| Normally, students tend to rely on federal student | | | | Perkins Loans are awarded to all graduate and |
| loans to finance their education as they provide a | | | | undergraduate students who are in exceptional |
| variety of deferment options and extended | | | | financial needs. This is considered as a campus based |
| repayment terms. The most beneficial student loans | | | | loan program in which a school acts as the lender and |
| include Stafford and Perkins loans with the | | | | makes use of limited funds they get from the federal |
| opportunity for the undergraduates to get these | | | | government. Perkins Loans are subsidized loans as |
| loans as well. | | | | the interest rate is paid by the federal government |
| Federal Student Loans for Undergraduates | | | | while you are in school or having 9 months grace |
| Stafford Loan | | | | period. With Perkins loans, you have to pay only 5% |
| These loans have two variations: | | | | interest rates with a 10 years repayment period. The |
| Federal Direct Student Loan Programs are the ones | | | | amount you can receive under Perkins Loans is |
| which are administered by direct lending school and | | | | decided by the Financial Aid Office which is $4,000 |
| the US government makes them available directly to | | | | per year for undergraduate students. Cumulative |
| the students and their parents. | | | | limits for undergraduate loans are $20,000 and |
| Federal Family Education Loan Program are the ones | | | | $40,000 for undergraduate and graduates combined. |
| provided by the private lenders like banks, credit | | | | Pell Grants |
| unions etc. Such loans are guaranteed against default. | | | | Pell Grants award $4,310 per year to undergraduate |
| Effective from July 1, 2007, the Stafford loans have | | | | students who have not earned their university |
| allowed the dependent undergraduates that they can | | | | degree yet. Eligibility for undergraduate student loans |
| borrow up to $3,500 for their freshman year. They | | | | with Pell grants is based upon the Expected Family |
| can borrow up to $4500 in their sophomore year. | | | | Contribution which is calculated on the form of |
| However, there are some cumulative limits of | | | | FAFSA. |
| $23,000 for undergraduate education. They also offer | | | | Private Student Loans for Undergraduates |
| a combined limit of $65,500 for both undergraduate | | | | There are lots of private lenders which offer loans |
| and graduate. | | | | for undergraduate students to help them complete |
| Effective from July, 2008, the interest rates on | | | | their studies. Access group is the best choice for |
| subsidized Stafford loans have been reduced | | | | undergraduate students who are seeking loans to |
| according to The College Cost Reduction and Access | | | | pay for schools. The Comprehensive Access Loan is |
| Act of 2007. These interest rates are applicable only | | | | basically designed for the undergraduate students |
| for undergraduate students and only for subsidized | | | | although it works for other students as well and |
| Stafford loans. | | | | allows you to complete your program or degree at |
| Interest rates on the subsidized federal loans for | | | | your own pace. If you remain enrolled at least part |
| graduate student will remain same at 6.8%. But in | | | | time, you have a repayment period of 10 years. With |
| case of undergraduate students, there are many | | | | these loans, you get a nine month grace period after |
| fluctuations expected in the interest rates of | | | | you complete your graduation or stop attending |
| Stafford loans. | | | | school. |
| Repayment in case of Stafford loan begins after six | | | | To get approved for such loans you need: |
| months when a student graduates or drops below | | | | - To earn a minimum credit bureau score. |
| the half time enrolment. The total repayment period | | | | - To have three years of US Established credit |
| is 10 years. However, you can have alternate | | | | history in your name. Also you must include in it 4 |
| repayment terms on consolidation the loans. | | | | non-student loan trades at least one opened for 36 |
| Perkins Loans | | | | months. |