College has become increasingly more expensive through the years and is projected to continue increasing by about seven percent every year. Parents may have a lot of questions regarding college costs and student loans. The main question on almost everyone’s mind is probably how they will manage to afford a quality education for their children. Here we will discuss Stafford Loans for college.

The first benefit of a Stafford Loan is that you don’t have to make any payments until after graduation. There is a low fixed interest rate on Stafford Loans and different payment plans are available.

The first thing you need to do when considering a Stafford Loan is to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This form can be filled out online or on paper. Either the parents or the student should fill it out every year that you expect to need financial aid. This form will determine your eligibility for student aid from the government. Schools use the same form to determine if they will award financial aid separately from the government.

When your eligibility is determined, you may be surprised to know that your income isn’t the only thing taken into consideration. The size of your family, whether or not other children are currently enrolled in college, your assets beyond your retirement accounts and your income are all carefully considered. Then the examiner will enter your information into a formula that calculates your expected family contribution. These factors are all considered when approving you for a Stafford Loan amount.

You’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail after you complete the FAFSA. The SAR will explain the FAFSA application findings. Check it carefully for mistakes or omissions. The findings will be transmitted by electronic means on a form called the ISIR to the colleges that were selected on the FAFSA. State agencies will receive copies as well and determine if you are eligible for a state awarded financial aid amount.

Next you’ll receive financial aid award letters from the schools you selected on the FAFSA. The letters will outline what you are eligible for from each school and how you can receive the money. Fill out the section of the award letter stating what you’ll accept and return it to the school of your choice.

Next you’ll apply for a promissory note, which you can do online or on paper from your school. Printing, signing and returning the promissory note to the specified address are essential to completing the process. Once the promissory note is received by the lending company, they will send the money to the school. The school will apply the money to the cost of tuition. You can let the school know if you would like to receive any leftover funds in the form of a check or if you would like for the extra money to be applied back to the loan.

Remember that you don’t necessarily need to be a low-income family to qualify for a Stafford Loan. Applying for a Stafford Loan is advised before you apply for other types of student or parent loans. If you still have more questions, you can research the Stafford Loan process online at www.student-loans.net or contact the school of your choice directly.