Jeff Mictabor asked:

NextStudent, the leading Phoenix-based education funding company, suggests that every student’s search for college funding should begin with the search for “Free Money,” better known as scholarships. With the costs of higher education yearly on the rise, obtaining money that need not be repaid is an essential tip for all college and college-bound students. NextStudent can help students become their own college funding resource by helping to locate scholarships for school.

There is a lot of “Free Money” out there to uncover and access, and all students have to do is know where to look. The first step for students should be NextStudent’s free, online Scholarship Search Directory. The Scholarship Search Directory houses over 2.4 million scholarships valued at more than $3.4 billion from 42,000 sources.

Easy-to-Use Directory

NextStudent’s Scholarship Search Directory is easy to use and, chances are, if students really dig in, they will find scholarships that best suit their needs. First students can start by searching for the college they will attend in the fall, as well as the year of attendance. To do this, students can click on the “College(s)” and “Year of Study” links, respectively. Next, students can look for scholarships open to students in their state by clicking “State of residency.” Students also can check to see if their parents’ employers are in the directory by clicking on “Corporate Employer(s).” Third, students can check out scholarships by “Academic Major” and, lastly, they can explore any remaining categories that apply to any specific skills they may have. For example there are category listings for: “Athletic Skill(s)” or “Artistic Skill(s),” “Honor(s),” “Ethnic Background(s)” or “Racial Background(s),” “Military or Veteran Affiliation(s),” “Religious Affiliation(s)” and “Other Affiliation(s).”

Specific Needs Scholarships

The directory also includes scholarships for students who have specific needs such as “Impairments,” which include chronic medical conditions and other ailments. Students also can check the category called “Unique Situation,” which includes awards to former students of a particular county school, awards for exchange students, or those with part-time or full-time jobs. There also are unique awards for students who are Amateur Radio (Ham) Operators or for those who have been home-schooled.

There are a host of opportunities for FREE money regardless of a student’s background or financial situation, and many of those opportunities can be found through NextStudent’s Scholarship Search Directory. The more “Free Money” students can find means the less money they have to obtain through student loans.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about scholarships, student loans , private student loans

Jeff Mictabor asked:

Figuring out how to pay for college can put a lot of stress on a family budget. And for those students who can’t rely on financial support from mom and dad, the pressure can be even greater.

But by rethinking your college experience and breaking it down into two different phases—the first two years at community college and the second two at the four-year university of your choice—you could potentially save yourself thousands of dollars, says NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.

Phase One: Get Your Basics out of the Way at a Community College

Sometimes it’s hard to detach yourself from the education you want versus the one you can reasonably afford. Student loans might cover any amount of tuition now, but will you be able to handle your student loan payments once you graduate?

By spending your first two years of school at your local community college, you could save yourself years’ worth of student loan debt. Find out which courses have credits that would be transferable to the four-year school you’d like your diploma from. You can usually take classes at a community college that satisfy all or most of your core requirements and generally pay less per class than at a public or private four-year institution. At a lower cost-per-class, you have greater freedom to experiment with fields of study and try out classes you might not otherwise have been able to afford. The more you see what’s out there, the more likely you are to hone in on the field or profession that truly suits you.

Phase Two: Finish Strong at the University of Your Choice

Once you’ve found your niche, you can move on to a four-year university and take the upper-division courses that apply directly to your major.

By this point you’ll typically be more focused and should be able to get through your classes without the indecision and course-dropping that can plague you during your first two years of college.

By finishing up the second half of your college career at a four-year institution, you’ll graduate with your diploma from that four-year school, just like your classmates, but you’ll likely have paid much less than those students who paid for all four years there.

If you can graduate with less student loan debt, you’ll be starting off on more solid financial ground when you hit the workforce after graduation.

No Matter Where You Start or Finish, NextStudent Can Help Finance Your Education

Whether you begin your college years at a community college or at a four-year institution, NextStudent has a variety of student loans available to you that can help you pay for school. Federal student loans and parent loans offer low, fixed interest rates, and there’s no fee to apply. If you still have education-related costs to cover, even after you’ve used all your federal financial aid options, private student loans may be the answer you’re looking for.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation< at NextStudent.com.

Jeff Mictabor asked:

If the cost of college and graduate school seems to be rising as quickly as summer temperatures, it may be time to look into the funding sources that could help you finance your postsecondary education. To help families sort through the financial aid maze, NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, offers students and parents this quick guide to the types of financial aid options that are out there.

It starts with financial need.

Financial aid can be classified into two main categories: need-based and non–need-based. Need-based aid is awarded on the basis of financial need, a federal determination of a student’s financial situation, using the financial information you provide each year on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Non–need-based aid is awarded without consideration given to a student’s financial situation. If you meet program eligibility requirements, you can qualify for non–need-based aid, regardless of your or your parents’ assets or income.

There is such a thing as free money.

Scholarships and grants are a great way to help finance your college education because they provide money for school that you won’t have to pay back—it’s basically free money. Scholarships and grants can be either need-based or non–need-based.

Federal Pell Grants are an example of need-based grants. Non–need-based scholarships and grants include merit-based awards. Some merit-based scholarships may be awarded automatically with your admission; others require you to complete an application process and compete against other applicants.

There are millions of dollars in college scholarships available every year. You can start looking by raiding the NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, a database of over 5.9 million scholarships worth over $16 billion.

Federal student loans offer low-cost financial help.

After grants and scholarships, federal student loans provide students and parents with a smart, economical financing option. Federal Stafford Loans for undergraduate and graduate students, Grad PLUS loans for graduate students, and PLUS loans for parents all feature low, fixed interest rates, flexible repayment options, no prepayment penalties and no application fees. Stafford loans don’t require a credit check or a co-signer. PLUS and Grad PLUS loans allow the borrower to take out up to 100% of the cost of attendance, less other financial aid received.

These federal student loans are also all eligible for student loan consolidation. By consolidating your federal student loans, you could cut your monthly student loan payments almost in half. A Federal Student Loan Consolidation could also give you up to 20 more years to repay, with the added convenience of replacing multiple student loans and monthly bills with one easy-to-manage loan and a single monthly payment.

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NextStudent Private Student Loans can cover what other financial aid doesn’t.

NextStudent’s Private Student Loans are unsecured, credit-based student loans. These private student loans are non–need-based, so as long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you won’t be disqualified for you or your parents making too much money.

A Private Student Loan can cover the difference between your cost of attendance (which includes education-related expenses like textbooks and an allowance for transportation to and from school) and the amount of other financial aid you received.

NextStudent Private Student Loans are available not only to undergraduate and graduate students, but also to continuing education students and the parents of K–12 students.

Keep in mind that federal student loans usually have more attractive terms than private student loans, so you should always look into your federal financing options first.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we are dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Jeff Mictabor asked:


Hopefully by now your child has decided which college to attend this fall, and you are beginning to formulate your financial strategy for how you will fund the college experience. An excellent option is the PLUS Loan or Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, recommended by NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.

As long as your child is enrolled in school at least half-time, this federally backed student loan allows parents to borrow funds to cover such things as tuition, housing and meals and even books and supplies, up to the total cost of the student’s education, minus any other aid.

In order to be eligible for the PLUS Loan, both students and their parents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). According to NextStudent, parents cannot be turned down for the PLUS Loan based on too high or too low an income, because the student loan is not based on financial need or how much money parents earn. However, parents can be turned down for an adverse credit history. Once the FAFSA is submitted and reviewed by the government, parents will receive a Student Aid Report, which will allow them to apply for the PLUS loan. Applying for a NextStudent PLUS Loan is simple and easy and may be done either over the phone in as few as five minutes, or it may be done online using E-Signature.

Availability after Tuition is Paid Makes PLUS Loans Convenient

A welcome feature of the PLUS Loan is that it is available even when parents already have paid for their child’s tuition and other related educational expenses. Although the maximum interest rate on the PLUS Loan is set by the federal government, NextStudent offers many opportunities for parents to save money through incentives.

For instance, when borrowers fund their PLUS Loan through NextStudent and pay via auto-debit, they will receive a .25 percent reduction on their interest rate. In addition, after making 12 consecutive on-time payments, borrowers will receive a 3 percent cash rebate on their remaining principal balance, and a 2 percent rate reduction after 48 consecutive on-time payments.

Grad PLUS Loans Offered by NextStudent

A similar federal student loan product called the Grad PLUS Loan is available for those individuals who decide to pursue graduate or further professional studies and enables students to fund their education themselves. Again, students may finance the entire cost of their graduate work (minus federal aid) and use the funds to pay for any associated costs such as supplies, books and other materials. While the Grad PLUS Loan Program’s maximum interest rates are set by the federal government, just like with the PLUS loan Program, NextStudent offers many money-saving competitive benefits for those pursuing postsecondary education. An additional incentive is that students have the option of postponing repayment until after graduation. Additionally, like PLUS Loan borrowers Grad PLUS borrowers may be eligible for a federal student loan consolidation.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans, and Student Loan Consolidation.

Jeff Mictabor asked:


College students all over the United States probably have just gotten into the swing of summer, whether that means finally perfecting their golf swing, getting that deep tan, or acing the most recent quiz in summer school. In the midst of these activities and especially at this time of year, it is important to regroup and begin planning financially for the new school year, according to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.

NextStudent EFAs Help Students Understand Awards

The best place to start is to review all the correspondence students have received, especially their award letters. This is the document that lists such important information as the actual cost to attend school (includes tuition, fees, room and board), available need-based federal aid such as subsidized Stafford Student Loans, non-need-based aid such as unsubsidized Stafford Student Loans and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans), and the remaining out-of-pocket funds required.

Unfortunately, many times the award letters from colleges are somewhat difficult to understand, which may lead to confusion when students attempt to put together a strategic plan for funding their college dream. However, when students or their parents contact NextStudent, they will receive personal attention from their Education Finance Advisor. EFAs help students understand the types and amounts of fnancial aid for which they qualify, answer any questions, and then work with students to develop a strategy that best fits students’ needs.

Students Qualify for a Variety of Federal Funds

Students and their parents have an array of federal financial aid options to consider, depending on the type of aid for which they qualify. Some students may qualify for need-based subsidized Stafford Student Loans, whereby the government covers any interest on the student loan while a student is in school, the grace period following graduation, and any period of deferment. Other students may qualify for a non-need-based unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan, where interest is charged to the borrower during this same time period.

Another common type of federal aid is Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, known as PLUS Loans. These credit-based options allow parents to borrow funds to cover the education costs of their dependent children who attend college at least half-time as undergraduate students. Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus any other financial aid.

Frequently, parents find that they pay more for their child’s education than they anticipated. NextStudent offers Private Student Loans to supplement federal student loan sources. Many parents prefer these unsecured credit-based student loans to borrowing against the equity in their homes or other options to cover the remaining out-of-pocket college costs. NextStudent offers generous borrowing limits, quick preapproval, deferred principal and interest on most student loans, and no prepayment penalties. Funds may be used for study abroad and distance-learning programs in addition to traditional schooling.

Financial Aid Myths Dispelled

One fairly common misconception is the belief that a student does not qualify for ANY federal aid. In fact, even a student who does not qualify for any SUBSIDIZED federal aid will almost certainly qualify for an UNSUBSIDIZED student loan. NextStudent Education Finance Advisors are equipped to help students and their parents understand just these types of issues so that they can put together a plan that best fits the needs of the borrower.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Jeff Mictabor asked:


If you’re a graduate or college parent with any outstanding federal student loans, you may be able to lower your monthly student loan payments by up to 42% just by consolidating your parent or student loans. When you consolidate your college loans, you may be able to extend the repayment term on your parent or student loans by up to 20 years. With that longer repayment term, since you have more time to repay, the amount you have to pay each month will typically go down.

NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, offers a student loan consolidation program with no application fees, no processing fees, and no credit checks. By consolidating your parent or student loans, your monthly payments could go down by up to 42%.

Here’s an example: Estimated monthly payments on a $75,000 NextStudent Federal Consolidation Loan fixed at 7.25% and repaid over an extended term of 30 years are $512, versus estimated monthly payments of $879 on a $75,000 Federal Stafford Loan issued at 7.22% and repaid over 10 years — a 41.8% reduction in monthly payment amount. (Your actual payment reduction may vary and will depend on the terms of the student loans you’re consolidating.)

Replace Your Variable-Rate Student Loans With One Fixed-Rate Student Loan Consolidation

If you took out your Federal PLUS Loans or Stafford Loans prior to July 1, 2006, those student loans are subject to variable interest rates that will adjust every year. So when interest rates rise, your monthly student loan payments may also go up. Student loan consolidation puts an end to rate increases and rising payments.

NextStudent’s student loan consolidation program gives you the security of a fixed interest rate. By consolidating your federal college loans with NextStudent, you’ll replace your variable-rate college loans with a fixed-rate student loan consolidation loan and lock in your new monthly payments, so you’ll never have to worry about interest rates rising and leaving you guessing about your monthly payment amount.

Make Repaying Your Student Loans Convenient and Hassle-Free with Student Loan Consolidation

If you have multiple college loans in repayment and you’re dealing with the hassle of multiple bills, multiple due dates, and multiple monthly payments to multiple lenders, a student loan consolidation could help make your repayment easier to manage.

With a student loan consolidation program, you can bundle all your eligible federal parent or student loans into one single consolidation loan with just one monthly bill, one lender, and one monthly payment that’s fixed for the life of your student loan consolidation.

Apply in Minutes to Consolidate Your Student Loans

Typically, you can apply for a student loan consolidation in minutes. Just visit an online student loan consolidation lender or make a quick phone call to the lender of your choice. It’s fast, easy, and free to apply, and there are NO fees, NO credit checks, and NO co-signers required.

There are also no prepayment penalties. When you consolidate your federal parent or student loans with NextStudent, you’ll never be charged extra for paying more than the minimum each month or for paying off your student loan consolidation early.

Student Loan Consolidation for Private Student Loans

If you have private student loans in addition to (or instead of) your federal student loans, you won’t be able to consolidate your private student loans under the federal student loan consolidation program. But you may be eligible to consolidate your private loans separately with a Private Consolidation Loan, which offers the same convenience of a single consolidated loan for your private student loans.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Jeff Mictabor asked:


Students largely are responsible for their own success at college, whether that means getting a 4.0 GPA, being involved in student government, or learning the skill set that will enable them to land a decent paying job upon graduation.

However, many do not consider all the hard work and years of preparation that parents contribute prior to the college admission application process. According to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, the earlier parents start planning for their child’s education and the more prepared they are for that event, the more successful they may be in helping their child attain the dream of a college education.

Be Informed: Apply for Aid Early

Many parents already are familiar with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that must be completed each year in order to receive federal government aid. Some even may be aware that the deadline to receive funds for the next school year is the end of June. What most may not understand is that they may submit their application as early as Jan. 2 of that same year.

Other parents may be under the mistaken notion that they have to wait until after they file their taxes to submit their FAFSA. That is an erroneous assumption that could prove costly when it comes to getting the funds needed for school. Students and their parents simply may ESTIMATE their income on the FAFSA, and if they apply online they only need to update that figure on the government’s FAFSA Web site.

Abundant Resources Available

In addition to applying early for aid, there are many other resources that parents may use to save for school or maximize their college-related expenditures.

One of the most profitable ideas, especially if your child is a college-bound high school student, is to research and apply early for FREE scholarships and grants. Students may want to contact their college’s financial aid office for assistance here, or use one of the many online scholarship search engines. The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine has over 42,000 college funding sources comprised of more than 2.4 million individually awarded scholarships valued at over $3.4 billion.

Take Advantage of Tax Credits and ‘Tax Advantaged’ Savings Plans

Uncle Sam is eager to help students and their parents cover the costs of a college education. Tax credits such as the Hope Credit enable parents to offset the cost of certain college education expenses by allowing them to deduct up to a specific amount for their federal income tax return. For more details, please visit the IRS Web site at: irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=121452,00.html.

Maybe your child is not even in junior high school yet. If that is the case, you still have time to accumulate substantial savings beforehand. To help you do it, the federal government set up something called 529 Plans. This program allows parents to save funds in a “tax-advantaged” plan with the option of engaging in either a prepaid tuition arrangement or setting aside savings for college. To find out more, visit sec.gov/investor/pubs/intro529.htm.

NextStudent Makes College Funding Simple

Wherever you and your family are on the road to planning for college, NextStudent can help. Offering top-notch customer care and personal service, NextStudent has a reputation, benefits and incentives that are tough to beat. When you contact NextStudent, you will be assigned your own personal Education Finance Advisor who will guide you through the college funding process, assist you in formulating the best strategy according to your student’s particular needs, and answer any questions you may have.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.

Jeff Mictabor asked:


Chances are, all the college graduation parties are long gone and the celebration of recent graduates’ noteworthy achievements is yesterday’s news. Along with the receipt of the college degree come bigger responsibilities, like getting a job, finding a source of ongoing monthly income, maturing into a responsible adult, and meeting financial obligations. In the midst of transitioning from the campus lifestyle of a college student to that of a working individual comes the repayment of college student loans.

According to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, for many parents and their children who have seen their college dreams fulfilled, repaying student loans is not a popular topic largely because many are unaware of the repayment process and accompanying options.

Grace Period Gives ‘Buffer Zone’

For most student loans, before repayment begins there is a grace period, which varies depending upon the student loan type. Students who have taken out Stafford Loans have six months following graduation before they have to begin repayment. Those with Perkins Loans have a full nine months before they must make their first payment. The only exception is those parents or graduates who have taken out PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) or Graduate PLUS Loans, who already should have started repayment, required only 60 days after fund disbursement.

Virtually anyone who qualifies may defer their student loans in six-month increments for up to a total of three or five years. Borrowers may qualify for deferment if they are experiencing economic hardship, unemployment, or certain other conditions. Borrowers must apply for each deferment period. Since interest accrues during deferment, with the exception of subsidized Stafford Loans, it is wise to defer student loans only when borrowers cannot afford to begin repayment at that time.

Consolidation Among Repayment Options

Student Loan Consolidation is an excellent way to roll all student loans into one easy-to-manage package. With student loan consolidation borrowers are required to make a single payment once a month, instead of having to juggle multiple student loans, payments, interest rates and repayment terms. Through student loan consolidation many borrowers reduce their student loan payments by up to 60 percent and eliminate the headaches and hassles of dealing with their student loan debt in one easy step.

When borrowers consolidate with NextStudent, they will receive some of the best benefits and terms in the industry, along with customer service that is tough to beat. All borrowers receive their own personally assigned Education Finance Advisor who will explain the student loan consolidation process, outline their best options, and address any questions they might have.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com.