Saturday, February 5, 2011

Federal Education Loans

If you will be attending a United States school and require some extra money to pay for your tuition, your books, your living expenses, and for other school-related costs, federal education loans can be one of the most cost-effective ways for you to pay for your degree program. A government education loan is offered by the government in order to support education in the country. Federal education grants are offered to students at all levels of study and to students in various areas of study. Federal grants for education are simple to apply for but can dramatically improve your ability to pay for college or university.

Federal student loans are loans which are offered by the federal government to students. These loans have to be paid back with interest after student graduates. However, they have lower interest rates than most private loans as well as terms that are very convenient for students. For example, subsidized need-based federal student loans accrue no interest while the student is at school. All federal student loans only have to be repaid after students leave school. This means that until a student graduates or leaves their program, no monthly payments are required. This allows a student to focus on studies rather than on their debt.

Statistics about Federal Education Loans
Many organizations gather statistics about federal student loans. Did you know?
    * In 2000, the average loan for undergraduate students enrolled at four-year public colleges was $5,300, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By the time the average student graduates, they have more than $10 000 in debts, and more than half of all student debts are from the federal government.
    * According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 50% of students take out student loans in order to pay for college or university. Of these, the vast majority applies for - and gets - federal government money for their education. In fact, federal government student loans are considered to be the top choice for students at every level of study.
    * The U.S. Census Bureau reports that workers with at a least bachelor's degree have incomes that are, on average, over 80% greater those who only have a high school diploma. This means that over the course of a worker's life, a worker with a college degree will make more than $1 million more than the average worker. This certainly seems to make a small federal education loan well worth it.

How Can You Get a Federal Education Loan?
If you qualify for federal student loans, you must apply early using the FASFA (Free Application for Student Financial Aid) at your school's financial aid office or online.Generally, there will be a third party -- your school, a bank, or some other institution -- that will be overseeing the funds and managing them for you.Most companies will allow you to manage and see your federal education loan online.

After you apply, you'll have to wait into to get approval. At that time, you will learn how much money you qualify for and what your interest rates will be. You'll also learn the exact details of your loan. Depending on the loan and the third party you have applied through, your money will generally go to the school you are attending, although in some cases you may get the money directly to pay the school yourself.

Federal education loans have helped millions of students get a quality education. If you need money to attend college or university, and you qualify for federal aid, a government education loan can help you pay for your degree program. Statistics have borne out the fact that most students find these loans affordable and beneficial. The higher earning power you will enjoy as a college graduate will generally make a federal education loan well worth the cost.