Is student Loan Consolidation Right for Me?

By Dennis Powell

Student loan consolidation programs are often a useful tool for recent grads to manage their loan payments at the start of their careers. Many consolidation programs offer extended terms, fixed interest rates, and a variety of payment options which make monthly payments more affordable for people on an entry-level salary.

For many former students, loan consolidation offers an opportunity to build their credit and get their professional lives started on the right track. Even with the higher overall cost of extended payment terms, borrowers may find the lower monthly payments easier to make at the outset of their careers.

Minimum monthly payments on student loans can be high especially for borrowers with entry-level positions. Many consolidation programs allow graduated repayment schedules which allow the borrower to make lower payments upfront and higher payments as their income grows. Graduated monthly payment programs are a nice option for borrowers with high income growth potential.

Borrowers give up some of their deferment options upon consolidation. However, candidates who find work immediately upon finishing their college career may be willing to give up these deferments in exchange for locking in a low interest rate.

Borrowers with outstanding personal credit ratings may also benefit from consolidation. Some private education loan consolidation programs based their interest rate on a borrower's personal credit history, which could allow some people to lock in very low rates for the duration of their consolidation loan. Borrowers whose credit rating has improved during their school career may also be able to find a better rate than they got on their initial private student loan.

The time-saving advantages of consolidation are another reason many people choose to put all their loans into one or two packages. Consolidation takes a variety of loans and all their associated paperwork monthly payments and tax records and packages them all into a single unit. With consolidation borrowers can focus on their new post college careers instead of focusing all their energy on managing their education debt.

It's important for each borrower to look at their total debt portfolio when choosing their consolidation options. Consolidation is not the best choice for everyone. Particularly borrowers with low total balances and manageable monthly payments may be better off to keep the present laws in place and just keep up with their loans. Avoid taking the easiest path or consolidating just because everyone's doing it the sooner you pay off your loans the better off you'll be.

There many financing options available for people with education debt. Between tuition, books, and living expenses incurred during college typical borrower leaves school with nearly $20,000 in loans. Student loans provide a six-month grace period upon graduation before payments are expected. Smart borrowers will take that time to shop for the best consolidation program for their financial needs. If you decide to consolidate make sure that you choose a program that makes sense for you both now and in the future.

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