Private Student Loans

As a good rule of thumb, students should only apply for private student loans if they have exhausted all other Federal Student Loan options. Private Student Loans are credit risk based. Therefore, they will usually come with a higher interest rate than Federal Student Loans. As well, Private Student Loan lenders may charge higher fees for the issuance of the loan. A loan with a low interest rate but high fees can cost more than a loan with a somewhat higher interest rate and no fees. Consolidating a private student loan is also credit risk based. If your credit is not ideal, a qualified co-signer can be added to become eligible for the consolidation.