Understanding Direct Student Loan Consolidation

By Charles Gloson

Everyone knows that a good college education is almost essential to be able to find worthwhile constructive employment. Today, the cost of education is very expensive; almost every student will require to take out a number of student loans so as to cover the costs. After graduating it can be difficult at first to be able to meet the repayments of these loans as not all individuals will be able to get a high paying job immediately. To help overcome this problem it is possible to take a direct student loan consolidation.

This is a service that offers a solution in which you are given a new loan that is more manageable. It helps to alleviate any stress and worry involved with student debt. Also it improves the credit rating of the graduate thereby allowing them access to other financial services.

The direct student loan consolidation program is run by the US Department of Education. As it is a government orchestrated scheme there are a number of inherent benefits that are provided to the graduate.

It works by having the government recalculate all the student loans that an individual has, into one loan that is much easier to repay. It will give a fixed interest rate over the duration of the repayment period calculated through then past interest rates on the loans; this is currently fixed at a maximum rate of 8. 25%.

Through the consolidation of your loans you can often increase the duration given to make full repayment; this can be up to thirty years. To be able to qualify for the service you need to already be in a situation that involves paying back a student loan or loans. It is important to note that there is no minimum debt that is to be held in order to be eligible for this government sponsored scheme.

There are now four different repayment options. You should study the details and choose which is best for you -

1. Standard Repayment Plan: This plan is very popular and requires the borrower to make monthly deposits of $50 for a minimum of ten years, with a maximum allowed of 30 years.

2. Graduated Repayment Plan: This is different than the standard option in that the monthly repayments have to be at least equal to the interest accrued. To start with the amount can be low and it will be re-evaluated every 2 years.

3. Extended Repayment Plan: To be able to sign up for this plan your debt must be at least $30, 000. The repayment period can stretch up to twenty five years.

4. Income Contingent Repayment Plan: Here, the monthly repayments are calculated on the graduates income, loan balance, and family size.

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