Thursday, January 12, 2012

Student Loans - Do You Qualify For A Student Loan?

College is expensive; those that want to go to college are often unsure whether or not they can afford to go because of the steep cost of tuition, fees and books. Those that haven't the funds to pay for school know they can apply for grants, scholarships and loans but they wonder if they quality for a loan to pay for college. Fortunately, almost everyone qualifies for some sort of financial aid in the form of a student loan. There are different requirements for what type of student loan you do qualify for; but you will qualify for something that will help you pay for your college education.

Private student loans are one type of student loan. It is more difficult to qualify for this loan than any other. Private loans are issued by banks and other financial institutions and require the applicant has excellent credit. Since many college students have no credit - particularly those that have just graduated from high school - and many have less than perfect credit, it is difficult to get a private loan. If you have a friend or family member that has great credit and trusts you implicitly, you can always ask them to co-sign for your student loan with you. This will increase your chances of being awarded a student loan through private means.

For those that need to obtain a loan another way, you need to fill out the FAFSA - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application is easy to fill out and can be done online or on paper. It is due at the beginning of each year and it is far faster to fill it out and submit it online than by paper. All you need to fill out the FAFSA is your name, personal information, financial information, school code and your parent's financial information if you are a dependent student. Once you fill out your FAFSA and submit it to the federal government you are well on your way to receiving a student loan.

The federal government offers loans for students called Stafford Loans. These loans are available to anyone enrolled in a college or university in the United States, whether you have bad credit or good credit or no credit. Stafford Loans do not require a credit check is performed on recipients; it is available to everyone that is enrolled at least half time in college. Once you fill out your FAFSA, the government will send you the results as well as your school. You will then have the opportunity to see how much you were given and you can accept the full amount or a partial amount that is enough to cover the tuition, fees and books that you need for the school year.

Applying for a college loan is easy; and the best part is that you are not required to pay back the loan until you graduate from college - or drop out or below half time as a student. This allows you to have the time you need to focus on school instead of paying back your loans. Knowing that there are loans available to you no matter your credit score makes college a possibility for everyone.

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