Compare and Save on Student Loans with Loans.net
Our site allows you to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by comparing and saving multiple student loan offers. What you do with those savings is entirely up to you. Whether you want to use the saved money for the much-awaited spring break or that brand new convertible that caught your eye at the showroom — it is entirely up to you!
We understand. The process of comparing and selecting from so many student loans could be intimidating for even the savviest of professionals, let alone students. In order to facilitate the process, we decided to provide some basic information about student loans, first.
So here we go
Sources of student loans
Basically, students have access to multiple options. The two broad sources of loans for students, however, fall under the umbrella of loans provided either by the federal government or private lenders (to also include not for profit organizations or foundations).
Student loans provided by the federal government
For the majority of programs, to begin the process of obtaining a federal student loan, one must first fill out the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. For starters, federal government programs fall under four major categories: Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Graduate PLUS Loan, and Federal Consolidation Loan. Federal government loans often carry benefits that are not provided by their private counterparts.
Student loans provided by private lenders
If the loan provided by the federal government does not fully meet your requirements, often it can be supplemented with student loans provided private lenders, banks or even some non- profit organizations. Private student loans major disadvantage is the clear lack of benefits provided by their federal component. They are also usually limited to be used for education expenses only.
For this reason we have done the necessary research, creating the perfect platform for our borrowers to obtain a student loan program to match their requirements.
Student Loan Tips for Tough Economic Times
Well, the economic downturn has hit everyone globally and it is definitely an unfavorable time for both loan applicants and lenders. As such, it is important to consider the following tips before applying for a student loan in these tough economic times:
Evaluate your credit standing
Evaluate your credit standing. How is your credit score? If it is not at an optimal level, what steps can you take to improve your credit standing? Examples of these steps may include increasing your credit line, paying off balances, etc. It is in your best interest to ensure your credit ranking is very good.
Start early
Given the lackluster interest (by lenders) in providing student loans, it is imperative that you start the application well ahead of time. That way, you will have more options before the major lenders close out on their student loan business.
Educate yourself
Familiarize yourself with the business-speak of student loans. Without understanding the different terms, how can you ever be in a position to compare terms? So, take your time to understand the different variables of a student loan.
Read fine print
We cannot stress enough on how important it is to read fine print before you proceed with the student loan application. The more thorough your understanding of the fine print and the various terms and their implications, the better off you will be.
Consider federal loans
Student loans offered by the federal government are not only low interest options, they also protect students from sudden spikes interest rates. Of course, you must read the fine print carefully to understand these complexities, even if you apply for a federal loan.
Compare your options and save
Loans.net has compiled a comprehensive network of student loan resources and lenders that can help you obtain a low interest loan and save up to thousands of dollars every year. Basically, student loan options fall under government-sponsored and private lender categories.
In either case, it is in your interest to compare and shop for the best loan offer possible.