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Judging by the current state of the economy and the dismal job market, basically any leg up that you can have on the competition for employment is of benefit these days. Chief among the ways to get your foot in that door is education. Getting a college degree or pursuing graduate work beyond a Bachelor’s degree can make all the difference between getting a job and getting a pink slip. However, affording that education is equally as important, which leads many people to look for answers through student loans.
Financing Your Education
For those of us who have struggled in recent years, the challenge of affording a college education is massively compounded by a poor credit history. As the economy began to decline, payments that were once a breeze became more demanding. Bills piled up and so did their late penalties, interest charges and other fees. The result: bad credit. This reality makes financing a college education all the more challenging since there are not exactly lenders banging on your door to give you money. So, what options do you have?
Learn to Love the Financial Aid Office
One of the first actions you should take when considering a college journey starts with the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This program, which is offered by the United States government and fully self-funded (as in there is no risk of losing tax revenues to support it) has existed since 1965. The Federal Student Aid office is a branch of the U.S Department of Education. It offers several different loan options that take need, not bad credit, into consideration.
Once you have completed your FAFSA form, you will manage all the money you are able to receive through the Financial Aid office of the college or university that you choose to attend. The professionals at Financial Aid can explain to you the options you have in terms of payment, repayment and how much money you need to get.
In general, all students qualify for Stafford student Loans, so you will be able to fund at least part of your education through this method. Stafford Loans are offered to those with bad credit and come with a low, fixed interest rate. You do not repay Stafford Loans until you complete your studies.
Look for “Free Money”
While nothing in life is “totally” free, if you are looking to go to college, you may be able to find funds that you do not need to repay in the form of scholarships. Again, the Financial Aid office can point you towards specific programs within your college. However, there are many businesses and other philanthropic organizations that have online applications you can complete. Since scholarship money is not repaid, bad credit does not factor into its determination.
Look Towards Private Lenders
The final option you may want to consider is private lenders who specialize in bad credit loans. Though the interest rates you get through private student loans will be higher than the fixed rates from federal money, often professional private lenders can work with you to arrange a repayment plan that takes your schooling into consideration. You may be able to get away with only paying interest on your student loans until graduation. This will give you a chance to concentrate on your studies and repay your loans once you have that job your degree promises to get you.
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