Oklahoma Money Matters

Student Loans: A Bird's-Eye View

A student loan is the first experience with credit management for many students. To protect your credit history, you must take proactive steps to successfully repay your student loan. Below are student loan guidelines to consider before borrowing, during school and after school, when entering repayment.

Before

  • Always go for free money first.

  • When paying for school, take advantage of all grants, scholarships and college savings available to you before taking out a student loan. If you must borrow to pay for school, exhaust all federal loan options before considering "private" (sometimes called "alternative") loans, which can have higher interest rates and fewer flexible repayment options.

  • Shop around for a student loan lender.

  • Some lenders offer benefits up-front and during the repayment phase of the loan that you'll want to take advantage of. These benefits may include waiving origination or default fees as well as lowering interest rates for timely payments.

  • Borrow only what you'll need.

  • When accepting a student loan, know how much money you'll actually need to cover your school expenses, which include your basic living expenses for the school term. Many students are offered more loan funds from outside sources than they actually need. Be cautious in pursuing additional loans outside of those offered by your financial aid office. Ask the financial aid counselor for advice if you're considering taking a "private" student loan in addition to those that have been offered by the financial aid office. Since loans must be repaid, it's best to borrow only what you need to pay for school.

  • Be salary savvy.

  • Consider the starting salary for your chosen occupation before taking out student loans. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your student loan payments won't exceed 8% of your first-year monthly income after graduation. The interactive debt/salary wizard at www.mappingyourfuture.org can help you figure out how much you can afford to borrow based on your expected earnings or help you determine the salary you'll need to comfortably repay your student loan debt.

  • Know your dough.

  • Visit www.ogslp.org, the Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program's Web site, to learn more about federal student loan programs and how you can make them work for you.

During

  • Monitor your needs.

  • Last semester, did you find yourself with excess loan funds or were you struggling to get by? Monitor your needs and adjust your borrowing accordingly. Decide each time to borrow only what you need for school. Remember to always go for scholarships and grants before taking out a student loan, and exhaust your federal loan options before considering "private" or "alternative" loans.

  • Take interest in paying your interest.

  • If given the option to pay the interest accrued on unsubsidized loans during your college career, do so. These quarterly payments are usually affordable on a tight budget and can save you hundreds over the life of your loan!

After

  • Ponder payments.

  • Start thinking about repayment before it begins. Make sure you adapt your budget to include your monthly student loan payment before your grace period ends. Consider your spending habits and priorities; are changes needed? For example, you may need to delay buying a new car to make room for your student loan payment. Also, be sure to select the best repayment method for you. Some lenders reward borrowers for using electronic banking to make their student loan payments (and setting up an automatic debit from your checking account reduces the risk of late payments). Talk to your lender about these options.

  • Don't nix the fixed.

  • Recognize that your student loan payment is a fixed expense. Repaying your student loan is not optional, even if you withdraw from school before graduating. Remember, your monthly student loan payment is just as important as your rent, car payment or any other fixed monthly expense.

  • Pay your dime on time.

  • Make your loan payments on time or your credit score could suffer! If you know your payment will be late, contact your lender immediately to discuss your situation. Even if you apply for a deferment or forbearance, continue making payments on your student loan until you receive confirmation that your request has been processed and approved.

  • Talk it up.

  • Communicate with your lender regularly. Remember to notify your lender of any changes in your name, address or ability to repay. There are a variety of ways your lender can help if you're having trouble making your payment, but you have to stay in contact.

  • Revamp your repayment.

  • Consider different repayment schedules. Lenders offer alternate repayment plans to address borrower needs. Also, if you need more flexibility due to economic hardship, unemployment or other unforeseen circumstances, or you just can't make your payment, there are several options to help you keep your account current. Bear in mind that flexible repayment programs, like deferment and forbearance, aren't automatic - if you need help, you have to request it.

    Ask questions! This is your money we're talking about, so don't be afraid to ask for help or for more information when you just don't get it. Call the financial aid department, your lender or your guarantor.

Additional Resources

TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program is non-need based and provides up to $4,000 per year for students who intend to teach in a public or private school that serves low-income families. In exchange for receiving a TEACH grant, the student agrees to teach full-time in a high-need field for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which the TEACH grant was awarded. If this obligation isn't met, all grant funds awarded will revert to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loan. Interest will be charged from the day the grant was disbursed and the student will make payments to the U.S. Department of Education. TEACH Grant eligibility requirements are outlined on the Federal Student Aid Web site. The site also provides a list of designated low-income schools.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Teachers with Federal Stafford loans who meet certain eligibility requirements may qualify to have all or part of their student loan debt repaid through the Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers. Depending on the loan disbursement date, years of teaching service and subject area taught, a fully eligible teacher may qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness.

Among other requirements, a qualified teacher must be a "new borrower" on or after October 1, 1998 and must teach full-time for five consecutive, complete years in a designated low-income school. Visit www.ogslp.org to learn more about teacher loan forgiveness and determine your eligibility status.

Additional Resources

 

This information presented in cooperation with Oklahoma Money Matters, the financial education outreach initiative of the Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program. For more information about OKMM, visit www.oklahomamoneymatters.org or call 1-800-970-OKMM.




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