Selling Out Higher Education Policy With Student Loans Refinance

Few things can compare to continuing education. Those straight out of high school and those working for some time have obligations and bills to take care of, making it difficult to get funding for further education. Here, student loans can be a great help although Stafford student loans may prove confusing in terms of the process involved.

The first doubt for most is what Stafford student loans are all about and how they help students. It is a loan for students from Educaid. Wachovia Education Finance is a low interest government insured loan for undergraduate and graduate students. To avail student loans, the basic eligibility require a student to be enrolled at least halftime at an eligible school with satisfactory grades. One also needs to be a US citizen or a permanent resident of the US or eligible territory, be registered with the Selective Service for males age 18 to 25 and not be in default or due for refund on any Title IV loan or grant.

Next, choose between the two options in loans under Stafford student loans. Financial need determines subsidized loans. The government pays the interest on these student loans during the time the student is in school, six-month grace period following graduation and deferment period. Financial need is not considered for unsubsidized loans, with the student responsible for all interest charges until repayment. Either one or both loans can be qualified for.

The eligible loan amount differs based on the year in school and whether subsidized or unsubsidized. The current variable student loans are 2.77% before repayment and 3.37% during repayment. The interest rates are effective from 7/1/04 to 6/30/05, adjusted annually and never above 8.25%. Two deductions from the loan after disbursement are the 3% origination fee of the government and the 1% insurance premium by the guarantor.

Repayment starts after six months of graduation, withdrawal from school or drop below half time enrollment. Repayment terms are normally up to ten years with the minimum monthly payment not less than $50. Starting payment offers multiple options for student loans. In the standard repayment plan, the monthly payments are in fixed amounts. The graduated payment plan has small payments that gradually increase. In the income sensitive repayment plan, the amount depends on the student's annual income.

Rather challenging at first, getting a good start in the student loans scenario for further education whether just after high school or returning to school later in life, requires preparation. Student loans have a tradition of relatively low interest rates but what is not commonly known is that refinancing these loans can have advantages. When starting college no one hopes to require student loans. Availability of various assistance programs may reduce student loans to a last resort. When available scholarships are ideal as no repayment is involved.

Unfortunately they are not easy due to heavy competition and not all the costs of getting an education are covered. Grants also make great options being free money which requires no repayment as well. But even they can be difficult to get. Increased taxable income, despite the total being below average can be the basis for not qualifying for any more grants.

The university financial aid office explains that any increase in income from one year to the next can be taken to be the money needed for tuition. If possible live on the same amount as last year, using the increased income for college expenses.

Even with on-campus work experience programs offering financial aid, many still feel the need for student loans to cover the tuition for some part of college career. On the positive side the absence of loans to assist with college expenses could make many people unable to afford an education. The hope is that after graduation everyone will earn enough to be able to repay the loans.

Thus, student loans are best described as a necessary evil.