By the time you finish college, it is more than likely that you will have several loans. Four or more years of loan debt can leave you with several repayments to different loan agencies. In most situations, you are required to apply for a new loan each year and depending on your financial status, you might qualify for loans with different interest rates. Consolidating your loans into one loan can help save you time and money.



You might have government loans or private loans or even both. The loans you have will affect the consolidation program you choose. There are different consolidation programs offered for private and government student loans. Even if you have both, you still have the option to consolidate your debt.

When consolidating your loans, be sure to ask questions and pay attention to make sure the consolidation leaves you with a better deal than your previous repayment situation. Sometimes, you might have a loan with a really low interest rate in comparison to your other loans. If this is the case, you might choose to not consolidate that loan in with the rest. Be aware that if the interest rate is a variable interest, then it probably won't stay low for long so it might be wise to consolidate the loan after all. It really just depends on your loans. Most of the time, loan officers will help you interpret the best consolidation program for your situation.

There are typically four refinancing options to choose from when you decide to consolidate loans. Option number one is called the standard repayment plan. With this program, you make monthly payments on a fixed interest rate. Repayment schedules will range anywhere from ten to thirty years. Option number two is called the extended repayment plan. With this program, your payments are less than with the standard repayment plan and the payment schedule is between twelve and thirty years. This repayment plan varies depending on how much you have borrowed.

Option number three is called the graduated repayment plan. With this plan, your monthly payments increase every two years. You have options of paying the amount back over twelve to thirty years. Option number four is called the contingent repayment plan. With this plan, your repayment schedule is contingent on your family size, total amount of loan debt, and your annual income. With this repayment program, the payments are spread out over twenty-five years.

Finally, there is the option of the income contingent repayment plan. This is an excellent option for people with low income and or large families since the repayment is based on your total debt, annual income, and family size. Your repayment schedule will span over twenty-five years. Whichever student loan consolidation program you decide is best for you, it will most likely help improve your financial situation.