Saturday, January 24, 2009

Bad Credit Student Loans

By Bob Saunders

Many people get discouraged when they decide to go to college and then find out that due to their bad credit they can not qualify for some of the standard student loans. Although it is understandable that you would be discouraged don't worry, there is a good chance that you will still qualify for loan that was designed for students with bad credit.

One of the first things that you should look into is getting a co-signer. Many parents and close relatives may be hesitant to co-sign for a car but if you are trying to go to college they are usually more receptive. Go to them with your career plans and ask them if they will co-sign on your loan applications.

Co-signers help students with bad credit because the lenders look at not just you but the co-signers payment history and decide if both of you are credit worthy. If your co-signer has a long and established credit history then you should have no problem. The co-signing option is a good one due to the excellent terms under which your loan will be approved.

After trying to get a co-signer your next option is to contact the banks and other student loan lending organizations and ask if they have a department that deals with bad credit student loans. Most of them do and they are more then happy to help you. The main drawback is that you will get a higher interest rate then you would get if you had a co-signer.

One of the great things about student loans is that in most cases the money is not due until you have finished school. This helps you for a few reasons but the two best are because when you are done with school you can likely get a good job. And the second best reasons is that while your original loan may have been with a high interest rate you can likely apply for and be accepted for a cheaper better financed loan if you make your payments on time and have good credit for the four or five years you are in school.

Yet another option to get a loan for students with bad credit is to apply for a combination loan. When you apply for a combo loan you will end up consolidating your existing debt and then applying for a new loan for the entire amount. While this option will typically require some more work it can also save you more money in the long run. The only real drawback to this approach is that sometimes you will need a co-signer as well.

If you haven't filled out a Stafford or Perkins loan application then you should do that next. Perkins and Stafford loans are specifically in place to help people that need financial aid go to school. If your college is an accredited institution you will be able to apply for and likely qualify for one of these loans. Another benefit is that they usually have fairly low interest rates.

So don't be shy and register for every possible loan and grant. You will get denied on several but you only need one or two to go to college. In fact if you really want to go to college and yet you have bad credit you should search online for scholarships and grants. There are literally thousands of options available to you and many that go unused each year. If you don't mind filling out some paperwork you may be able to go to school at no charge. - 16752

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