Federal student loans are lending instruments that are backed by the U.S. government to help citizens pay for college and other types of higher education. This type of lending instrument delivers several benefits over other borrowing options, but should only be considered after other sources of funding are exhausted. Federal student loans are generally favored over private loans because the interest rates tend to be lower. Plus, this type of loan also tends to have deferred repayment options and the ability to put repayment into forbearance even after it has started. Still, it is best to only seek out loans after private pay, scholarship and grant possibilities have been exhausted.
The Direct Loan Standard Repayment Plan Explained
A federal direct loan helps cover the cost of undergraduate or graduate tuition. The cheapest direct loans go to the neediest students, but even... »
How to Compare the Benefits of Stafford Loan Lenders
Stafford loan lenders offer unique borrower benefits as an incentive to retain borrowers. These benefits are designed to entice students into electing one lender... »
3 Stafford Loan Discounts to Consider
When you are considering getting a Stafford loan there are a lot of things to think about. It is going to be a large financial... »
3 Options if Your PLUS Loan Application is not Approved
If your PLUS loan application has been denied because of adverse credit issues, do not lose hope just yet. There are three other options... »
Recent Articles about
Federal Student Loans
- The Direct Loan Standard Repayment Plan Explained
- How to Compare the Benefits of Stafford Loan Lenders
- 3 Stafford Loan Discounts to Consider
- 3 Options if Your PLUS Loan Application is not Approved
- The Direct Loan Income Contingent Repayment Plan Explained
- The Direct Loan Income Based Repayment Plan Explained
- What Are the Credit Requirements for Getting a Plus Loan?
- 3 Education-Related Expenses that Stafford Loans Can Cover
- What is the Cancellation Policy for a PLUS Loan?
- What is the Policy for Canceling a Stafford Loan?
- Applying for a Federal Student Loan: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Can You Refinance Your Federal Student Loan with a Private Student Loan?
- Federal Income Tax Rules Regarding Student Loan Payments
- How to Get Government Forgiveness on Your Student Loans
- How to Get a Federal Student Loan after Bankruptcy
- What are the Consequences of Defaulting on a Federal Student Loan?
- Federal vs. Private: Comparing Student Loan Interest Rate
- Federal Student Loan Landscape During a Recession
- PLUS Loan: What to Watch Out For
- Federal Perkins Loan: What to Watch Out For
- Risk and Dangers of PLUS Loans
- What are Stafford Loan Aggregate Limits?
- What is a PLUS Loan?
- PLUS Loans vs Perkins Loans
- PLUS Loans vs Stafford Loans
- Federal Stafford Loan Benefits
- Federal Stafford Loan: What to Watch Out For
- Student Loans: The Government's Role
- Does Credit Rating Affect My Federal Stafford Loan Application?
- Does Credit Rating Affect My Federal Perkins Loan Application?
- Planning Your Federal Student Loan Repayment Schedule Intelligently
- Using a Federal Parent PLUS Loan to Guard Your Credit
- Finance Your Education With a Federal Loan
- Private and Federal College Loans Compared
- Consequences of Defaulting on a PLUS Loan
- PLUS Loan Application Denied - What Do I Do Now?
- Federal Perkins Loan Qualifications/Requirements
- The Federal Direct PLUS Loan: A Parent's Guide
- Federal Direct Student Loans Compared: Stafford vs. PLUS
- The 4 Federal Government Student Loan Types
- What is an Unsubsidized Student Loan?
- Federal Stafford Loan Qualifications/Requirements
- What Costs Do PLUS Loans Cover?
- PLUS Loan for Graduate School
- 5 PLUS Loan Benefits
- PLUS Loan Requirements
- Consequences of Defaulting on a Federal Stafford Loan
- Military Student Loans: 4 Repayment Programs to Try
- Consequences of Defaulting on a Federal Perkins Loan
- 4 Benefits of PLUS Loans
- Can You Combine a PLUS Loan with Other Student Loans?
- What is a Subsidized Student Loan?
- What Happens to a PLUS Loan when Parents Die?
- What is a Federal Perkins Loan?
- 6 Benefits of a Federal Perkins Loan
- What are PLUS Loans?
- Avoiding Student Loan Repayment Legally
- 7 Direct Student Loan Benefits
- Federal Student Loan Disbursement
- Where Does Funding for Federal Student Loans Come From?
- How to Qualify for a Federal Pell Grant?
- My Federal Student Loans Aren't Enough: Getting Supplementary Funds
- Canceling a Federal Student Loan if You Attended a Vocational or Trade School
- Does Credit Rating Affect a Federal Family Education Loan Application?
- What are Federal Family Education Loans?
- Federal Family Education Loans: What to Watch Out For
- 5 Federal Family Education Loan Benefits
- Federal Family Education Loan Qualifications/Requirements
- What is FAFSA?
- What are Direct Student Loans?
- Comparing Direct Student Loans and Federal Stafford Loans
- Consequences of Defaulting on a Direct Loan
- Direct Student Loans: What to Look Out For
- Federal Direct Student Loan Qualifications/Requirements
- Comparing a Federal Pell Grant to a Federal Stafford Loan
- 5 Benefits of a Federal Pell Grant
- What is a Federal Pell Grant?
- What are Federal Student Loans?
- Federal School Loan Eligibility: Do You Make the Grade?
- Choosing the Right Direct Loan Program
- Can You Prepay a Federal Direct Student Loan?
- Direct Loan PLUS: What Parents Need to Know
- 5 Benefits of Direct Student Loans
- Direct Loans Compared: Stafford vs. PLUS Loans
- Stafford Direct Loans
- Direct Loan - Subsidized Or Not?
- Direct Loan Payment Options
- How to Handle Direct Loan Servicing
- Direct Loan: Parents Can Get Them Too
- The Benefits of Federal Student Loan Deferment
- Federal Parent Loan: A Closer Look
- What You Need For Your Federal Stafford Loan Application
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
- Filing a Federal Student Loan Application
- Federal Graduate Student Loans
- Is a Federal Direct Loan Right For You?
- Federal Student Loan Forgiveness
- Federal Student Loan Repayment Options
- Tips on Your Federal Plus Loan Application
- Coping With Federal Student Loan Debt
- Getting a Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal Perkins Loan
Home Loans
- 4 Reasons to Choose Loan Modification over Bankruptcy
- When Adjustable Rates are Beneficial
- How a Slow Economy Affects Mortgage Refinance Rates
- What Happens to Your Mortgage Loan when the Lender Changes Ownership?
- How the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) Can Help Home Owners
Student Loans
- Getting Student Loans Consolidated with the Best Interest Rates
- What Happens to Your Private Student Loan when the Lender Changes Ownership?
- Comparing Your Student Loan Repayment Options
- What is the Student Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers
- Student Loan Repayment: What is Military Service Deferment?