For some, debt can be a huge weight on their shoulders, but there are plenty of options available if you need to reduce the burden of managing multiple payments.
Home > Student Loans > Should I Consolidate My Student Loans? The Definitive Answer Do you find yourself asking "Should I consolidate my student loans? " There are many reasons for and against consolidating student loans, and we will discuss them all in-depth below. First, let's focus on whether you should consolidate your private student loans. Should I Consolidate My Private Student loans? If you have good credit, a stable job and have already made at least a few student loan payments, you are a good candidate for refinancing and consolidating your private student loans, because you can probably get a better interest rate than you are currently paying. Credit History For Consolidating Right now, if you have good credit history, you can refinance and consolidate student loans at around 3% If that does not describe your situation, you may still be able to refinance and consolidate your private student loans if you have a cosigner with a good credit history. Before asking someone to cosign for you, however, find out how likely it is that they can be released from their obligation to repay your student loans when your credit improves.
While it sounds morbid, federal loans are also forgiven if the borrower dies. That means your estate or heirs don't have to pay back the debt. Consolidating and Refinancing Private Student Loans Unlike federal student loan consolidation, refinancing is available for both federal and private student loans. A bank, credit union or online lender will pay off the loans you want to consolidate and issue you a new private student loan for the total balance. Refinancing is credit-based, meaning your credit score is a primary factor in whether you qualify and the new interest rate you'll receive. The lender will also take your income and current debt-to-income ratio into account. If you're eligible for a lower rate than you currently pay, you could save a significant amount on interest, making it an especially appealing option for borrowers with high interest private loans. Private Student Loan Consolidation Key Considerations Before taking the plunge to consolidate and refinance student loans with a private lender, consider the following: Your credit score matters: Those with high credit scores will get the lowest interest rates on a refinance loan.
81% after rounding. 4. 53% + 7. 08% = 11. 51% 11. 51% / 2 = 5. 81% Your new loan term — or the amount of time you have to repay your loan — can stretch from 10 years to 30 years. This may result in lower monthly payments depending on when you consolidate. Even if it does, though, that doesn't make the loan less expensive. In fact, the opposite can be true as you're paying interest over a longer period of time. Is Federal Student Loan Consolidation a Good Idea? If you want to save money over the life of your loan, consolidation likely isn't for you. It's also not for you if you're looking to lower your overall interest rate. However, if you desperately need lower monthly payments, consolidation may be a good match for you. For example, if you're at risk of default, consolidation may be a preferable solution. Contact your student loan servicer, though, after educating yourself about the different types of federal student loans. There may be a repayment plan or deferment allowance which better suits your situation.
Did you know that student loan debt continues to rise? Forbes report that students, recent grads, and parents are struggling to manage the $1. 5 trillion debt crisis. Living the American dream has become a balancing act, and many people are asking "Should I consolidate my student loans? " There are conflicting opinions about student loan consolidation, and we're here to look at the type of consolidation programs available and the pros and cons of consolidating your loans. What is Student Loan Consolidation? In today's modern world, it's common to take out loans to pay for essential items. When you buy a house, car or even go on vacation there is a multitude of loan terms available. However, people often find themselves managing multiple new loans, from multiple loan servicers, and it might become difficult to keep up with loan payments. Consolidation is the process of combining debts from your various current loans and managing them with one monthly payment. Many people choose to consolidate their loans because it makes it easier to make payments.
Most federal loans come with a 6-month grace period, so repayment won't begin until around November for traditional graduates. Federal loans also allow afford you flexibility to enroll in income-driven repayment programs, where payments are capped between 10-20% of your income. Additionally, they offer people the opportunity to have deferment periods from their repayment plan if they're struggling financially. Most people choose an initial federal loan but incorporate a private loan if they need more money. This leads to problems when people have multiple loans to pay off at once. Many people turn to consolidation options to manage their loan payments, but is consolidation the best choice? Why Consolidate Student Loans? It's common for students to borrow money to cover each semester of their education, which means many people owe money from multiple lenders (both federal and private lenders). If each separate loan has repayment terms and interest rates, then it's easy to see why student loan borrowers choose to consolidate their student loans.
It could also score you a lower monthly payment, but bear in mind that if you make only these new lower monthly payments, you're likely to pay more over the course of your loan than if you had not refinanced, to begin with. Another situation where refinancing may help your interest rate is if your credit is better now than it was when you took out your private student loans. In this case, you may be able to get a better offer than what you're paying now. Sometimes, you just need to lower your monthly payments. Maybe you lost your job and have to patch together some client work while you're looking for something more permanent. Maybe you lost a spouse or went through a divorce. Life happens, and sometimes that means refinancing for lower monthly payments can make sense — even if you're going to be paying more in interest over the life of the loan. Can I Consolidate Private and Federal Student Loans Together? It is rarely, if ever, a good idea to consolidate private and federal student loans together.
You're in a high-earning profession. Some lenders have special refinancing programs specifically for doctors, lawyers and other high-earning fields, often with even more competitive rates. You have strong personal credit. You need a good credit score and strong credit history to qualify for the most competitive deal. You have a DTI below 20%. You need a low DTI to qualify for the most favorable rates and terms with private refinancing providers. You can learn more with our article on DTI ratios and student loan refinancing. Bottom line Student loan consolidation works differently depending on the type of student loans you have. Federal loan holders might benefit the most from a Direct Consolidation Loan. However, if you're a high earner with strong credit, student loan refinancing could actually be a more favorable option. Learn more about your debt consolidation options or how student loans work by visiting our guides. Frequently asked questions Image source: Getty Images