For college students, securing ways to fund their education is as difficult as getting into a good school. Most students receive student loans and do not totally understand their repayment obligations.
An interest deferred student loan is only one type of loan available. It is feasible to find a deferred student loan lender, but like all loans, each has its own distinctive set of dangers and benefits. Each lending institution delivers its own set of rules for potential borrowers, and the quest for affordable student loans may be your first real educational exam!
One deferred student loan lender, the Stafford Loan, requests no payments until after graduation, with another six-month grace period. Whatever sum of money borrowed will have to be repaid only after graduation, or if the student falls beneath half-time status or drops out of school. As long as the student remains enrolled at a qualified educational establishment, the loan's interest is deferred.
Stafford Loans have 2 options, 1 in which the loan is awarded by the school and the other when a private lending institution grants the loan, which is assured by the federal government. In either situation, loan repayment requirements remain the same.
A Perkins loan, released by the school, is backed by funds made obtainable by the government and the amount of funding is restricted and contingent on financial constraints.
Other Loan Types
Other non-deferred student loans obtainable by students and their parents, such as the Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, will grant a loan based on the amount estimated by the school for classes and supplemental expenses minus any scholarships or further aid obtained by the student. In this loan, repayment will begin within 60 days of the full amount being paid to the school.
The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan provides a similar plan, complete with the same repayment demands.
For many unsubsidized loan agreements, money borrowed under a deferred student loan agreement will not necessitate repayment until after graduation. However, with many of these loans, interest will accrue from the date of the loan. Students are encouraged to make interest payments through the life of the loan or the interest amount will be compounded to the principal.
Most of these loans are awarded to students not qualifying for need-based assistance and they are considered unsecured loans. For many students that require a loan to make attending college a reality, there are deferred loans which delay repayment until after graduation. There are even some types of jobs that will let repayment to be deferred for up to 36 months. Make sure you know if you are dealing with a deferred student loan lender, and if you have signed up for an interest deferred student loan, make extra sure you understand the terms you agreed to and the repayment schedules. Always talk to the financial aid office at your school and make sure you complete your application, submitting all the applicable forms requested by the lenders. Before you apply, be sure you have all the facts required to make an informed decision, so that you don't liken your higher education with higher interest rates!
