Should I consolidate My Student Loans?

Student loan consolidation programs are often a useful tool for recent grads to manage their loan payments at the start of their careers. Many consolidation programs offer extended terms, fixed interest rates, and a variety of payment options which make monthly payments more affordable for people on an entry-level salary.

Loan consolidation can benefit a person’s credit rating. Lower monthly payments, flexible repayment options, and fixed interest rates are all benefits of managing student loan debt through a consolidation program, and can help borrowers develop a good credit profile while meeting their responsibilities.

Minimum monthly payments on student loans can be high especially for borrowers with entry-level positions. Many consolidation programs allow graduated repayment schedules which allow the borrower to make lower payments upfront and higher payments as their income grows. Graduated monthly payment programs are a nice option for borrowers with high income growth potential.

Education loan consolidation candidates who start work immediately upon finishing their college careers may want to consolidate to lock in interest rates. Upon consolidation borrowers give up many of their deferment options and begin making payments within 60 days of their consolidation loan signing. For borrowers on sound financial footing the loss of deferment options may be a worthwhile trade-off to lock in a low interest rate.

If a borrower finishes school with a good credit rating they may find that they can get lower interest rates through consolidation than they had on their original private loans. Many private loan consolidation programs base their interest rate on a borrower’s personal credit history. If your credit rating has improved during your school career you may be able to save money through consolidation.

The simplicity of consolidation is another reason many grads choose to put all their loans together in one package. With a single consolidation loan recordkeeping, monthly payments, and tax statements are easier to manage allowing the borrower to focus on their career instead of their debt load. The time-saving a consolidation loan provides is often a benefit in and of itself.

It’s important for each borrower to look at their total debt portfolio when choosing their consolidation options. Consolidation is not the best choice for everyone. Particularly borrowers with low total balances and manageable monthly payments may be better off to keep the present laws in place and just keep up with their loans. Avoid taking the easiest path or consolidating just because everyone’s doing it the sooner you pay off your loans the better off you’ll be.

There many financing options available for people with education debt. Between tuition, books, and living expenses incurred during college typical borrower leaves school with nearly $20,000 in loans. Student loans provide a six-month grace period upon graduation before payments are expected. Smart borrowers will take that time to shop for the best consolidation program for their financial needs. If you decide to consolidate make sure that you choose a program that makes sense for you both now and in the future.