College Scholarships vs Student Loans

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:00:33 +0000

There is no way you can compare the value of college scholarships against student loans. Who wouldn’t want a college scholarship that would provide grant money that did not have to be repaid versus paying back money borrowed plus interest. Simply put, a scholarship is your money to spend on college. A student loan is just that: Borrowed money that must be repaid.

A college scholarship is real money that a student is granted to use for such things as college tuition, room and board and other expenses as allowed by the stipulations of the college scholarship. A student loan is money loaned to students for college tuition and other expenses, but students pay interest immediately as soon as the check is used

The best type of college scholarship is one that is granted for all four years of college. These scholarships are called “renewable.” On the other hand, a student loan is typically taken out each year from a loan granting institution or sometimes from the college itself. The interest rate on the loan will vary.

Some loans are called “subsidized” loans. Students who are eligible for subsidized student loans, based on family income, can take a Stafford student loan. The beauty of this loan is that the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest that accrues while the student is in college and for six months after graduation.

Other loans are called “non-subsidized” student loans. These loans are not given based on need, and any student can request an unsubsidized student loan. With a non-subsidized loan students are charged interest from the day the check is delivered. For both loans the principal payments will begin 6 months after graduation, but as mentioned, the non-subsidized student loan would have interest payments due from day one of the loan.

Therefore, it is always in a student’s best interest to take the time to search for college scholarships. This means searching for awards even after they are accepted to a school, and searching for scholarships during college. The goal is to have a student graduate with the smallest amount of debt in student loans as possible. This means taking advantage of college scholarships as much as possible, and covering extra expenses with loans or job income.

By: Phillip Walters

Subsidized Vs Unsubsidized – Making Student Loans Simpler

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:31:03 +0000

Before beginning the process of acquiring financial aid, it is important to understand a few essential facts, especially when it comes to student loans. This is particularly important because more and more potential college student have to rely on so many student loans these days. To begin with, it is vital to understand the two primary kinds of student loans. There are subsidized loans and unsubsidized student loans. The two types of loans are somewhat similar, but the differences between them are key. Understanding those differences is crucial when it comes to putting together a financial aid package.

To begin with, an individual student’s need for financial aid is what determines the amount of a subsidized loan. Some common subsidized loans are the Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan. Succinctly, a subsidized student loan does not make students pay interest while they are enrolled in college. Instead, the federal government takes care of the interest while the student is in school. This is, in fact, why they are called “subsidized loans” – while a student is in school, the government subsidizes his or her interest for the duration. Following a student’s graduation, there is a grace period, and after that, the student must begin paying back both the loan(s) and the interest.

Conversely, unsubsidized loans stipulate that a student must pay back the loan’s interest while he or she is attending college. That is, of course, why they are referred to as unsubsidized loans – the federal government does not subsidize any of the balance for the student. As with subsidized loans, students have a grace period immediately following their graduation from college. The main difference between subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans here is that all of the financial responsibility is solely left up to the student.

Another key difference between subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans exists in the amount a student is allowed to borrow each year. As aforementioned subsidized loans depend on an individual students need for financial aid and financial status. As such, there may be a limit to how much a subsidized loan allows any single individual.

While unsubsidized loans may also limit the amount given to any one student, their limitations are usually far lower than those for subsidized loans. In general, unsubsidized loans allow students to borrow as much as five thousand dollars more than subsidized loans offer.

In most cases, a student must be enrolled in college on a part-time basis, at least, in order to receive either a subsidized loan or an unsubsidized loan. If a student with a subsidized loan finds that he or she needs more money, he or she can certainly turn to an unsubsidized loan instead. However, that is not the only other option at all – there are many types of student aid available; these are just two of the most common kinds. There are also a variety of grants, scholarships, and private loans available if a student’s subsidized or unsubsidized loan does not meet all of his or her financial aid requirements.

By: Gary Marjani

Student Loan Consolidation » Subsidized Student Loan

College Scholarships vs Student Loans

Subsidized Vs Unsubsidized – Making Student Loans Simpler