degree, it is necessary to take student loans. Of course, these student loans need to be repaid. But the key is to know how much and when to repay. A good financial management tool helps students make informed decisions about the loans they are taking from financial institutions.

A huge burdensome loan is the difference between taking the help of a good online financial management tool and doing it by one’s own limited knowledge. If you have access to good financial advice, by all means go ahead. But if you cannot, then your next best bet is to get a good online finance management tool. This tool will help you figure out your monthly budget, calculate how much your are borrowing, how much you need to save per month to repay the loan on an assumed salary once you graduate.

The one issue with a student loan is that it needs to be repaid no matter what your circumstances. Unlike credit card debt which can be wiped clean if you are declared bankrupt, a student loan is there forever or until you repay it.

A personal finance tool is of great help as it will manage your budget, advice on maximum spending limits and suggested savings so that you can plan for a secure future.

Why Should You Apply For A College Loan?

admin — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:47:01 +0000

It might happen that you or any other member of your family is planning to join a college and you don’t have enough money to pay tuition fee and other expenses. Then what do you do? The first solution to your problem is scholarships or grants provided by the government but if you are not enough poor and intelligent to grab a federal grant, then the only solution is student loans.

But most of us don’t know how to choose a better option of college loans.

Here are some tips to follow before applying for college loans:

Make a list of colleges that interest you (Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Harward or others of your choice.)

Also make a list of college, which you are likely to get into.

After making both the lists decide how much money you would like to borrow as a student loan, which can be obtained by adding the given data:

Fees, Tuition, Campus expenses, if you wish to live in hostel provided by college, Food, transportation, lab fees and other relevant expenses.

Now it’s turn to search for a better lender, who will finance you. Most of the colleges or universities have their own list of lenders who can provide you suitable college loan. If you are unable to find any suitable lender in their list then you are recommended to visit financial institutions located in your area. Almost all the lenders have their websites so, check their norms and terms.

Some lenders offer attractive offers like interest reduction, discounts and rebate programs. So spend a little time to search lender with beneficial offers.

The most popular type of student loans are:

1. Stafford Loans

Stafford loans are suitable for both undergraduates and graduates. Both unsubsidized as well as subsidized options are available.

2. Plus Loans

Suitable for parents of undergraduates.

3. Private college loans or student loans: Private student loan or private college loan is meant for additional funds.

Before applying for a student loan or private student loan you should try your best to get any grant or scholarship just to minimize the burden of loan.

Financial Aid Options For Adult Continuing Education Students

admin — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 05:54:41 +0000

Finding a great job and advancing in that career have something in common. You need a good education. The more you have, the better it will be for you in the future. You may have been putting off continuing your education until later. The rising costs of attending a college or university is enough to stop a lot of people. However, there are options. Online education is a great program for those needing the flexibility in their schedule as well as help on the financial side. You can afford the online degree you really want.

There is now a program that is designed especially for veterans. The Yellow Ribbon GI Bill is available for those who served for thirty-six months (3 years) or more after September 1, 2001, or have service-related disabilities with an honorable discharge. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to make sure you qualify for the program and for more information. It is also necessary to contact the school to be sure they participate in this program. The Yellow Ribbon GI Bill will make continuing your education much easier and more affordable for you.

There is also a new Federal Stimulus Legislation that will help make continuing education affordable. The programs are designed to assist public colleges and universities. Be sure to check with the school you have chosen to ensure they are participating in the program.

There are a variety of other options available for financial aid. Some of these are based on the student’s own personal circumstances. Single mothers, for example, are eligible for financial assistance. If you find you are not eligible for student loans, there are several government grants available.

If you are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon GI Bill program, the financial aid department of your school is a good place to begin. They can help in assessing your needs and qualifications, and inform you about which types of financial aid you are qualified to receive. The good news is that no matter what your personal or financial situation may be, continuing education is now within your reach. This wide range of financial aid for adult continuing education students makes earning your online degree an easy, affordable, and positive experience.

Don’t allow your fear of the unknown stop your aspirations of continuing your education. Make sure to research all your options before making a decision. Use the Internet, your local library, or the school’s admissions office as resources. Make sure to weigh all the possibilities before turning away from an opportunity to help your future.

Debt Consolidation to Get Debt Relief?

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 04:57:03 +0000

When you’re in the midst of desperate circumstances and you’re stuck with debts for which there seems no way to get out of you should consider debt consolidation. It takes all of your debts and hands it over to some debt consolidation company which will then take care of your debt in exchange for a lower interest rate which will save you from going bankrupt. This way you will get some extra money each month to spend. With debt consolidation you can for example consolidate credits you got for all kind of loans, credit card debts, huge mortgages, student loans etc.

There are many reasons to go for a debt consolidation. It will enable you to regain control again over your financial situation and in time you will free up some money where otherwise you would have needed to pay of your debts.

However this is not the final solution to your problems and will only get you relative debt relief, it will not make the debts you have go away. One reason for this is that because of the lower interest rates the timeline of payments will be longer. The be able to say goodbye to you debt problems you should dig a little deeper and find out why you got yourself into these debts to begin with.

When surfing the internet there are lots of companies which offer debt consolidation, however you should be very careful not to go for one of the scam companies. What I suggest you should do is find some forums on the internet and talk to people with experience to be able to choose the best debt handling company.

Using Permanent Life Insurance to Fund a College Education

admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:15:22 +0000

Permanent life insurance, either universal life or whole life, written on one of the parents is excellent as either a primary or alternate funding vehicle to pay for a child’s college education. There are several good reasons.

1. Life insurance is a “self-completing” plan. If a parent dies while the child is still young, life insurance would pay an income tax-free death benefit to the beneficiary (presumably the surviving spouse) who can use that money for the child’s college education.
2. Cash value in a life policy will not only grow tax-deferred, but can be removed tax-free (within limits) for college expenses, through policy loans.
3. After borrowing from the policy, it will still have cash value that can grow for years to come. When the parent is in retirement, he or she can access that cash through withdrawals and policy loans. This is using your policy to its greatest potential.
4. Also, money in a permanent policy is not a countable asset when a child applies for college financial aid.

Self-completion, locked-in investment gains, tax-favored access to cash throughout the owner’s life, and exemption from countable assets are significant values to the client.

Furthermore, the client may choose to have his children take out student loans to pay for college knowing that the interest rate is very low and that the money in the life policy will grow at a better rate. This provides leverage and options for the parent, and the ability to give more money to the child tax-free later on, to pay off the student loans and then some.

What Should You Know About Personal Student Loans?

admin — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:30:28 +0000

If you want others to help finance your college and you failed to get a scholarship or grant funds as financial assistance, you can still try another fortune, which are personal student loans. These loans actually help you to meet all your college needs.

Federal and private institutions are giving this loan for your needs. You can even get some help as well as from several different agencies to meet the needs of your college. Federal personal student loan has a lower interest rate than private personal student loans. Federal personal student loan can be utilized to pay for college and buy a few textbooks that you need.

We have talked about federal personal student loan before, now we will talk about private personal student loan. Private personal student loans can be used for a more flexible requirement. You can use this loan to pay rent apartment, meet your daily needs, and so on. However, when compared with the federal personal student loans, private personal student loans have a higher interest rate.

One thing you should know, to get this loan you must have a credit history, and your credit history must be in good condition. If you have credit card for students, and you always pay on time and with the appropriate payment amount, this is very good. Because it means you already have a good credit history. But if you do not have a credit history, you must have a cosigner to obtain this loan. And your cosigner must have a credit history and his credit history should be in good condition.

Besides cosigner, if you have collateral, they can provide loans in a larger amount for you. However, even if you do not have insurance, you still can get loans. Even though your loan not in large amount as if you have a collateral. My advice, borrow only as needed, and not in excessive amounts. If you borrow in large amounts only will bring you in trouble later. When it was time you have to pay back your loan.

Then where you can obtain information about private student loans? There are two ways that you can take, by online and offline. Some lending institutions have a official website which you can access. There you can learn all the terms and conditions they want, the amount of interest, loan term, how the loan repayment, and so forth.

Offline, you can find information about them through the newspapers both locally and nationally, flyers, and brochures. With your early information that you get, you can come to their office to obtain a more detailed explanation. Besides that, you can also consult with the officers who serve you to choose which suit to your needs. If you feel interested, you might as well ask the loan you want. However, this way of course need more time, effort, and money.

You have the right to decide which is best for you, both offline and online are the same. The most important thing you can get financial assistance you need.

Financial Planning Tips for College Students!

admin — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:08:35 +0000

With lower-paying jobs after graduation and several student loans to pay off, twenty year old students can be deep in a financial hole with a long climb out. Timely information on what an unsecured loan can mean will help a college student preserve their finances.

Parents Role

Parents should do explain how fast interest can pile up on a credit card and help their college student determine a budget to pay any personal loan. If parents are going to provide their child with a credit card they have several options. But be sure to tell your student about how hard it is to get an unsecured loan with bad credit.

You can consider adding your college student to your credit card account or open a separate account for him as long as you set some ground rules and limits. One option lets your child have a prepaid credit card set up against his bank account. He can deposit his earnings or allowance into the account and pay his car loan. Nothing helps teach your child the value of money than using his own! That way he doesn’t get behind and he won’t have to look for a home loan with bad credit.

Thinking Ahead Can Be Thought

Buying a home or vehicle may seem way down the road for your child, but explain to him that a loan with bad credit is difficult to come by. Make sure he knows that even one late payment could show up on his credit report. Young students need to understand that their current decisions will affect their future and limit their ability to get finance and make their dreams possible.

Personal Loans As a Source of Finance

A short term personal loan may be an option if a student needs finance due to getting over-extended. Don’t just give him the money, however. Set up payments for him to pay you back. This is an excellent way to teach proper financial behavior. Even though the loan is in your name, you can make him think that he or she is the one who owes the money and create the sense of responsibility that is needed in financial life.

You can explain the concepts: interest rate, loan term, repayment program, loan installment, income, debt, income to debt ratio, etc. You can also explain what the consequences of late payments or missed payments are, how credit is measured, how it can drop and how it can rise and what can happen to their credit score if they fail to meet their obligations (default and bankruptcy). At this stage young people can assimilate a lot of information so it is wise to explain to them what will help them live a life with ease in the future.

Financial Aid and Scholarships Can Make College Affordable

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:40:53 +0000

Parents who have a child going to college in the next year or so are paying particular attention to cost due to the current economic uncertainties. Many are feeling stressed, confused and intimidated about applying for financial aid. While this can sometimes be a daunting task, it may be easier than you think. Getting the facts and understanding what financial aid is all about will relieve some of your anxiety.

Financial aid is an essential component of any college education. Most people would not even be able to attend college without financial assistance. Financial aid does not only cover tuition, room and board, but can be used for other college expenses as well. Financial aid is provided by federal, state, institutional, or private sources and may consist of grants, loans, work-study, or scholarships. Financial aid is awarded based on demonstrated financial need and availability of funds.

Financial aid is available for students in a variety of circumstances so parents should always complete an FAFSA application. Many families with an income in the six digits receive financial aid. In addition, if your family has experienced a significant financial change, you should contact a financial officer at the school your child is planning to attend and explain the situation. Most colleges want to work with you and make attending their school possible.

Loans are financial assistance that must be repaid. However, unlike other kinds of loans, need-based student loans do not have to be repaid until your student graduates from college. Loans for college are available at low interest rates to students and parents. Loans must be paid back. You do not pay back grants. Some loans are based on financial need and others are available regardless of your financial circumstances.

College scholarships are available to students who have demonstrated considerable merit or financial need. Some are awarded to students with special circumstances. For example, college scholarships are awarded to qualified students with moderate to profound hearing loss to continue their education at undergraduate and graduate levels. Any student who feels that he or she cannot afford a college education should seek out college scholarships, because the funds are available for those who look for them. Students must demonstrate a serious commitment to academic excellence.

Merit-based aid does not require a FAFSA but it is strongly encouraged, as these scholarships rarely pay the entire cost of attendance. Most scholarships do not require a separate application. Merit programs, including scholarship programs, help students who have special abilities. Often, you do not have to show financial need to receive money through merit-based programs.

College scholarships are out there waiting for you to find them. So take the time to look for yours. College scholarships are available as a result of taxes and donations given by corporations, private companies as well as many religious and educational associations. A lot of companies like to donate money because this way they can get their taxes reduced. College Scholarships are a form of financial aid and large colleges and universities can become more of a possibility just by applying for a college scholarship in many different areas, subjects, and interests.

Too often families only encourage their children to apply to state universities because they feel that everything else is unaffordable. White private schools are usually more expensive, they often provide financial aid and scholarships that can sometimes make attending them cost less than public schools. Educational consultants are a great resource for helping you find schools that are generous with their financial aid and non-need based aid. You can find a qualified educational consultant in your state by going to http://www.hecaonline.org.

Paying for a college education with loans and scholarships is well worth the investment. Experts say that college graduates will earn over twice as much money in their lifetime as high school graduates. Search for college scholarships that are right for you, apply for financial aid, and look into low interest loans so that going to college will not just be a dream, but a reality.