Canada Student Loans Vs US Student Loans

The Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) is an essential element of the Government of Canada. Through the agenda, the Government is working to ensure that the Canadians have the necessary skills to be able to compete with all countries in the future.

By providing loans to Canadians enrolled in full or part-time post-secondary education studies, the CSLP is able to offer individuals the opportunity to participate in the process of lifelong learning.

The Government has assisted over 3.8 million students with over $16 billion in loans since the CSLP was founded in 1964. However, up until July 31, 2000, the Government of Canada and participating financial institutions worked together to finance the loans.

Rules were changed and as of August 1, 2000, the Government of Canada formed the new National Student Loans Service Center (NSLSC) and they now directly finance all loans. There are two divisions of the NSLSC, one to manage loans for students attending public institutions and the other to administer loans for students attending private institutions.

As a result, these student borrowers have one student debt and make a single payment when repaying their loans. And they maintain a separate consolidation and repayment process for their risk-shared and guaranteed loans.

They were having problems and decided to reform their system. They began improving program results, reducing costs per student, reducing defaults, decreasing loans written off, enhancing tracking data, improving services to students for study, repayment and collections.

The most favorable student loan for a US student would be a Federal loan. They have lower interest rates, options to postpone payments, longer repayment terms and easier credit requirements.

The Federal loans in which a student can choose from are the Federal Perkins Loan and the Federal Stafford Loan. Both types of these loans can be either subsidized or unsubsidized due to the student's qualifications.

Next, is the Federal PLUS loan (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students), which is the final Federal loan program.

Private loans are designed to supplement Federal loans and are available from schools, banks, credit unions, and education loan organizations.

On terms for private loans, interest rates and fees vary according to the lender and your credit history and their rules of their individual company. They are not run nor governed by the Federal Government.

As you can see, students attending college here in the US could have many options, good or poor, without having a strong voice in the situation. It is usually dictated from their family's financial background and how they were encouraged to prepare for college.

Process And Procedures To Attain Student Loans

College costs have risen at a rate about double the CPI since 1968. I think that student loans have been a big factor in allowing colleges to have runaway budgets and almost total disregard for any cost/value return to the students. College loans are some of the most flexible and consumer friendly loans available. Understanding how to use the process of consolidating student loans to your benefit can help you to save a great deal of money. CollegeInvest is just such a resource.

College costs nowadays are through the roof and are only expected to rise in the future. Most students and/or their parents need to take out some type of loan to fund those ever-increasing tuition bills, but what if an individual has poor credit? College scholarships also aren't usually need-based, so anyone can apply (some are, however, so be sure to file your FAFSA ).

College officials have received gifts, trips, stock options and other benefits from lenders, while some colleges have agreed to recommend certain lenders if those lenders share the proceeds. In other cases, lenders provide staffing or call centers for a campus, posing as college representatives while answering students' questions about financial aid, including loans.

Private student loans, such as the Act Education Loan from the Student Loan Network, can help to bridge the gap between federal aid, the actual cost of education, and expected family contribution. Loans such as the Act Education Loan are independent of federal financial aid computations, and are based on the creditworthiness of the borrower, rather than need-based formulas.

Private student loans are based on an applicant's credit worthiness, often require a co-signer, are not need based, and upon approval the funds are usually sent direct to the applicant. Private Student Loans are issued based on credit thus carrying higher interest rates.

Private lenders may require a credit check and/or an income-to-debt ratio check on either you (the borrower), co-signer or both. These loans are not based on financial need but lenders may provide different types of loans programs based on a student's level of study. Private lending institutions offer student loans thinking that students will make a higher income as their level of education increases. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

Private student loans take into consideration the credit history of the applicant to determine eligibility for the loan. In the event that the student has a bad credit record, the lending agency will require a cosigner having a good credit.

All About Non Teri Private Student Loans!

Today we need the right education if we want to do well in this business world. This thing is necessary since a good stable job is very tough to find. The top companies are always looking for those people who have a strong educational background. Education is now a way beyond the means of man or woman. When the parents are unable to provide the finance for the education then many college students apply for the loans. It is because the student needs the consistent source to fund for the educational costs. Other than educational cost, student also need to pay the tuition fees, housing, food and transportation fees that is connected with attending university/college.

There are profit and non-profit institutions that are working to provide the funds to those students who are financially not able to complete their studies. There are federal student loans & private student loans. One of the most common loan programs which are chosen by the students are Non Teri loans. The non Teri private student loans are most popular and common credit based loan programs available. These private student loans are credit based. In the non credit based loans the loan providers did not look for the credit of the student who is the borrower. It is an important factor since the students don't have the credit history when they are in school or colleges and doing their education. These kinds of loans are good for students who have poor credit history.

Since the non Teri student loans are credit based so the student who are interested in this loan program need to provide a cosigner who has a good credit history and is willing to be the student's cosigner. The credit history of the cosigner will increase the chances of approval of the loan for the student. So it's better to find a person that can be your cosigner and has a good credit history. Your parent's are the first choice to be your cosigner if they have a good credit history.

Credit Repair: Resolving a Student Loan Default

There is no statute of limitation for collection of student loans. Forget about hiding out until the collectors give up and fade away. They will hunt you down forever. And to make it worse student loan collectors have special powers that can make your life a misery. Fortunately federal law provides a variety of options that will aid your credit repair effort, help you stop collectors, and even come out ahead!

It’s Up To You

If you take action you can stop collectors, reduce your payments, and have the default status removed from your credit. But you have to initiate these efforts. If you don’t take action no one will help you and the situation will get worse. Are you are involved in a credit repair program? You have everything to gain by acting today. Let’s take a look at the powers the government has, and then explore the tools that you can use to put an end to the hassles once and for all.

Say Goodbye to Your Tax Refunds

If you are in default and have a tax refund coming you should expect it to be taken by the government. This is a virtual guarantee. If you want to avoid this action while you determine your options, you should act today to eliminate your next tax refund so that there is nothing to seize. This is easily done. Just decrease the amount of income withheld by your employer, or reduce your estimated tax payments if you are self-employed.

The Paycheck Surprise

Student loan collectors now have the right to garnish your wages without a court order. At the moment they are allowed to seize the lesser of 15% of your disposable income, or the amount of your disposable income in excess of $154 per week.

Social Security is Now Fair Game

In 1996 a law was passed allowing student loan collectors to seize the Social Security income of student loan defaulters. But there are limits to the amount that can be seized. The first $9000 per year, or $750 per month, is safe. And under all circumstances there is a limit of 15% of your total benefits that can be taken.

Cancellation of Student Loan Debt

It is theoretically possible to cancel your student loan debt if you had serious trouble with your school (such as it closing down while you were enrolled), if you became totally and permanently disabled after you took out the loan, or by convincing a judge to dismiss the debt in bankruptcy. If you pursue one of these options you should expect to be faced with extreme documentation requirements and slim odds of success. I’m sorry to say that after almost twenty years of counseling people on credit repair I have never seen anyone succeed in canceling their student loan debt. Fortunately there two easy methods of resolving your student loan problems that will help you stop collection efforts and establish a reasonable, affordable payment plan.

4 Steps To Make The Most Of Your Student Loans

Now that most of this year’s pomp and circumstance, cap-tossing, and graduation parties are in the memory banks, the reality of paying for college or graduate school is setting in. According to FinAid, two-thirds of college students borrow to pay for school – with an average loan debt of nearly $20,000. Ten percent of parents borrow for their students’ education, borrowing an average of $16,218. And those figures account only for undergraduate education. Graduate degrees can pack on an additional $27,000 to $114,000 in student debt.

Most Americans with student loan debt doubtless saw the flood of news articles over the past few weeks encouraging borrowers to consolidate their loans by the cutoff date – June 30 – before the annual interest-rate increase on July 1. On that date, because of the rising interest rate environment in the United States, rates on federal student loan debt increased by a substantial 1.84 percent. Now that student loan rates are no longer at the 3 percent interest rates they hit during the economy’s slowest days, it pays even more to be savvy about borrowing for school or returning to school.

And this year, borrowers also could be affected by two new rules that took effect July 1, making it all the more important to pay attention to smart financing options for student loans.

1. Interest rates on new Stafford Loans will not be variable, but will be locked at 6.8 percent.
2. Previously, if borrowers had multiple loans with one lender, they could only consolidate with the same lender, but as of mid-June, they can consolidate with any one lender.

If you missed the June 30 consolidation deadline, it’s too late for this year. But for those who did – or who are looking at borrowing for college or graduate school via new student loans starting this year or later – these four steps will help make sure you find your best financing mechanism for student loans.

1. Try again next year. If you have older student loans that you have not consolidated, make a note on your calendar to check rates prior to next year’s June 30 consolidation deadline. The maximum rate allowed for federal Stafford loans is 8.25 percent. For 2006-2007, the rate will be 7.14 percent for those in repayment, or 6.84 percent for those with in-school deferment. It is possible that rates still will not have hit the maximum by next June 30, and you then might be able to lock in lower rates.
2. Compare rates. Whether you’re looking at new loans or old ones, check to make sure you are getting the best deal. Check out some of the easy-to-use Web site calculators, such as the one in the Bills.com Savings Center.
3. Check your options. A few career fields – like teaching and emergency services in high-need areas – are eligible for loan forgiveness or debt reduction of student loans obtained to enter that field. Check with your school, professional organization or lender to determine if you are eligible for any of these programs.
4. Get help if you cannot pay. If you’re unable to make payments on your loans, contact a debt resolution professional or get other reputable assistance. Student loan debt typically is not eliminated by declaring bankruptcy, but you may be able to work out a payment plan with your lender if you do not have the income to pay the debt according to the original schedule. Student loans represent a serious financial commitment, and avoiding repayment has major repercussions.

Student loan debt is one of the few “healthy” types of debt, as it helps individuals better themselves, further their careers and society, and generate greater long-term earnings. With a bit of research, you can make the most of your student loans and your education – and even increase your financial know-how along the way. And in borrowing, as in education, there’s always next year to improve your situation.

Cash Back With Student Loan Debt Consolidation

Student loan debt continues to rise each passing year, and college costs, including graduate school costs, have outpaced inflation while federal student loan interest rates are close to record lows. According to studies conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, it is believed that approximately half of recent college graduates have student loans that, on an average, are in the range of $10,000. Along with such loans, the average cost of college is becoming twice as expensive as the rate of inflation.

Requirements Include Grace Period and Active Repayment of Debt

In order to be eligible for student loan debt consolidation, the student should no longer be enrolled in school and must be in the "grace period" of the loan. Or he should be in the process of actively repaying the loan, and the minimum loan amount required by most consolidation companies works out to $10,000 typically.

Through some student loan debt consolidation programs it is possible for the students to obtain cash back for consolidating their student loans. And, the bigger the balance is, the more money is returned. Also, interest rates can be low and not exceed 5.4 percent and there is also facility to obtain a one percent reduction after 48 consecutive on-time payments.

In addition, the better student loan debt consolidation programs do give a quarter percent interest rate reduction when the student uses his or her automated debit program to repay their loans. There may also be no fees or prepayment penalties as well as just one monthly payment to a single lender. As is the case with any other debt, student loan debt may have an impact (negative or positive) on the student's credit as well influence future decisions. For example, a student that has a student loan debt in excess of 8 per cent of their income will have their credit seen negatively when being assessed for future loans.

In order for the student to take student loan debt consolidation, he or she should be in grace, repayment, deferment or default status and student loan debt consolidation would result in a 0.6 percent lower rate of interest in case the student is consolidating variable rate Stafford loans during their six month grace period.

The student should be careful before taking to student loan debt consolidation and it is advisable for them to consolidate at current interest rates and hope that the rates will go down in the future. For students that have taken consolidation during their grace periods, it will go into repayment once the consolidation gets finalized and will thus result in forfeiture of the grace period.

How Student Loan Debt Consolidation can Save you Money

If a student is trying to cut down his existing debt, the student loan consolidation would be his best option. Whatever be your debt, you would have to go through a particular process if you want to consolidate your credit. The process is however an easy one and you can follow it without putting much of an effort.

You would need the following information if you are thinking about consolidating your existing loans
The process will put all your student loans together into a single big loan. So instead of paying multiple interests, your interest will be only for this loan. You would see that the interest, which you now pay for your consolidated loan, would be much lower than what you had been paying so long.

It would really be unfortunate if you have to bother about repaying a huge credit right from the beginning of your career. In fact, most of the graduates are now placed in this crisis. However, with the student loan consolidation program in the scenario, the problem of credit repayment becomes quite easy to handle.

The best thing about the consolidated loan is that it comes with an interest rate much lower than that of the other loans. The basic principle here is the same as refinancing a home for lowering the mortgage payment. Consolidating your existing loans which you had taken with higher interest rates, you now have to pay the interest for this single loan instead of multiple interests for multiple loans.

This lower interest rate on a single bigger loan will eventually spare you more money than you can expect. Some credit companies will reduce the rate even further for the students who consolidate their loans in their grace period. However, make sure that you stay away from the companies that demand repayment right after the grace period is over. Go for the companies which do not expect you to do so.

With consolidated debt, you not only save your money, but also your time and efforts as you now have only one monthly payment instead of several ones.

If you want to make things easier, you can ask the credit companies to adjust your monthly payments straight way from your bank account. Many companies will allow you to do this, and some companies will even reduce your interest rate further if you let them handle your payments directly.

How To Consolidate A Student Loan To Improve My Credit

Contrary to popular belief, private loans can be consolidated. Here is what you should know if you have them and are considering consolidation. 1. Do not consolidate them with federal loans even if they provide the option.

2. They can't consolidate until you're out of school and beginning repayment. 3. In most cases, consolidating private loans will leave you with a variable rate loan and it will not typically fix your loan rate (like federal consolidation).

4. Keep in mind that the best option is often to leave them alone. How to know? Remember that federal student loans are subject to unique terms and conditions and may not be combined with the Student Loan Consolidator Private Consolidation Loans.

Look at the benefits of your current lender. There are only about ten lenders that will consolidate any private loans. Most companies require that you have loans with them to be eligible to consolidate with them.

You should shop around and as mentioned, there are few companies that don't have stipulations in order to use their consolidations or refinance programs. Here's a published list: http://finaid.org/loans/privateconsolidation.phtml.

The lender, not the government, dictates the interest rates provided and most are linked to the Prime Rate. The most often asked questions regarding consolidation of private student loans are the following. Is there a certain loan amount that must be considered for private consolidation of loans?

Yes, the minimum loan amount is $7,500. And the maximum amount is $300,000. How can I find out how much I owe and when my private student loans will be approved for consolidation? By reviewing your recent monthly statement and your on-line account balances.

And once your required documentation has been received, a loan decision, if approved, will begin the process of paying off the loans you listed for consolidation. And you will be sent a letter of the confirmation.

Regarding interest rates, what is the interest rate on my loan after the first year and can I make interest-only payments in my second year? On the first anniversary of your loan closing, the interest rate on your loan changes to Prime Rate plus 5 percent to 5.75 percent.

This will depend on your credit history or if you have a co-signer. During the second year, you are still eligible to make interest-only monthly payments. It is only on the second anniversary of the loan closing that you must make the principal and interest payments.

Advice on Student Loan Debt Consolidation

The cost of an education not only includes tuition fees, but also living expenses and textbooks and other study materials. Most students and their parents are unable to pay for all of these expenses up front, but reason that the student's expected future earnings after their education is complete will be more than sufficient to pay off their educational loans. When these plans fall through, the former students can find themseleves in serious trouble and they should seek student loan debt consolidation advice. Debt consolidation is a debt reduction system that allows borrowers to bring together all their existing debts and loans into one payment. Taking a debt consolidation loan reduces the risk of a loan default and thereby improves the credit rating of the borrower, which can be helpful when potential employers do a background check, not to mention when the former student applies for car or home loans.

Student loans are a useful resource when students need to cover the cost of education. These loans can also fund housing and tuition expenses incurred during the period of education. Many students opt for government loans as well as private loans that help with their financial overload. Loan consolidation is another useful offer made by lending institutions when loan payments are due and students cannot afford to pay them off.

Student loan consolidation is offered by many lending agencies and is intended to improve the overall financial condition of students. Loan consolidation combines several loans into a single low monthly payment instead of different amounts to pay for each loan. This lowers the rate of interest and hence the burden on students is reduced to a considerable extent. Debt consolidation packages provide some of the best money-saving options to students.

Interest rates have the largest financial impact, as they form a substantial part of the total amount students spend in repaying their loan. Even a fraction of a percentage point in interest can equal a large sum of money over the lifetime of a loan. When looking for a lender to handle loan consolidation, students can save a lot if they compare interest rate offered by different debt consolidation companies before making a final decision.

Student loan consolidation is a way of managing debt, which enables students to bring together all their existing debts and loans into one payment plan. This means that the student will not be required to make payments to various creditors, and instead will shift to a single monthly installment system.

It is quite easy to apply for and get a student loan consolidation. The borrower has to only fill out a form and submit it to the lender. Many private lenders make these forms available online and that makes it even easier to apply. Such consolidation loans are a very good option for students who are struggling to repay their education loans. Most students who investigate private college education consolidation loans and federal student consolidation loans find that they are able to save money on interest, as well as reducing their monthly installment payments. Both the Federal Direct Loan and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs offer student loan consolidation. In addition to these, a number of private lenders and banks offer student consolidation loan programs.

Not every lending institution does offers interest rate reductions, but there are a few who do offer a wide range of percentage savings. Some lending institutions offer interest rate reductions just for making payments on time. Before making a decision, students need to compare available options and savings incentives offered by different debt consolidation companies and check their total savings over the course of the repayment term.