Why It's Important to Do Your Homework

The reality of college is that most studentsare going to need to borrow money to pay theirtuition bills. The lender you choose and the termsof your student loan can have real dollars andcents repercussions down the line. Taking time to do up-front research,to compare your student loan options ,and to make smart borrowing decisions can save you moneyand headaches in the future.

What to Look for When Choosing a Lender

Student loans can be overwhelming at first glance.You'll see terms like interest rate, grace period, capitalization, borrower benefits ,and more. Take a deep breath. You can handle this. Andif you need help, don't be afraid to ask. Your college'sfinancial aid office can be a great resource.

Now that you are calm and ready to tackle the task ofpicking a lender, we're going to walk you through someof the key factors you should consider when picking yourstudent loan provider.

Interest Rate

This one is pretty straightforward:the lower the interest rate, the cheaper the student loan.

However, for private student loans, you need to beaware that not everyone qualifies for the lowest interestadvertised by a student lender (yes, we put that in ...

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