MMA School Search

Posts Tagged ‘Loans’

It’s crunch time for college students trying to secure the money they need for the fall semester. But with lenders continuing to suspend their student loan programs — the count now stands at 131 federal loan lenders and 30 private loan lenders — students may find themselves challenged to locate lenders that are still offering federal or private student loans.

 

 

 

In an attempt to help lenders be able to continue making new federal student loans, the government included a provision in the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act, signed into law in May, aimed at providing capital for cash-strapped lenders.

 

 

Under this legislation, the Department of Education can buy federal college loans from lenders, thereby providing these lenders with the liquidity they need to continue funding new parent and student loans. The law specifically targets lenders who, in the current credit crunch, are unable to find investors in the secondary market willing to purchase their student loan portfolios.

 

 

 

Even with this legislation in place, however, lenders continue to find themselves forced to suspend their student loan programs. As recently as July 28, the Brazos Higher Education Service Corp., the 26th-largest originator of federal student loans in 2007, and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, the largest student loan issuer to Massachusetts residents, both announced that they would no longer be able to provide either new or current borrowers with student loans.

 

 

 

As the suspensions of both federal and private student loan programs keep spreading through all types of lenders — large and small; for-profit and nonprofit; banks, non-banks, and credit unions; state loan agencies and schools-as-lenders — students and their families are finding themselves with fewer borrowing options to get the parent and student loans they need to pay the fall tuition bills that are coming due over these next few weeks.

]]>

 

 

 

Two Major Lenders the Latest Casualties of Student Loan Crisis

 

 

 

The Brazos Group, a primarily nonprofit group of higher education lending, servicing, and other financial aid companies, first announced that it would stop offering federal college loans back n March. In May, however, after the government passed the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act, Brazos once again began offering federal parent and student loans, saying that the government’s short-term liquidity plan had renewed the organization’s confidence in its ability to continue offering student loans.

 

 

 

But Brazos once again suspended its education lending program late last month, citing continued turmoil in the student loan industry.

 

 

 

Brazos Executive Vice President Ellis Tredway said his organization simply “ran out of time to get everything in place” to issue new student loans for the fall.

 

 

 

The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, which issued more than 0 million in college loans to 40,000 Massachusetts college students and their families last year, had already suspended its federal student loan program in April. Now, MEFA has also pulled the plug on its non-federal private loan program, which provided Massachusetts students with fixed-rate private student loans.

 

 

 

“While we continue to pursue every possible option, raising the necessary funds to offer fixed–interest rate private education loans is taking longer than originally projected and has become even more challenging,” said Tom Graf, MEFA’s executive director.

 

 

 

Students Face the Uncertainty of Switching Lenders

 

 

With over 8 million students and parents having turned to federal college loans in 2006–07, according to the College Board, the number or families that stand to be affected by the ongoing wave of lender departures this year is not unsubstantial.

 

 

Last week, financial aid officers at Texas A&M University — a school with over 54,000 students — heard from seven different lenders warning that they would no longer be able to offer federal student loans, a situation that has made more than a few borrowers uneasy.

 

 

 

Dyneche Duffield, an incoming college student headed to Houston Baptist University, is uncomfortable with the prospect of having to establish a relationship with a new lender other than her local bank, which used to offer student loans.

“I would have much rather taken out a loan there than somewhere where I didn’t know anyone,” Duffield said.

 

 

 

While students like Duffield may still be able to go directly to the Department of Education for their federal college loans or find those remaining lenders who are still offering private student loans (albeit with more stringent credit criteria that are making it harder for students to qualify), the magnitude of the problem within the student loan credit markets and how deeply it has permeated the college loan industry is alarming to many administrators and officials in higher education.

 

 

 

Kathryn Osmond, executive director of student financial services at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, finds the situation with MEFA to be particularly indicative of a long-lasting and serious problem.

 

 

“An economy that is in such a tailspin that it affects a critical agency like MEFA,” said Osmond, “is an economy that scares me.”

 

 

Private Student Loans from NextStudent Can Still be Dispersed Before Fall Semester Begins

With the approaching fall semester, many college-bound students still are in need of essential student loans (http://www.nextstudent.com) for school. Whether students need funds to cover the full cost of their tuition and expenses or funds to supplement the financial aid they received, NextStudent, the premier education funding company, can help students through its Private Student Loan Program.

NextStudent, based in Phoenix, AZ, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. Along with a host of highly competitive education finance products, the company provides a variety of Private Student Loans (http://www.nextstudent.com/privateloans/privateloans.asp).

Private Student Loan Funds Disbursed Fast

For college students who are concerned that it is too late to receive loan funds for college, Private Student Loans through NextStudent may be disbursed in as little as five business days.

Student borrowers can apply for Private Student Loans through NextStudent at any time throughout the year, as there are no application deadlines. From the beginning of the school term through the end, student borrowers have the ability to secure education funds to help them pay for all their education expenses.

]]>

Free and Easy Application Process

The application process is quick and easy and student borrowers can be preapproved within minutes after speaking with one of NextStudent’s knowledgeable Education Finance Advisors. Private Student Loans are unsecured and credit-based, and there are no application fees. The loans may cover as much as the full cost of a student’s education, less any received financial aid. Expenses can include tuition and fees, supplies, housing costs and computers, according to NextStudent.

Student borrowers can apply for a Private Student Loan with or without a co-signer; however, NextStudent approves more Private Student Loans when there is a qualified co-signer.

The NextStudent Private Student Loan Program requires that student borrowers are enrolled at least half time at college. They must be in a degree or certificate program at a TERI-approved school. The Education Resources Institute, or TERI, is a nonprofit organization. It guarantees all private loans issued from NextStudent. International students and those in distance learning courses also can apply for Private Student Loans.

An annual maximum of ,000, or the calculated cost of attendance (lesser amount), is available to private student loan borrowers. The program maximum available is 0,000.

Private Loans Disbursed Direct to Student

Private Student Loan borrowers can rest easy, as funds are distributed direct to the borrower. Repayment on the private loans (http://www.nextstudent.com/privateloans/privateloans.asp) does not have to begin until six months after graduation, or when the student drops below half-time enrollment status at college.

On private loans of less than ,000, student borrowers have as much as 20 years to repay the loan. The repayment term may be extended for student loans of more than ,000. In addition, the minimum student loan payment is , and interest payments may be tax deductible.

Since NextStudent offers Private Student Loans throughout the year, student borrowers can rest easy knowing that they can receive the funds they need at any time. The fall semester is around the corner, and student borrowers easily can apply now and receive the college funds they need within weeks.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. Learn more about Student Loans at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

In this day and age of international business that knows no borders and foreign relations that demand at least a familiarity with foreign cultures, many students are seeking to expand their perspectives through studying abroad. No longer content with a singular understanding of the world, a large number of college graduates are rounding out their college experience by immersing themselves in a foreign learning experience.

The Federal PLUS Loan (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) is a little-known but wise method for covering the costs of study abroad programs, according to NextStudent, the Phoenix-based premier education funding company. The reason PLUS Loans are such a great choice for study abroad students is because it is available year-round, and just about everyone is eligible since it is not need-based. The major stipulation is that borrowers must have completed their FAFSA in order to qualify for a PLUS Loan.

Streamlined Application Process for PLUS Loans

Applying online for a NextStudent PLUS Loan is a simple, easy procedure. When parents contact NextStudent, they are assigned their own personal Education Finance Advisor who will guide them step-by-step through the student loan process, from start to finish. Borrowers usually know within minutes if they are qualified and may consolidate multiple PLUS Loans, even if they are from different students. In order to qualify for the? Federal Student Loan Consolidation Program, all PLUS Loans must have been disbursed through one parent’s Social Security number. Since there is no grace period for Federal PLUS Loans, repayment begins after 60 days of loan disbursement.

Parents may apply for PLUS Loans even if they already have taken care of all other education expenses for the year, including tuition. As long as the study abroad program is sponsored by an accredited college in the United States, they may use PLUS loan funds for this purpose. The federal government funds these student loans, and NextStudent offers distinguishing benefits and incentives to parents.

Enticing Incentives for PLUS Loan Borrowers

In order to take advantage of significant savings, parents may opt for several benefits. If they choose to pay via Auto-Debit, they will receive an automatic .25 percent reduction in interest. Once they make 12 months of consecutive on-time payments, they will receive a 3 percent cash rebate on the remaining principal balance of their student loan. If they continue to keep their payments current, after 48 months of consecutive on-time payments, they will receive a 2 percent interest rate reduction.

PLUS Loans Makes It Possible

Whatever a student’s background, studying abroad can be the opportunity of a lifetime. Not the extended international vacation that many students perceive it to be, studying abroad can be a challenging endeavor that encompasses learning a foreign language, immersing oneself in a different culture and surviving in a foreign environment. Contrary to popular belief, funding the experience does not have to be from cash savings, but may be covered by the Federal PLUS Loan through NextStudent.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about student loans and student loan consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Due to recent increases in college tuition, the rising costs of textbooks and other general expenses, accurately planning how much money is needed for the school year can prove to be a challenge. The second semester or term is usually the time of year when many college students and their parents review the remaining funds available for the current school year.

According to NextStudent, the Phoenix-based premier education funding company, oftentimes, if expenses are greater than original projections borrowers can meet the shortfall with a private student loan.

Qualifying For Private Student Loans Is Simple

Whether a student needs more funds right away, wants money for summer school, or if the student is involved in a distance learning program or enrolled in a private or state institution, NextStudent can help.

Since there is no application deadline as with federal student loans, no fees are involved, the funds are unsecured, and many times may not require a co-signer, there are many benefits of retaining a private student loan from NextStudent. Another advantage is that students receive their student loan directly. This allows borrowers to retain control of their money and avoid the long wait times often associated with channeling the funds through the institution.

To be eligible for private student loans, borrowers may be either an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at least half-time in a TERI-approved program, pursuing a degree or certificate-based coursework. Students may borrow the cost of their annual attendance or up to ,000, whichever is less.

It is easy for borrowers to apply for NextStudent private student loans, either online at www.nextstudent.com or by calling 877.690.9879. Approvals can be generated in as few as 15 minutes with a personally-assigned Education Finance Advisor.

Generous Repayment Terms For Private Student Loans

Students are not required to start repaying their private student loans unless they become enrolled less than half-time or until six months after graduation. Borrowers can start paying with as little as , have many repayment options, up to 20 years to repay and may qualify for tax-deductible interest payments. Those with accumulated total student loan balances that exceed ,000 may opt to extend the repayment term to 25 years.

In order to optimize their college educational experience, many students are taking advantage of NextStudent’s private student loans. These funds often stand in the gap, enabling borrowers to achieve their dreams of a higher education and cover where federal student loans leave off.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. Learn more about Student loans at NextStudent.com.

By now, undergraduates are making their final preparations for school: deciding on class schedules, arranging housing and finalizing financial aid awards. While some lucky students have received enough aid and grants to see them through the semester or maybe even the school year, others may be taking on additional work hours to help pay for their college expenses.

Some undergraduate students who have already used all their available resources like grants, student loans, scholarships and federal work-study may still find themselves falling short on their college expenses. These students may want to ask mom or dad to consider taking out a credit-based Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, otherwise known as PLUS loans.

A PLUS loan may be a good way for parents to meet their child’s educational financing needs, according to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.�

The Ins and Outs for Mom and Dad

With a PLUS loan, parents can borrow money for dependent children who are undergraduates enrolled in college at least half time. Either parent can apply, and because the PLUS program isn’t a need-based aid program, it doesn’t matter how much mom and dad make. But parents do have to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet the following eligibility requirements:

Creditworthy
Not in default on any federal student loans
U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Have a valid Social Security number

The Ins and Outs for Students

For their parents to be able to take out a parent PLUS loan with NextStudent, students must also meet certain guidelines. Children of parent PLUS applicants need to be undergraduates attending a Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) school, have their Student Aid Report and meet the following eligibility requirements:

Under 24 years old
Single with no dependents
Not in the military or a military veteran
Not a ward of the court
U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Have a valid Social Security number

One of the great things about PLUS loans is that the amount a parent qualifies for is based on the entire cost of attendance, which isn’t just tuition and room and board, but also includes a reasonable allowance for other education-related expenses, like student fees, books and educational supplies. Each year, qualifying parents can take out up to the PLUS limit, which is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid their child receives.

Some parents who take out PLUS loans may find there’s money left over after tuition and on-campus housing payments are met, which they can use to cover their children’s other educational expenses. With a Federal PLUS Loan from NextStudent, both parents and children can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that college, plus those extra college-related expenses, are taken care of.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we are dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

According to Phoenix-based NextStudent, a premier education funding company, the proliferation of graduate and professional programs has led to new sources of education funding designed to benefit these goal-orientated students who are, in essence, beginning their career by continuing on in their education.  As the job market in the United States continues to generate a need for applicants who are highly competitive in specified fields from technology to the ever-growing medical field, undergraduate students across the country are beginning to feel the squeeze as graduate and professional degrees become “must-haves” for even intermediate and entry-level positions.
The decision to continue education onto the graduate and professional level is one that oftentimes comes with considerable financial stress because of the continued financial obligation. However, NextStudent’s Graduate PLUS Loan Program may allow borrowers to fund up to the full cost of their education (less any financial aid received), including living expenses, books, supplies and even computers.
NextStudent now offers a PLUS Loan Program for graduate and professional students with rates starting as low as 8.5 percent. The Graduate PLUS Loan Program features the same benefits directly to graduate and professional students that parents of undergraduate students receive from traditional PLUS loans. Because NextStudent Graduate PLUS loans are federally sponsored, they offer many of the perks of traditional PLUS loans, including eligibility for federal student loan consolidation, tax-deductible interest and a variety of repayment options.
Eligibility and Credit Resolution
NextStudent offers a simple online application process through E-Signature, and many prospects who apply online qualify within minutes. Also offered is a “second look” for borrowers who receive an initial denial because of unresolved credit issues. NextStudent has a PLUS Credit Resolution Team that has an 87 percent success rate at resolving borrowers’ credit issues, resulting in funded PLUS loans.
Graduate PLUS loans easily are accessible to many students. To qualify a student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen. Although a credit check is required, many students with limited or no credit history still qualify for Graduate PLUS loans.
 
Flexible Repayment Options and Aggressive Incentives
With all the great incentives offered by NextStudent and its Graduate PLUS Loan Program, now is the right time for students to take the next step and go for their graduate degree.
NextStudent Graduate PLUS loans offer several repayment options including deferred repayment while a student is enrolled in school at least half time, and there are no prepayment penalties, ever. There also is a 3 percent cash rebate at repayment on the remaining principal balance after the first 12 months of consecutive on-time payments when student borrowers pay through Auto-Debit. In addition, a 2 percent interest rate reduction is available after the first 48 months of consecutive on-time payments when student borrowers pay through Auto-Debit. Student borrowers receive a .25 percent reduction when they choose repayment through Auto-Debit.
 
NextStudent, federal lender code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private programs, and college savings plans.
The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, one of the nation’s oldest and largest scholarship search engines, is updated daily, available free of charge, completely private and represents 2.4 million scholarships worth .4 billion.
For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

For many recent college graduates the repayment period on their student loans is about to begin due to the end of the six-month grace period. As many graduates find their student loan payment booklets in their mailboxes, which typically arrive approximately 30 to 60 days before the first due date for payment, it is important for graduates to make their payments on time. Some graduates may be in a position to make the scheduled “level repayment,” while others will find themselves in a burdensome financial situation.

Phoenix-based NextStudent, the premier education funding company offers free advice and a variety of repayment options for students. Repaying student loans (http://www.nextstudent.com/student-loans/student-loans.asp) is serious business. However, there are various options depending on a graduate’s situation, most repayments are set to “level repayment,” unless otherwise noted.

Not every college graduate is settled into life after college, and not every graduate is employed. Some graduates still are searching for a job while others have moved home to save money. Life immediately after college can be a little stressful. There are so many things to get in order along with a new job, such as a place to live and a vehicle to get you where you need to go.

By contacting NextStudent after receipt of their payment booklet, graduates can speak to Education Finance Advisers and receive free guidance about the other available repayment plans. Income-sensitive and extended repayment plans are available by directly contacting the lender. With graduated repayment plans, graduates agree initially to pay lower payments. However, the payment amount increases every two years. This is a good choice for those graduates who feel or know that their salary will increase over time.

Forbearance is an option that graduates can use for any given reason. Graduates can use forbearance for up to three years. However, it is important to note that interest continues to accrue throughout the forbearance period.

There are those graduates who opt to defer their student loan payments. With deferment, student loan payments are postponed for a maximum of three years. While in deferment, interest will not accrue on subsidized loans. Graduates must show economic hardship to be eligible.

There are many available options for student loan repayment. NextStudent knows that when a grace period ends, it not always is the best time for graduates to repay their student loans. The Education Finance Advisers are there to help students and graduates with all the questions they may have regarding repayment and the options available to help make life easier and more manageable including student loan consolidation (http://www.nextstudent.com).

About NextStudent

NextStudent, http://www.nextstudent.com/, federal lender code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private student loan consolidation (http://www.nextstudent.com) programs, and college savings plans.

The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, one of the nation’s oldest and largest scholarship search engines, is updated daily, available free of charge, completely private and represents 2.4 million scholarships worth .4 billion.

For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.nextstudent.com/.