Student Loans with GHS Federal Credit Union

As the name suggests, the federal government provides federal student loans. Private student loans come from private lenders, such as banks and credit unions, provide private loans.

One main difference between the two types of loans is the accessibility of federal loans. Government loans are available to students regardless of whether they have a cosigner or a good credit history. Federal loans’ repayment plans can differ from private student loan options. However, due to borrowing limits on federal student loan amounts, student borrowers can have to seek out supplemental financial aid.

Private student loans can fill the gap between tuition costs and the amount of government aid in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships a student has. Applicants often need to have a desirable credit score, or a cosigner who does.

A FAFSA application determines your eligibility for financial aid at the federal and state levels, as well as for any university-funded financial aid. Completing the FAFSA is strongly recommended. Apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

By starting a student loan application, you can check your eligibility for a LendKey private student loan through its network of private lenders.

While there is no set deadline, LendKey tends to recommend applying at least one month before the due date for the funds. An initial review of your credit report and your application may mean conditional approval occurs soon after. However, final approval can depend on any supporting documentation that may be required, such as ID or proof of income.

Additionally, more time may be added to the application process as your school certifies your loan. Institutions can typically process and certify loans in under thirty days, you may need to allow several weeks for everything.

While not required, a cosigner can improve your chances of approval. Because LendKey private student loans are credit-based, they require a review of credit and income. Students often lack steady income sources and established credit history, making it difficult to procure a loan with good rates.

In most cases, a cosigner with an established credit history can help you. If your cosigner has an established credit history, you can usually qualify for better terms, which means long-term savings when it comes to your loan repayments.

Student loan debt is a national problem. You can make monthly minimum payments on your loan while you are still in school. Doing so offers the following benefits:

• Reduce post-graduation debt load
• Develop good financial habits
• Build a credit history that will help you after graduation as you apply for jobs and places to live

If you’re a few years out of college or graduate school, you might be enjoying an improved financial situation and credit history. That means the terms of the loans you took out as a student may not reflect your current finances, and by refinancing, you could potentially save money and reduce your interest rates.

There are a few different approaches, depending on whether you’re refinancing federal loans, private ones, or both together.

Federal Loans

Typically, borrowers refinance student loans through the government’s Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program. Be aware that privately refinancing a federal loan takes away its benefits.

Private Student Loans

To refinance your private loan, borrowers go through their lending institution, such as a bank or credit union. Private lenders can also combine federal and private loans into one easy-to-manage loan with better rates.

Refinancing Calculator

LendKey offers a user-friendly student loan calculator. Simply fill in your remaining balance monthly payment amount to see if refinancing is right for you.

 

Try the Refinancing Calculator

If you’re refinancing your student loans, you know there are two main options: a fixed and variable rate student loans. While variable rate loans are the most common for those  consolidating or refinancing loans, fixed rate loans are also a possibility.

Here’s a quick explanation of the difference between the two rates.

Fixed Rate

The interest rate on the loan stays the same throughout the life of the loan. While rates vary, the typical fixed rate for a borrower with excellent credit without a cosigner is around 7%. 

Variable Rate

Variable rates mean your student loan’s interest rate can adjust each month, depending on changes in interest rates. When interest rates are extremely low, variable rates are good for borrowers.

However, interest rates change. That means variable rate student loans carry some risk – your payments can go up if interest rates do.

In order to qualify for refinancing, lenders have to perform a credit inquiry. These inquiries can have an impact on your credit score.

However, you can check your rate in advance with LendKey’s Refinancing Calculator to see if refinancing is worthwhile before you begin.

Students currently in school can refinance, as long as they have graduated with at least an associate degree from a Title-IV participating school. However, once you do this, your loans go into repayment, and you might lose any of the in-school repayment options that came with the previous loans.

Parents who took out loans as the primary borrower to pay for their child’s education cannot refinance through LendKey partners.