How To Choose A Student Loan In 2024: Which Suits You The Best? (2024)

Know every detail here on how to choose a student loan in 2024 that perfectly fits in your budget. We all have our wants and desires, it could be education, house, clothes, electrical appliances, phones, etc., but not everyone is financially capable of getting all of his/her desires or need at a particular time.

Loan application has helped many solve their financial issues, and the loans gotten by these people have helped them solve some of their financial needs. It’s important for students to weight their options and choose the best student loan as per their needs.

A loan is the lending of money by an individual, group of individuals, or an organization from a Banking License Institution, Charter Institution, or Non-Banking financial institution.

How To Choose A Student Loan In 2024: Which Suits You The Best? (1)

Let’s see the “Best student loans in 2024” and “How to get a student loan in 2024”.

As much as students get money from home to fulfill their financial obligations, sometimes they need financial aid to achieve their dreams in time. Financial aid helps one get out of debts or prevent one from getting into debts. Students also apply for financial aids to complete their educational program at all levels, but most of them are also curious about “How to get out of student loan debts” But first, for this time we will be knowing “How to get the best student loan.”

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How To Get A Student Loan?

Some students consider the not so advisable option of “dropping out” of school because they couldn’t get enough money from parents to continue their program. If you are also thinking in this direction, here comes the good news for you to change your thought.

Do you know you can get a student loan? Yes, you can, because one of the most common loans in the U.S today is the student loan. The first question that comes to the mind of an average student is “How do I get a student loan.”

Steps Outlined To Assist You In Getting A Student Loan

1. Fill Out the FAFSA

In your quest to get a student loan, you will fill out the government’sFree Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA). In filling out the application form, some relevant questions will be asked by FAFSA, which includes student and parents’ income and investments, and your family has more than a child in the college at a time. FAFSA will use the information you provide to calculate yourExpected Family Contribution(EFC).

The Expected Family Contribution calculated by FAFSA is the amount of money they believe you should pay out of your financial resources for college for the coming school year.

2. Check Out Your Financial Aid Offers and Compare

When filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information you give will be used by the financial aid office at your college of choice to determine how much aid we should make available for you.

To determine how much aid is to be made available for you, the financial office will subtract your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from theircost of attendance(COA). Cost of attendance includes mandatory fees, tuition, room, board, and others found on the colleges’ website.

One of the wisest things to do is bridge the gap between your EFC and the colleges’ COA. Financial aid packages may include loans, a federalPell Grant, and paid work-study in some colleges.

The distinction between grants and loans is that you don’t need to pay back for a grant as it falls in the category of Government “exceptional financial need” while you pay back your loan with interest.

Compare award letters of colleges because in most cases, award letters of colleges differ, and ask yourself, “How much student loan can I get?” to answer your question, you need to check whether the loan is “subsidized” or “unsubsidized.”

3. Difference Between Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

The difference between “Direct subsidized loan” and “Direct Unsubsidized” loan is while the former is like grants, meant for students with exceptional needs and the U.S Department of Education covers the interest for a certain period after graduation, the latter is available regardless of the needs of the student and interest start accruing immediately.

How To Get Out Of Student Loan Debt?

Student loans are second to only mortgages in the list of the U.S largest source of debt. In trying to eliminate this debt, it often becomes a source of infinite stress for the borrowers. But a relief to the stress you might go through is that there are solutions that can help you get out of the debts and pay off the loans effectively. Research that showsabout half of federal student loan borrowers overpay. The borrowers were able to pay off their debts by figuring out some of the most effective ways about “how to get out of student loan debt.”

You need to consider some options and choose which one is best for you in getting out of debt. The following are the options to choose from:

  1. Do you want to pay off your loans quickly? This option helps reduce the total interest charges applied to your debt, but your monthly payment will be higher.
  2. Do you need lower monthly payments that work better for your budget? With this, you stay longer in loan debt but with a more affordable monthly payment.

Different Factors To Include For Types Of Loan

Other factors that determine the option to go for include the types of loan you hold, credit score, the status of your loans, employment, personal income level, and budget.

Students Loan Forgiveness 2024

Under certain circ*mstances, students are exempted from paying back their loans, whether full or part payment of the loan; and whenever this happens, it is known as loan forgiveness.

It is worthy of note that theloan forgiveness does not apply to private loans, but only direct federal loans qualify for this exemption. The two common ways of earning this loan forgiveness are making payments through an income-contingent payment plan for a long period or working in public service.

Statistics For Best Student Loans Of 2024

The applications for loans by students to aid their financial obligations in colleges have risen over time, and often, thefederal student loansare not enough to meet the needs of the students. But it would help if you don’t push above your weight when going for the private loan option. Below arethe best student loans of 2024.

LendersRatingFixed APRMax. Loan AmountMin. Credit Score
College Ave4.73.24% to 12.99% with autopayCost of attendance minus aidMid 600s
Earnest4.73.34% to 12.78% with autopayNo maximum amount650
Education Loan Finance4.63.20% to 11.99%No maximum amount680
U-fi4.53.59% to 12.37%$500,000680
Sallie Mae4.53.50% to 12.60% with autopayCost of attendance minus aidMid 600s
Ascent Funding4.53.27% to 12.16% with autopay$200,000540
Risla4.4As low as 2.99%Not disclosed680
SoFi4.33.49% to 10.95%$150,000Not disclosed
Citizens bank4.34.18% to 10.95%$150,000Not disclosed
Discover4.34.24% to 11.99%No maximumNot disclosed
LendKey4.23.99% to 8.49% with autopayCost of attendance minus aidNot disclosed
MEFA4.23.75% to 5.75%No maximumNot disclosed
Common Bond4.23.74% to 10.74% with autopay$500,000Not disclosed
EDvestinU4.13.022% to 7.723% with autopay$200,000675 with co-signer
Mpower Financing3.83.90% to 7.60%No maximumNot disclosed
Laurel Road3.83.90 to 7.60%No maximumNot disclosed

The need for students’ financial aids varies, and that’s one of the reasons a single lender might not be a good choice for everyone. So, compare choose the best student loan wisely.

How To Choose A Student Loan In 2024: Which Suits You The Best? (2024)

FAQs

How To Choose A Student Loan In 2024: Which Suits You The Best? ›

A subsidized loan is your best option. With these loans, the federal government pays the interest charges for you while you're in college.

Which student loan option is best? ›

A subsidized loan is your best option. With these loans, the federal government pays the interest charges for you while you're in college.

Which type of student loan should I try to get first? ›

Explore your federal options first

For most student borrowers, federal Direct loans are the better option. They almost always cost less and are easier to repay.

What is the student loan rate for 2024? ›

All federal student loans for undergraduates currently have an interest rate of 5.50 percent for the 2023-24 school year, while unsubsidized and Direct PLUS loans for graduate students have interest rates of 7.05 percent or 8.05 percent, respectively.

Which type of student loan is preferred in most situations? ›

It's important to choose between federal vs. private student loans, as each has different interest rates, repayment terms, hardship options and fees. In most cases, federal student loans are preferable because of the benefits they come with.

Which student loan is better, subsidized or unsubsidized? ›

Ultimately, it's best to use subsidized student loans if you qualify, as you will pay less over time than with unsubsidized loans.

Is Sallie Mae a good option? ›

Is the Lender Reputable? The lender receives an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau and gets 1.5 out of 5 stars, or a bad rating, from Trustpilot based on about 30 reviews. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received 315 student loan-related complaints in 2022 about SLM Corp., holding company of Sallie Mae.

Should I pay off principal or interest first? ›

The quicker you're able to pay down the principal of your loan – or the amount of money you're borrowing – the less interest you'll have to pay.

Is Sallie Mae good for student loans? ›

Full Review

Sallie Mae's private student loans are best for those who want to be rewarded for making payments while in school. For example, Sallie Mae offers lower interest rates to borrowers who make monthly interest-only payments while in school.

Which loan to pay off first? ›

When prioritizing paying off your debt, start with the balance that has the higher interest rate (likely your credit cards) and go from there. No matter what type of debt you'll be dealing with, though, the most important factor is that you pay your bills on time.

Will loan rates go down in 2024? ›

Mortgage rates are expected to decline later this year as the U.S. economy weakens, inflation slows and the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is expected to fall to the mid- to low-6% range through the end of 2024, potentially dipping into high-5% territory by early 2025.

What will interest rates be in 2024? ›

Most major forecasts believe that mortgage rates will ultimately trend down this year. Fannie Mae researchers recently predicted that rates would reach 6.4% by the end of 2024.

Is $30,000 a lot for student loans? ›

If you racked up $30,000 in student loan debt, you're right in line with typical numbers: the average student loan balance per borrower is $33,654. Compared to others who have six-figures worth of debt, that loan balance isn't too bad. However, your student loans can still be a significant burden.

Which student loans typically have the lowest interest rate? ›

What type of student loan has the lowest interest rate? Federal student loans tend to offer the lowest interest rates, and there's no credit check for most federal student loans.

Which type of loan offers the student the best deal why? ›

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Best if you're an undergraduate, graduate or professional student. While they don't come with interest subsidies, Direct Unsubsidized Loans offer relatively low interest rates, and there's no credit check when you apply.

What is the best way to borrow money for college? ›

For most students and families who decide to borrow, federal student loans are the best option. Repayment on federal student loans doesn't start until after you leave school, and with fixed interest rates and payment plans, monthly payments can be manageable.

Are private or federal student loans better? ›

Federal loans generally have more favorable terms, including flexible repayment options. Students with "exceptional financial need" may qualify for subsidized federal loans, while unsubsidized loans are available regardless of financial need. The interest is usually lower on federal loans compared to private loans.

What is the difference between a subsidized and unsubsidized loan? ›

Direct Subsidized Loans: You won't be charged interest while you're enrolled in school or during your six-month grace period. Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Interest starts accumulating from the date of your first loan disbursem*nt (when you receive the funds from your school).

Which loan should you try to pay off most quickly? ›

Paying off high-interest debt first is commonly referred to as the avalanche method. Keep making the minimum monthly payments on all of your credit cards and loans, but put every extra penny you can toward the card or loan with the highest interest rate.

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