Student Loans - Debt Consolidations

There are several different options available for students in terms of student loans; however, following are the 10 Best Student Loan Options:

1. Subsidized Stafford Loan

2. Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

3. Federal Perkins Loan

4. Federal PLUS loan for parents

5. Direct PLUS loans

6. Federal consolidation loan

7. Federal Nursing Loan

8. Federal Insured Student Loan

9. Health Professions Student Loans

10. Private student loans

Let's take a closer look at more information regarding the 10 best student loan options that anyone considering college student loans should consider:

1) The Subsidized Stafford Loan is available for both graduate and undergraduate study. While the student is in school, the interest on the loan is paid by the federal government. This loan is need based, so not all applicants may qualify.

2) The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is also available for graduate and undergraduate study. Unlike the Subsidized Stafford Loan, with this loan the student is responsible for the interest that is accrued on the loan while they are in school. This is not a needs based loan, so students may be eligible for the loan even if they do not show a financial need for the loan.

3) The Federal Perkins loan is a type of student loan that is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. Applicants must demonstrate financial need in order to qualify for this loan. Funds are disbursed by the school and must be repaid to the school.

4) The PLUS loan program gives parents of students the option to borrow up to 100% of their child's cost of education. Parents are eligible for this loan even if they do not demonstrate a financial need and regardless of income.

5) Direct PLUS loan: this type of student loan is available to parents and guardians of dependent undergraduate students. Borrowers do not need to demonstrate financial need and may borrow up to the cost of attendance; minus any amount of financial aid that may be received. Loan funds are first applied to tuition and fees. This type of government and federal student loan has a variable interest rate.

6) The federal consolidation loan program gives students and their parents the option to consolidate loans and take advantage of lower interest rates and monthly payments.

7) The federal nursing loan gives students who are enrolled in nursing school the option of a low interest loan and flexible repayment options. Loan cancellation is available in some cases.

8) The Federal Insured Student Loan program gives students who might not otherwise qualify for a student loan the ability to receive the funds they need to complete their education.

9) The Health Professions Student Loan provides long-term, low interest loans to students pursuing degrees in dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or podiatry.

10) Private student loans require a credit check for borrowers; however, students and their families are typically able to borrow more money than they would have been able to through a federal student loan.

For more in-debt information on the 10 best student loan options, and many other student loan topics please visit http://www.student-loan-today.com.

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The Student Loan Today offers insight into the various options students have for student loans, aid, and student assistance. For more valuable tips on this topic and much more visit http://www.student-loan-today.com.

Are student loans able to be discharged? In short, probably not. Student loan debts are nondischargeable in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy cases unless paying the debt would cause the debtor "undue hardship".  This basic rule also applies to Chapter 13 Bankruptcy cases.

Discharge of student loans received popularity in the 1970's. Many individuals would file for bankruptcy shortly after completing their expensive education. The goal was to discharge these student loans before they began earning money.

The wording of the exception of a "hardship discharge" and what is considered a student loan has recently been broadened so that most student loans made by nonprofit groups or the government are now considered student loans. This only applies to the actual student and not a co-signor. So a parent signing for one of their children could not have this debt discharged. In addition, this exception does not include debts to an educational institution for tuition. If the loan is nondischargeable then the petition on the loan is also not going to be discharged.

So we turn to "undue hardship".  Most published court opinions agree that "undue hardship" means more than garden variety hardships that come with the costs of future payments. Several circuit courts of appeals have developed a three-prong test.

In summation, the debtor cannot maintain a minimal standard of living and his dependents are left with the debt, some additional circumstances in regard to the standard of living would extend over the life of the repayment of the loan, and the debtor has tried to the best of their ability to pay off the loan according to the plan.

The ideal debtor who will successfully discharge student loans are the low-income debtors. The debtor has the burden of proving their hardships. Any reason that makes this loan impossible for the debtor should be made known to your attorney. For example, unemployable debtors, underprivileged debtors, a total lack of available jobs suited for the debtor's skills, certain disabilities, etc. If any of these situations exist, your attorney will strive to prove any extenuating circumstances to the court to get these student loans discharged.

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A student loan debt consolidation loan allows you to combine your federal student loans into a single loan with one monthly payment. The repayments of a student loan debt consolidation loan can be significantly lower than the payment required under the standard 10-year repayment option. Under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, banks, secondary markets, credit unions, and other lenders provide the student loan debt consolidation loan. Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program, the federal government provides the student loan debt consolidation loan.

Most federal education loans are eligible for inclusion in a student loan debt consolidation loan, including subsidized and unsubsidized Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans, SLS, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Nursing Loans, and Health Education Assistance Loans. However, private education loans are not eligible for inclusion in a student loan debt consolidation loan.

To find out which loans can be included in a student loan debt consolidation loan contact the Direct Loan Origination Center's Consolidation Department if you're applying for a direct student loan debt consolidation loan. Contact a participating FFEL lender if you're applying for a FFEL student loan debt consolidation loan.

It is worth noting that you are still eligible for a student loan debt consolidation loan after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. You can also get a student loan debt consolidation loan while you're in school. You must, however, be attending at least half time and have at least one Direct Loan or FFEL in an 'in-school period' which generally means that you have been continuously enrolled at least half time since the loan was disbursed. There are a number of conditions that need to be met for you to qualify for a student loan debt consolidation loan, especially if you are delinquent or in default and your loan holder will be able to give you all the necessary information.

If the same holder holds all the FFEL loans you want to consolidate, you must obtain the student loan debt consolidation loan from that holder, unless you haven't been able to get a loan with income-sensitive repayment terms that are acceptable to you. To be eligible for a William D. Ford direct student loan debt consolidation loan, you must have either a direct Stafford subsidized or unsubsidized loan that will be included in the student loan debt consolidation loan or have at least one Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program Stafford subsidized or unsubsidized loan.

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Angela Rogers is the editor for www.debt-helper.info
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