Student Loan Default Rates on the Rise

By Jeffrey Mictabor

Updated statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education show that student loan defaults are rising. According to the latest figures, the default rate for government loans that entered repayment in 2008 is 13.8 percent, up 2 percent from the default rate for federal student loans that entered repayment in 2007.

The current official national student loan default percentage, which stands at 7.0 percent, measures the percentage of borrowers who default on their federal education loans within the first two years of repayment. But when the calculation is expanded to take into account defaults within the first three years of repayment, the national student loan default percentage jumps to13.8 percent.

The New College Grad: Unemployed, in Debt, and Defaulting

Under new rules implemented by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the three-year calculation will soon be used as the standard measure of student loan default percentages. Beginning in 2014, colleges and universities whose default percentages rise above 30 percent will lose access to federal financial aid - government-funded grants and education loans - for incoming and existing students.

Current federal regulations cut off a school's eligibility for federal student aid when the school's default percentage exceeds 25 percent, but that guideline uses the more forgiving two-year default rate. Officials at the Education Department attribute the rise in student loan defaults to the soft job market and the ballooning number of recent graduates who are finding themselves unemployed and with a pressing need for debt relief.

Education Department officials also point to the growing amount of college loan debt being accumulated by students, particularly at pricier for-profit colleges and private nonprofit four-year universities. Among undergraduates who leave college with debt from school loans, the average student loan debt load is $23,186, according to FinAid.org.

Using the three-year default rate calculation, the default rate for students of private nonprofit colleges and universities is 7.6 percent, compared to a 4-percent two-year default rate. Among public university students, the three-year default rate is 10.8 percent, versus a two-year default rate of 6 percent.

The biggest jump from two-year to three-year student loan defaults is seen among students from private for-profit colleges. Using the three-year measure, the default rate among these borrowers is 25 percent, more than double the two-year default rate of 11.6 percent.

New Rules Threaten Schools' Access to Financial Aid

According to an analysis conducted by The Wall Street Journal, nearly 9 percent of higher education institutions would lose their ability to offer federal student aid if the new default rules on college loans were in full effect today. Under the current rules, only 1.6 percent of schools lost their eligibility for federal grants and college loans due to excessive student defaults.

A 2003 report from the Inspector General for the Department of Education charged that some for-profit colleges had become so concerned about the rise in student loan defaults among their former students that the schools were masking their true institutional default rates. Two high-profile cases in 2008 and 2009 charged two for-profit school with paying off delinquent student loans in order to avoid having to report the defaults, a practice that violates federal financial aid regulations.

In response to these and other barrages of accusations being fired at for-profit colleges, the Department of Education is considering other regulations that would prevent the for-profits from misrepresenting the financial health of their graduates by manipulating student loan default percentages.

In one proposed measure, termed the "gainful employment rule," the Department of Education will not only look at student loan repayment rates but also graduates' debt load from school loans as a percentage of the income these students earn after they leave school. By tying a for-profit school's eligibility for federal student aid to gainful employment following college, the Education Department is hoping to stem the spiraling levels of student loan debt at for-profit colleges, which historically have produced the highest default rates.

Student loan default rates have garnered new attention from the Education Department not only because the default rate is rising but also because the department is under Congressional pressure to produce a more cost-efficient student lending process with fewer losses from defaulted loans. The Department of Education is expected to issue the finalized gainful employment rule later this spring.

education loans debt relief Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Mictabor

What Is Bad Credit Student Loan Consolidation ?

By Ricky Lim

With the rising costs of education, taking student loans is the only way out for most students who are keen on completing their education. Students take loans at various stages of their education with varying rates of interest applicable to them. As their education continues, these loans pile up, and managing them becomes increasingly difficult for them because of the lack of stable means of income. To help such students - bad credit student loan consolidation comes into play.

Defaulting on loans means that the credit rating of the student would slide down, making it difficult for him/her to get loans in future. The best way to deal with such a situation is to consolidate your loans into one single bundle. Bad credit consolidation makes the loan easier to handle, and the student gets the advantage of having good credit ratings and having a considerably lower rate of interest to pay.

It works by the student surrendering all his loans to a student loan consolidation company. The company repays the loans taken by the student and issues a new one for which the student is obliged to pay monthly installments.

Bad credit is the term used when a student is unable to repay his loans. It comes with a lot of disadvantages and therefore, for getting out of student loan consolidation is the best option available to the student. A student loan would help the student to have a good credit rating, making his funds much more manageable and giving him/her time to repay his/her loan.

Bad credit loan consolidation may be a bit more costly because of the student's tarnished reputation concerning the repayment of loans. However, it is still a good option to go for them since they help in taking the load off the shoulders of the student.

Discover how to apply for bad credit student loan consolidation online. Visit Ricky's federal consolidation student loan site for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricky_Lim

Loan For A Good Education - Student Loans

By Mark De Smit 

Student loans are helpful tools to fund education these days. The cost of being educated is not a laughing matter because a degree comes with a huge price tag that can empty one's pockets. With every problem that comes along, man makes a solution for it. Student loans are one of the solutions to fund for education and increase the literacy rate.

In applying for a student loan, on must meet the criteria for eligibility. Criteria for eligibility depend on the company and what kind of student the applicant is (whether for undergraduate or graduate study. A credit limit should be met and the applicant must be working towards earning the degree. Student loans eventually become handy as these help a struggling person cope with everyday life particularly during the college years. In college, a student is likely away from his family and going through the everyday rigors cannot be depended on another person.

Not only will you have to pay your tuition but also you have to pay for food, lodging, power and water. It is best to properly allocate the money you will receive from a student loan. Avoid unnecessary expenses such as partying too hard, buying expensive clothing or maxing out your credit card. Remember that a student load will give you a fair chance to survive college life on your own without the need to call your parents for help.

Here are some facts and tips about student loans:

• The major student loan companies in the US normally have operations in all of the big schools. You can access their services by contacting the local financial aid offices and officers. Properly study the loan processes offer a specific lender, which is normally supported by the federal government. However, many colleges are now partnering with large financial companies for service. Typically the financial officer serves as the formal representative of a group and he will be responsible in arranging your student loan. Try to screen the various loans and determine what is best for you.

• The Federal Government normally supports student loans but these received a big boost especially during the time of President Bill Clinton. Private companies eventually saw the potentials in entering the student loan market. If you want to avail of a student loan from a government backed entity study in a state college or university. Entering a private college lowers you chance in availing of a federal loan.

• Your financial aid counselor is your ally in availing of a student loan. They will be the ones chiefly responsible in arranging your papers that are critical for loan approvals. If the documents are not put into order there is a big chance your student loan application will be turned down.

• Graduate students that apply for student loans have a lower chance compared to those taking undergraduate courses. This is because that graduate students are normally professionals who likely have to means to self-finance their education. It is best to find scholarships as an alternative way to pay for graduate studies.

Students will be best served in availing student loans from companies offering these types of services: PLUS Loans, Private Students Loans, Student Loan Consolidation, Private Consolidation Loans, Federal Stafford Loans.

It is also best to lock yourself in a student loan rate to shield yourself from market volatility. Failing to do so will put you at risk of seeing your student loan rate move upwards especially if Treasury bills move in an unfavorable direction. Take note that when interest rates rise, consider restructuring your loan to avoid escalating costs.

Choose a start date and fixed student loan rate in order to perform a head to head comparison. You have to be sure that you have properly screened the terms offered by different companies before finalizing your decision. Once you sign on the dotted line, there is no turning back anymore.

All in all avail of a student loan only if you need it. This money should be used for your education and nothing else. A small student loan can easily turn into a huge financial burden if interest accumulates due to mismanagement of funds or selecting the wrong type of loan. Be smart and choose the right student loan for you as it might determine your future.

For more thorough information and tips on Student Loans be sure to visit our online debt consolidation web site available at: Student Loan Consolidation Note: Permission is granted to repost or print this article on the condition that this entire article remains unchanged (including this resource box), links are clickable and the no follow html tag is not used. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_De_Smit

More About Student Loan Consolidation Programs

By Gibran Selman

Student loan consolidation programs are specially designed to cater to those who are debt ridden because of educational loans. A student loan debt consolidation program can lower your monthly payments considerably. This is possible because your loan payment term will be extended and generally you will not even be liable to pay prepayment penalties either. The student loan consolidation programs ensure much lower interest rates, on par with those offered by federal student loan programs.

getting started with a student loan debt consolidation program is simple and usually doesn't even require a new credit check. It is a good idea to consolidate your student loans as soon as possible. Many advisors suggest that students should consider a loan consolidation program as soon as they owe an excess of $7,500 in outstanding federal student loans in order to see if they can ease their monthly loan repayments. These loans could include PLUS loans. A low, fixed interest rate is offered for most consolidation loans.

For those students who have recently graduated, student loan debt consolidation programs can result in savings and extend their grace period. In case you fit in this criterion and have not yet started making payments towards your loan, you might even qualify for an additional 0.60% interest rate reduction. This reduction is generally not a limited period offer and continues for the complete period of the loan. This special rate offer can result in considerable savings. While negotiating, you may request a grace period for your debt consolidation.

A student loan debt consolidation program can pay off in many different ways. Students who have $20,000 or more in student loans to be repaid can qualify for a cash refund and an additional 1% rate reduction. This is applicable after making 48 timely payments. The system is very simple and easy to understand.

Debt consolidation programs help ease repayment responsibilities and lower your monthly payments. In case you have a direct loan as well, you could choose to include it in your student debt consolidation loan. Most debt consolidation services permit you to send in applications on the their debt consolidation loan website itself. Various companies offer different interest rates. The interest rate calculated on a consolidation loan is based on the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans that you choose to consolidate. The estimated debt consolidation quote is rounded to the next highest one-eighth of one percent. However, this projected debt consolidation loan rate should not surpass 8.25 percent. The rate that is decided upon becomes a fixed rate and does not fluctuate through the life of the debt consolidation loan.

Most students require loans to cover graduate school expenses. When combined with the load burden from undergraduate studies, this can result in a large debt load for somebody who is just starting out after school. Apart from concentrating on acquiring a new job that allows them to repay the loans, they are burdened with the responsibility of making payments on several student loans. To avoid defaulting the payment, it is best to speak to a loan counselor and check which student loan consolidation program best suits your needs.

Gibran Selman works for CuraDebt, a company providing financial and creditor negotiations, settlement, and arbitration services on behalf of individuals and small businesses. To get a FREE Debt Analysis Online in Only 30 Seconds, simply go to our website athttp://CuraDebtConsolidation.com and fill out our simple application to see if you qualify and to receive a FREE, confidential consultation from an understanding counselor. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gibran_Selman