private student loans

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Has your soon-to-be college student chosen the school they’d like to attend in the fall? Or, are they just starting to think about the application process? Either way, it’s never too early to research ways to pay for college.

Student loans, federal and private, are one common method that students and their families use to cover the cost of higher education. Typically, students are the ones who take out these loans (and are responsible for repaying them). However, there are also student loans, both federal and private, available for parents.

Also keep in mind that if your child takes out a private student loan, you will likely need to act as a cosigner, which means you will be responsible for repayment if your child is unable to make payments.

No matter who acts as borrower, it’s important for parents to be in the loop when it comes to student loans. Here’s what you need to know.

Not All Loans Are Created Equally

When it comes to student loans, there are two main options:

•   Federal loans (funded by the federal government)

•   Private student loans (funded by private lenders)

Federal Student Loans

Federal student loans are provided by the U.S. Department of Education and come in several forms:

•   Direct Subsidized Loans These are for undergraduate students and are awarded based on financial need. The government pays the interest on these loans while the student is in school and for six months after they graduate (known as the grace period).

•   Direct Unsubsidized Loans These are available to undergraduates, graduate students, and professional students and are not awarded based on need. The borrower is responsible for paying all interest that accrues on the loan.

•   Direct PLUS Loans These are for graduate and professional students and parents of dependent undergraduates. They are not based on financial need and a credit check is required.

•   Direct Consolidation Loans This option allows you to combine all your federal loans into one loan payment under a single loan servicer.

All federal loans come with fixed interest rates, which means the rate won’t change over the life of the loan. Interest rates are set by Congress each year on July 1st. For most students, federal loan repayment starts after the post-graduation grace period.

To apply for federal student loans, you need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
💡 Quick Tip: Make no payments on SoFi private student loans for six months after graduation.

Private Student Loans

Private student loans are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Many private student loans mirror the terms and repayment periods of federal student loans, but not always. Differences between federal versus private loans include:

•   Credit checks Most federal student loans don’t require a credit check (except PLUS loans) but it’s required for private student loans. To qualify for a private student loan, you’ll need to meet the lender’s credit and other eligibility requirements.

•   Repayment start date Some lenders might allow you to defer making payments until six months after you graduate, while others may require you to begin repayment while you’re still in school.

•   Interest rates Federal student loans have fixed interest rates that don’t change over the life of the loan; private student loans offer fixed or variable interest rates.

•   Repayment terms Federal loans have long repayment terms — from 10 to 30 years, depending on your plan. Private student loans also vary in term length, but might not be as long.

•   Loan forgiveness Some federal student loans offer forgiveness options for certain career paths, or after you’ve made a certain number of payments on an income-driven repayment plan. Private student loans aren’t required to offer this option to borrowers.

How Parents Can Help

If your student has tapped all available financial aid, including federal student loans, you might look into student loans for parents.

The federal government offers Direct PLUS Loans for parents. They have higher interest rates and fees and qualify for fewer repayment plans than federal direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans for students. The interest rate for federal direct PLUS loans is 8.05% for the 2023-24 academic year. There is also an origination fee of 4.228%, which is deducted from each loan disbursement.

To get a PLUS loan, you can’t have an adverse credit history (there may be exceptions to this rule if you meet other eligibility requirements) and you must complete the FAFSA with your child.

It’s important to note that a parent PLUS Loan will ultimately be your responsibility to repay. The only way to transfer parent loans is to have your child refinance the loan with a private lender in their name.

You also have the option of getting a parent student loan through a private lender, such as a bank or credit union.

If you have solid finances and expect to be able to work the entirety of your loan term, a private student loan may be a better deal. Private student loans often offer lower interest rates and typically don’t have origination fees. However, they generally don’t offer as many protections should you lose your income and have trouble repaying the loan.

You Can Use Loan Money Only for Certain Things

Typically, student loans are paid out directly to the school. The school will then apply your loan money to tuition, fees, and room and board (if your student lives on campus), and give any remainder to your student. They can then use the surplus funds but only for education-related expenses. This includes textbooks, computers/software, transportation to and from school, housing, meal plans or groceries, and housing supplies (e.g., sheets, towels, etc.).

Students can’t, however, use the proceeds of a student loan to pay for entertainment, going out to dinner, takeout meals, clothing, or vacations.

Federal Loans Offer More Forgiveness Options

Some student loan repayment plans, like income-driven plans, give graduates the opportunity to have their loans forgiven if they aren’t fully repaid at the end of the repayment period, which may be 20 or 25 years.

Depending on the field of work your student may enter, there may be other forgiveness options. For example, under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), borrowers can have their loans forgiven after 120 monthly loan payments. To qualify, you must work for an eligible non-profit organization or government agency full-time while making those qualifying payments.

With the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, borrowers can qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness if they teach full-time for five full and consecutive academic years in a low-income elementary or secondary school or educational agency.

There are far fewer student loan forgiveness programs available for private student loans than federal loans. However, some private lenders offer loan modification or repayment assistance programs.
💡 Quick Tip: Would-be borrowers will want to understand the different types of student loans that are available: private student loans, federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, Direct PLUS loans, and more.

The Takeaway

You and your student will generally only want to look into student loans after you’ve tapped more cost-effective forms of funding, such as scholarships, fellowships, and grants — since that’s money you don’t have to pay back.

After that, you might consider federal student loans. You don’t need a credit history to qualify, and they come with low interest rates and programs, like income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness, that private loans don’t offer. If you still have gaps in funding, you might next look at private student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Source: sofi.com

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When your child heads off to college, you are probably awash in all kinds of emotions. Pride, relief (yes, they got into school!), sadness, anxiety, and excitement can all swirl around you. Your baby is growing up and forging their own independent life. Will they make new friends? Like their classes and excel in them? Find their way around campus easily enough? Will they overspend, sleep through class, and stay out all Friday night?

Part of having a college student as a child means you must get used to some separation and lack of information. But that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to play a vital role in their life. Here, some wise advice about conversations to have, topics to cover, and when to help them have an amazing time at school.

Advice for Parents of College Students

Although each parent-child relationship is unique and each parent may face different challenges with their college student, there are moments that can be universal when your “baby” heads off to university life.

You’ll need to know how much to let go and encourage your child to become independent versus how much you should continue to provide support, whether that’s emotional support or financial.

Where that line should be drawn for each child and parent depends upon things like the seriousness of the problems being faced and how temporary or permanent they may be. In general, though, tips include:

•   Listen, but try not to dive right into problem solving. This may not be the moment to lead with, “Here’s what you need to do…”

•   Be mindful about how often you communicate and give your college student space while also staying available. Texting constantly and expecting quick replies will be unrealistic for many parents.

•   You may be used to getting those report cards regularly and monitoring your child’s checkups at the doctor’s office. Recognize that now, times are changing, and you may not always be kept in the loop. FERPA (or the Federal Education Records Privacy Act) gives college students new privacy rights that can be defined pretty broadly. You may want to talk to your child about signing a FERPA waiver that will give you more access to information.

Accepting that college isn’t just about education but also about your child establishing themselves as an independent adult is an important transition for both of you.
💡 Quick Tip: Pay down your student loans faster with SoFi reward points you earn along the way.

Parenting College Students During Summer Break

Just when you figure out how to parent your child when he or she is away from school, summer break arrives with a different set of challenges. The young adult that you watched leave for college is probably not the same person who is returning. Maybe they don’t want to chat as much as before, or don’t seem as open to talk about daily life, friendships, and relationships.

The parent-child dynamic may be less about directing your kid’s actions and more about creating a collaborative partnership.

This can include things like withholding judgment about your child’s actions and making requests rather than demands — even when you’re sure you’re right. Your child is growing up and stretching their wings, both at school and when they return. They are becoming a full-fledged adult, after all.

Analyze which rules are the most important, and focus on those, letting other ones go. One example is you might ask that he or she call you if dinner will be missed, but not try to impose a curfew.

Recognize that during summer break you’ll probably need to readjust to being together, while also focusing on enjoying your time together.

Conversations about Paying for College

As part of your evolving parent-child relationship, you’ll likely find yourself in conversations about the best ways to pay for college. As the parent, you’ll likely initiate these talks. As part of your discussions, you may want to:

•   Be clear about how much money you’re willing or able to contribute towards your child’s college expenses and how much your child will need to contribute.

•   Discuss how much college will cost once you add tuition, housing, books, and other expenses together.

•   Talk about student loans, including the differences between federal student loans and private student loans.

•   Discuss how your child working during college may help pay for expenses.

•   Talk about money management and how your child may feel some stress over student loan debt.

Here are some valuable topics to mention.

•   There are scholarships and grants that usually don’t need to be repaid. What’s left is the amount that typically needs to be paid for by a combination of parental contributions, student contributions, and student loans.

•   The two main types of student loans are federal and private. To qualify for federal student loans, you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA® (or Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form needs to be filled out every year to determine eligibility for federal student aid dollars, including federal student loans.

•   Federal loans can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Students may be eligible for a subsidized loan if they have a certain degree of financial need. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during the six-month grace period after graduation/dropping below half-time enrollment and during any loan deferments.

•   If the student drops below half-time enrollment, the grace period will begin even if he or she has not graduated yet, although there are some circumstances in which the student loan grace period can change.

Unsubsidized federal student loans do not require a demonstration of financial need, but do accrue interest during the entire loan period.

Private student loans are not funded by the government. Your child can apply with individual lenders, and each loan will come with its own terms and conditions, including repayment terms. Private loans can help fill the gap between what your child can pay with scholarships, grants, or federal loans.
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💡 Quick Tip: Would-be borrowers will want to understand the different types of student loans that are available: private student loans, federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, Direct PLUS loans, and more.

Saving for Your Child’s College

If you’re still saving for your child’s education, your options may include:

•   What are known as 529 college savings plans, also called qualified tuition plans, allow you to save for college while potentially offering tax benefits. Money saved in an education savings plan (sponsored by some states) can be used for tuition, fees, room and board, and other qualified higher education expenses at a college or university.

•   Prepaid tuition plans (available at some universities) offer the option to prepay tuition and fees at current rates.

•   Traditional or Roth IRAs, although more commonly used to save and invest for retirement, can be used to save for college expenses. .

•   Coverdell Education Savings Accounts allow you to set up an account to pay for qualified education expenses, but contributions are not tax deductible and are only available for people whose income falls under certain limits.

•   Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts are intended as a savings vehicle for beneficiaries under the age of 18. Depending upon your state, the funds will transfer to your child at either age 18 or 21 and do not have to be used for education expenses.

Tax Credits and College

When it’s tax time, if you claim your college-age child as a dependent, you might qualify tax credits related to education.

•   The American Opportunity Tax Credit could be helpful during the first four years of their undergraduate education. Qualifications include MAGI, or modified adjusted gross income, among other factors.

This is a credit for tuition and other qualified education expenses worth up to $2,500 per eligible student and could reduce the filer’s tax bill, not their taxable income.

•   The Lifetime Learning Credit is also a tax credit, but may be harder to qualify for. Each year, you can claim either the AOTC or the LLC, but not both.

Parent Student Loans

You may be able to take out loans for your child’s education expenses, including a federal Parent PLUS Loans, available to parents of dependent undergraduate students for the amount of attendance costs minus other financial aid.

Private lenders may also be an option. Fees, rates, and repayment options vary by lender and they don’t typically offer forbearance or deferment options like federal loans do. As another option, you may be able to co-sign a private student loan with your child.

SoFi Parent Loans

Paying your child’s tuition with SoFi’s flexible, competitive-rate parent loan may be an option for consideration as well.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.


SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

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Source: sofi.com

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Getting a graduate degree can help you move up the company ladder, boost your salary, or switch to a different career. But going back to school can be costly. On average, students rack up $78,118 in student debt to pay for graduate school, according to the Education Data Initiative. That average reflects debt for all advanced degrees beyond the bachelor’s level, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

Many students who borrow money to pay for grad school already have debt from undergraduate studies. Including the average undergraduate student loan debt balance ($37,337), raises total average student debt for graduate students to $115.455.

Fortunately, there are ways to get a graduate degree without taking on a large amount of student loan debt. There are also a variety of payment plans that can make repaying grad school debt easier on your budget after you graduate. Here’s what you need to know about student loan debt for graduate school.

What Is the Average Graduate Student Loan Debt?

If you’re thinking about applying to graduate school, you may be wondering how much you’ll need to borrow to cover your costs and whether or not it will be worth it.

On average, students leave graduate school with a student loan debt balance of $78,118 (from grad school alone). How much debt students rack up going to grad school, however, can vary significantly depending on the type of degree they pursue and the kind of school they attend. A doctoral degree generally costs more than a masters, for example, while attending a public, non-profit university is typically cheaper than going to a private, for-profit college.

Here’s a closer look at the average graduate school debt balance for different degrees obtained at different types of institutions.

•   Master’s degrees: The average total student loan debt balance is $83,651 ($64,950 is just from graduate school).

•   Master’s degrees from public schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $69,057 ($54,699 is just from graduate school).

•   Masters degrees from private schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $91,168 ($72,776 is just from graduate school).

•   PhDs: The average total student debt balance is $134,797 ($127,521 is just from graduate school).

•   PhDs from public schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $115,759 ($106,297 is just from graduate school).

•   PhDs from private schools: The average total student loan debt balance is $199,175 ($183,508 is just from graduate school).

💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Exploring Options to Finance Graduate School

Grad students can finance their education with federal student loans, private loans, or a mix of both. Here’s a closer look at the different types of loans available for graduate school.

Federal Loans

Graduate students can take out two different types of federal loans.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

You can borrow up to $20,500 each year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate school, and eligibility is not based on financial need. The interest rate for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students for 2023-24 is 7.05%, plus an origination fee of 1.057%.

If you borrowed federal funds for your bachelor’s degree, you may be subject to a total federal funding limit of $138,000 in Direct Loans, including the amount of your undergraduate degree. Graduate PLUS (and Parent PLUS loans) are separate from this amount.

Direct PLUS Loans

If Direct Unsubsidized Loans aren’t enough to cover your attendance costs, you can next turn to Direct PLUS Loans, which have a higher interest rate. You can borrow up to the full cost of attendance for each year, which is set by your university and includes expected living costs for the town or city you’ll be studying in.

Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify. The interest rate for 2023-24 is 8.05%, plus a 4.228% origination fee.

Private Loans

Students can also take out private student loans for graduate school. Indeed, if you’re applying for grad school when you already have a well-established credit history, you may be able to get a lower interest rate from private lenders than from the federal government. This could save you a significant amount of money over time, and also help you get out of debt faster.

You’ll want to keep in mind, however, that the government offers significant protections that can make federal student loan debt easier to manage, such as income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness.

How to Minimize Graduate School Debt

If you are interested in attending graduate school but worried about being saddled with high debt payments after you graduate, here are some ways to make your advanced degree more affordable.

Tap Free Funding Options

Scholarships, fellowships, and grants are some of the best ways to pay for graduate school. You can ask your school about institutional awards and also search for professional organizations focused on the field you’re interested in to see if they offer graduate scholarships. In addition, some schools also offer tuition waivers or some monetary awards for students who serve as teaching assistants.

Ask Your Employer About Tuition Assistance

If you plan to continue working while attending graduate school part-time, it’s worth finding out if your employer offers a tuition assistance program. Some companies will cover all or a portion of their employees’ higher education expenses. There may, however, be some strings attached, such as staying in the company for a specific amount of time. Reach out to your HR department to find out whether your employer offers this benefit and, if so, what the requirements are.

Borrow Only What You Need

There are no subsidized loans for graduate school, which means you’ll need to pay for all the interest that accrues on your loans. With Graduate PLUS loans, you are able to borrow up to your school’s cost of attendance, which can include expenses like transportation and child care. However, that doesn’t mean you should access the maximum amount. It’s a good idea to tap savings and income before turning to loans to cover all of your costs. This can help minimize how much debt you have to repay after you get your degree.

Look Into Online or Accelerated Programs

Some schools charge the same tuition for online and on-campus programs, but others charge substantially less for online classes. Also, the faster you can get a degree, generally the less you will have to borrow to pay for it. A one-year MBA, for example, will typically cost significantly less than a two-year program.

Explore Your Repayment Options

Federal loans offer income-driven plans that can keep graduate loan payments manageable after you graduate if your income is low. If you pursue a career in public service or nonprofit, you may also qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

If you’re getting an advanced degree that will boost your earning power, keep in mind that you may be able to refinance your federal and private graduate school loans after you graduate at a lower rate. This could potentially translate to hundreds or thousands of dollars saved over the life of your loan. Refinancing can also allow you to remove a cosigner off of your student loans.

You can refinance both federal and private student loans, but keep in mind that refinancing federal loans with a private lender means giving up federal student loan protections such as income-driven repayment plans and PSLF.
💡 Quick Tip: When refinancing a student loan, you may shorten or extend the loan term. Shortening your loan term may result in higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid. A longer loan term typically results in lower monthly payments but more total interest paid.

The Takeaway

Most graduate students in the U.S. leave school with upwards of $78,000 in graduate school debt. Depending on what type of degree you pursue and where you study, you could end up with less — or more — than the average amount of graduate student loan debt.

If you’re interested in grad school but concerned about debt, keep in mind that you may be able to lower the cost of your degree by getting fellowships and grants, becoming a teaching assistant, tapping your employer’s tuition assistance, and considering an online or accelerated program. You may also be able to refinance your grad school loans at a lower rate after you graduate, making them easier to manage.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Source: sofi.com

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Nearly two-thirds of college graduates leave school with debt, which means many couples have to manage outstanding student loans after they get married. If you and your spouse each have multiple student loans, you could potentially end up with a large number of loans to manage in one household. That might make the idea of consolidating student loans with your spouse appealing. So, can you do it? And, if so, is it a good idea?

Yes — and maybe.

The federal government no longer offers spousal consolidation of federal student loans. However, you may be able to combine your federal or private loans by refinancing with a private lender. Whether or not that’s a wise move will depend on a number of factors, including the types of loans you have and your interest rates.

Here’s a look at options available for consolidating your loans as a couple, plus other ways to make student loan payments more manageable after marriage.

Consolidating Federal Loans

Consolidating is the process of combining your loans so you only have to make one payment and keep track of one due date, rather than several. Individual borrowers can consolidate their federal student loans through the federal government.

When you consolidate federal loans, the government pays them off and replaces them with a Direct Consolidation Loan. Your new fixed interest rate will be the weighted average of your previous rates, rounded up to the next one-eighth of 1%.

Previously, married federal student loan borrowers could consolidate their loans together through a joint consolidation loan. However, the government ended that program in 2006 and no longer offers federal loan borrowers a way to consolidate student debt with a spouse.

Currently, the only way to consolidate federal student loans with a spouse is through refinancing with a private lender. This involves taking out a new, larger student loan to pay off all of your existing loans. The lender will base your new loan’s interest rate on your combined income and creditworthiness, and both of you will be listed as primary borrowers on the loan.

It’s important to note that consolidating in this way will convert those federal loans into private loans, which removes all federal benefits and protections, such as income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs.
💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Refinancing Student Loans With Your Spouse as a Cosigner

Another way to commingle student loan repayment responsibility is to apply for refinancing with your spouse as a cosigner (or vice versa). While your loans won’t be consolidated together if you’re approved, you’ll share ownership of the loan with your spouse. This could be a good idea if you would not be able to qualify for a refinancing on your own or could qualify for a better rate if your spouse serves as a cosigner, due to their added income and/or good credit.

An advantage of cosigning versus joint consolidation is that some lenders allow you to eventually remove a cosigner from a loan, which could be useful should you ever part ways. Joint refinancing, on the other hand, generally doesn’t have an “out” clause.

Recommended: Student Loan Consolidation vs Refinancing

How to Combine Student Loans With Your Spouse

If you’re interested in combining student loans with your spouse, here’s a look at the steps involved in a joint refinance.

1.   Find a lender. You’ll need to find a lender that offers joint refinancing (not all do). Ideally, you’ll want to shop around and compare offers from multiple lenders to make sure you find the best deal. Browsing around and receiving prequalified rates won’t affect your credit, since companies will do a “soft” credit check.

2.   Apply for the loan. Once you find a lender you want to work with, you’ll need to choose which loans you want to consolidate (you don’t have to include every loan you have) and officially apply for the loan. Both you and your spouse will need to supply personal and financial information.

3.   Review your documents and sign. Once approved, it’s a good idea to carefully review all the documents you receive and check the fine print before signing anything. Confirm the loan terms you were approved for match the ones you applied for.

4.   Keep paying your individual loans until the refinance is complete. When you refinance a loan, your new lender must then pay off your old lender. It may take a little while for that process to finalize. In the meantime, it’s important for you and your spouse to continue making your payments on your individual loans until you’ve received notice from your new lender that the debt transfer is complete.

Recommended: Pros and Cons of Refinancing Student Loans

Advantages of Consolidating Student Loans With Your Spouse

Combining your student loans with your spouse’s through refinancing comes with certain advantages. Here are some to consider:

•  Simplified repayment Rather than juggling multiple student loan payments and due dates, you and your spouse will only have one payment to make.

•  A potentially lower rate If your spouse has better credit or a higher income than you, refinancing with your spouse may allow you to qualify for a lower interest rate than you’d get on your own. Together, you could potentially save money.

•  You could lower your payment You may be able to lower your monthly payment by getting a lower interest rate and keeping the same repayment term. You can also lower your payment by extending your loan term. (Note: You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.)

•  Fosters teamwork When you combine student loans with your spouse, there’s no longer separate debt. You have one joint goal you’re working towards as a team.

Recommended: Making Important Money Decisions in Marriage

Disadvantages of Consolidating Student Loans With Your Spouse

Although consolidating student loans with your spouse can seem appealing, there are some significant drawbacks to keep in mind:

•  Few lenders offer it Only a small number of lenders offer spousal student loan consolidation. With few options to choose from, you may have trouble getting approved or finding a competitive interest rate.

•  Loss of federal protections If you or your spouse have federal student loans and you refinance them, they become private student loans. You’ll lose federal loan benefits and protections, including the ability to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan and access to federal forbearance or deferment options.

•  Divorce could be messy When you refinance your student loans with your spouse, you are taking on a new loan together. If you end up divorcing, you’ll still be legally obligated for the combined debt and you’ll have to work out payment terms with your former spouse as part of the divorce agreement.

•  You might not lower your rate In most cases, refinancing only makes sense if you can get a lower interest rate. This is especially true if you have federal loans because you give up many protections by refinancing.

Other Ways to Tackle Student Debt as a Couple

A joint refinance isn’t the only way to manage your combined student debt load. Here are some other tips for how to manage student debt as a married couple.

•  Be honest — with yourself and your spouse Having a high student loan balance might feel overwhelming, but avoiding your debt or hiding it from your spouse can affect your relationship. You can start by getting acquainted with exactly how much you each owe, your interest rates, and the loan terms.

•  Know your repayment options If you have federal loans, it can be helpful to read up on the different plans available for student loan repayment and the pros and cons of each. If you’re having trouble making payments, you can look into income-driven repayment plans or other federal loan forgiveness programs. Speak to your loan servicer(s) if you’re concerned with your ability to repay your total loans as a couple.

•  Consider consolidating separately If your or your spouse has multiple federal student loans, consolidating with a Direct Consolidation Loan can help you better manage the loans you have in your name. If you have loans other than Direct Loans, it can also give you access to additional repayment options. Federal consolidation won’t lower your rate, however. It could also extend your loan term, which would increase your overall costs.

•  Look into refinancing separately If you (or your spouse) has higher-interest graduate PLUS loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and/or private loans, refinancing could help you get a lower rate, a lower payment, or both. Keep in mind that refinancing federal student loans with a private lender means giving up federal benefits. And, if you opt for a longer loan term, you could end up spending more over the life of the loan.

💡 Quick Tip: It might be beneficial to look for a refinancing lender that offers extras. SoFi members, for instance, can qualify for rate discounts and have access to career services, financial advisors, networking events, and more — at no extra cost.

Figuring Out the Financial Path that’s Right for You

While you and your partner can’t jointly refinance your student loans with the federal government, you may be able to find a private lender that offers a spouse consolidation loan. Other ways to manage student loan repayment after marriage include: listing all of your loans and coming up with a repayment strategy together, re-evaluating your payments plans, and looking into consolidating or refinancing your loans separately.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.
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SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Source: sofi.com

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Returning to school can help you advance in your current job, open you up to new professional opportunities, and increase your salary. But those potential benefits don’t come without costs.

If you’re thinking about going back to school at 30 (or any age), it’s a good idea to consider what you hope to gain out of more education, and whether it may increase your earning potential or improve your job (and overall life) satisfaction. You’ll then want to factor in how much the program will cost and how you’ll pay for it.

There’s no one simple formula to determine whether or not going back to school is worth it, but these tips can help you make an informed decision.

Determining Whether Going Back to School Is Worth It

Once you’re clear about what program you’d like to pursue and have a list of schools to consider, you may want to ask yourself the following:

•   Will the degree help me in my career path?

•   Is this degree necessary to continue on my career path?

•   Will this degree increase my job and overall life satisfaction?

•   Will my investment in this degree be worth the cost?

Here’s a look at how you can answer each one of these questions.

Will This Degree Help Me in My Career Path?

When going back to school as an adult, it’s important to position yourself for continued growth based upon the career progress you’ve made to date. Sometimes, your continuing education of choice will take you further on the same career path you’ve already established. Other times, you will be broadening your education to branch out into complementary fields.

Talk to Trusted Colleagues

To make sure that the program you’re choosing will help you to accomplish your career goals, consider talking to people whose judgment you trust, including those who have pursued the path you’re considering.

Review Linkedin

Another resource that might be worth checking out is LinkedIn. You can search the profiles of people who work for companies you admire or who are in a job position you’d like for yourself. What educational credentials have they listed? If they have a graduate degree, which one? Does this mesh with what you have in mind?

Recommended: 6 Ways to Save Money for Grad School

Evaluate Career Opportunities

Sometimes, of course, obtaining additional education is necessary to fulfill your career goals. This is true if you want to become a doctor, dentist, nurse, or lawyer. In other cases, you may not necessarily need additional education to get a job in a particular field, but you might need further education to rise up the career ladder, get a significant increase in pay, or work for a particularly prestigious company.

Obtaining an MBA, for instance, can provide you with skills that will suit you well in various fields. It can also position you to take on new career positions and boost your overall pay.

Is This Degree Necessary to Continue on My Career Path?

Sometimes, of course, obtaining additional education is necessary in order to fulfill your career goals. This is true if you want to become a doctor or a dentist, a nurse or a lawyer. And, in other cases, you may not necessarily need additional education to get a job in a particular field, but you might aspire to work for a company that requires further education from its professionals.

Obtaining an MBA, for instance, can provide you with skills that will suit you well in various fields. And companies are very interested in hiring MBA graduates: After a hiring slump due to the Covid-19 pandemic, companies planning to hire MBAs in 2021 has rebounded to the same level as pre-pandemic, according to The Graduate Management Admission Council . In other words, not only can getting an MBA increase your skill set, it also may set you up for greater career and financial success down the line.

Will This Degree Increase My Job and Overall Life Satisfaction?

Any time you invest significant resources into a decision, such as going back to school, you probably have desired outcomes in mind. If you’re thinking about going to college to finish your degree (or for the first time) or going to grad school, you may be hoping to receive a promotion or get a better or more satisfying job, which is reasonable. But, it’s also important to consider whether those accomplishments will really make you happier.

A lot of the things in work that make us happy are intangible: a work culture and community that aligns with your values, work-life balance, or a boss you work well with. Having said that, you might need an advanced degree to get into companies and positions that provide these essentials.

Keep this in mind when deciding if going back to school is the right decision to make.

Will My Investment in This Degree Be Worth the Cost?

To determine the answer to this question, you’ll want to try to calculate what your financial return on education (ROEd) might be. To do this, you’ll first need to research the salary potential for someone with the degree you’re considering. You can then look at the costs involved to determine if, and when, the investment will likely pay off.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, workers aged 25 to 34 with bachelor’s degrees earn, on average, 55% percent more than those who completed high school; those with master’s or higher degrees earn around 21% more than those with bachelor’s degrees.

How to Finance Going Back to School as an Adult

If you decide going back to school is worth the cost, the next step is to figure out how to pay for the program of your choice.

Explore Private Scholarships

First, you can conduct a scholarship search and explore foundations and organizations that may provide funding to you based upon your professional credentials, your community, religious affiliation, and/or ethnicity, etc. Also, you could check to see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement or any scholarship or grant programs that can benefit you.

Federal Financial Aid

It’s also a good idea to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). This will give you access to financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans. If you’re looking into grad school, keep in mind that graduate or professional students are typically considered independent students for the purposes of completing the FAFSA form. This means you generally are not required to provide parent information.

Grants and scholarships are a form of gift aid and do not need to be paid back. Federal student loans need to be repaid, but come with benefits such as income-driven repayment plans and forgiveness programs.

Private Student Loans

If financial aid isn’t enough to cover the cost of going back to school, you might look into getting a private student loan. These are available through private lenders, including banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Loan limits vary from lender to lender, but you can often get up to the total cost of attendance for an undergraduate or graduate program. Interest rates vary but borrowers who have strong credit generally qualify for the lowest rates.

Keep in mind, though, that private loans may not offer the borrower protections — like income-based repayment plans and deferment or forbearance — that automatically come with federal student loans.
💡 Quick Tip: Master’s degree or graduate certificate? Private or federal student loans can smooth the path to either goal.

Refinancing Existing Student Loans

If you’re heading back to school and have existing student loans from your undergraduate degree, refinancing might allow you to qualify for a lower interest rate. This can either help you pay off the loan faster and/or decrease how much you pay each month. You can also lower your monthly payments by refinancing for a longer loan term. However, this will result in paying more interest overall.

You can refinance private or federal student loans. It’s important to note that when you refinance federal student loans with a private lender, you forfeit certain federal benefits, such as forbearance and forgiveness programs.

What Is Student Loan Entrance Counseling?

If you plan to go back to school as an adult and take out federal student loans, keep in mind that all federal borrowers must go through student loan entrance counseling. This is a short, online course that is designed to help ensure students understand the responsibilities and requirements that come with borrowing student loans. It highlights the terms and conditions of borrowing a loan, and also emphasizes borrower rights.

The federal government conducts student loan entrance counseling online. You can get details on the course by logging into your account on the Federal Student Aid website.

The Takeaway

When evaluating whether or not going back to school is worth the cost, you’ll want to factor in things like your career goals, the anticipated job market after graduation, typical program costs, and average salaries for the career you are pursuing with the degree.

Going back to school is a personal choice. While it typically comes with added expenses, you may decide that the potential returns make it well worth the investment.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.


We’ve Got You Covered

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Source: sofi.com

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If your parents are high earners, you might assume you won’t get any financial aid to help pay for college. But that’s not necessarily the case. The Department of Education doesn’t have an official income cutoff to qualify for federal financial aid. So, even if you think your parents’ income is too high, it’s still worth applying (it’s also free to do so).

Read on to learn how to get financial aid for college when you think your parents make too much money, as well as how to pay for college costs if you don’t qualify for financial aid.

Table of Contents

It All Starts With the FAFSA®

The first step to knowing whether or not you qualify for any financial aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if you think your parents make too much to qualify for financial aid, it’s a smart idea to fill out and submit this form.

For one reason, there’s no income cutoff for federal student aid, so you may be surprised by what you are able to qualify for. For another, the FAFSA gives you access to non-need-based aid, such as Direct Unsubsidized Loans and institutional merit aid.
💡 Quick Tip: You’ll make no payments on some private student loans for six months after graduation.

Who Determines Aid Amount and Type?

The financial aid office at your chosen college or career school will determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. Here’s a look at what goes into the decision.

1. The first factor considered is the cost of attendance (COA), or what it costs a typical student to attend a particular college or university for one academic year. Cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, as well as books, lodging, food, transportation, loan fees, and eligible study-abroad programs.

2. Then the school considers your Student Aid Index, or SAI (formerly called Expected Family Contribution, or EFC). Your SAI is an eligibility index number that results from the information that you provide in your FAFSA.

3.   To determine how much need-based aid you can get, the school will subtract your SAI from the COA. Need-based aid includes Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized Loans, and federal work-study.

4. To determine how much non-need-based aid you qualify for, the school takes the COA and subtracts any financial aid you’ve already been awarded. Federal non-need-based aid includes Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and TEACH Grants.

One big difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans is when interest accrual starts. Because subsidized loans are need-based, the government covers any interest that accrues until loan repayment starts (typically six months after graduation). With unsubsidized loans, the interest starts to accrue from day one (though you don’t need to start making loan payments until six months after graduation).

You can estimate your eligibility for federal student aid by using either the Federal Student Aid Estimator or your school’s net price calculator (which you can find using the Department of Education’s search tool).

What Are Rules on Dependency, Divorce?

A student’s dependency status can make a big difference on their SAI. Not living with parents or being claimed on their taxes, however, does make you an independent student. To be considered independent for federal financial aid, a student must be at least 24 years of age, married, on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, financially supporting dependent children, an orphan (both parents deceased), a ward of the court, or an emancipated minor.

The rules regarding financial aid and divorce are changing for the 2024 – 2025 school year. The new FAFSA rules require the parent who provided the most financial support in the “prior-prior” tax year to complete the FAFSA application instead of the custodial parent. Prior-prior refers to the tax year two years ago from the beginning of the college semester. For the 2024 – 2025 award year, FAFSA would be looking at the 2022 tax year for this determination.

Other Routes to Meeting All Needs

The government isn’t the only path to money for school. Here are several other options you may want to consider.

Scholarships

The best thing about scholarships? You don’t need to pay them back. The second best thing is that they’re most often based on merit, not need.

So even if your parents make a good living, you may still be eligible. While many are awarded solely on academics, others are given for athletic talent, specific interests, or being a member of a specific group.

There are numerous college scholarships out there, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. To suss out scholarship opportunities you might be eligible for, talk to your high school guidance counselor, your college’s financial aid office, and/or check out one of the many online scholarships search tools.

An Appeal of Your SAI

If your financial aid offer is less than you need to be able to afford college, you are within your rights to appeal to the school’s financial aid director.

You might want to be prepared to back up your request with detailed information such as your SAI, the amount you’ll need to successfully attend school, or a change in circumstances that will affect your family’s actual ability to pay, such as a parent’s job loss.

Recommended: How To Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter

Parent Loans

Parents can apply for a Parent Plus Loan through the Department of Education. These loans are available to parents regardless of income, provided they do not have an adverse credit history. For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, the interest rate is 8.05%. This is a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. There is also an origination fee of 4.228%, which is deducted from each loan disbursement.

Some private lenders also offer parent student loans. You can apply for a private parent student loan directly with the lender. Before signing up for a private parent loan, it’s a good idea to shop around to find the lowest student loan interest rate you qualify for. Some lenders have a pre-qualification process that allows you to see a personalized rate before the lender does a hard credit pull.

Both federal and private parent loans can be used to cover any gaps left over after scholarships, grants, and other financial aid have been applied, up to the full cost of attendance.
💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

Private Student Loans

Private student loans are also available to students to help them cover the costs of higher education, and they could be a good Plan B if there’s a gap between the aid you received (including federal student loans) and the cost of attendance.

Private student loans don’t have federal benefits like income-driven repayment plans and forgiveness programs, and interest rates are typically higher than undergraduate federal student loans. However, unlike federal student loans, you can apply for them at any time of the year. Plus, you can typically borrow up the full cost of attendance, which gives you more borrowing power than you get with federal student loans.

Private student loans can have either a fixed or variable interest rate; rates are determined by the lender. Qualifying for a private student loan is based on the borrower’s creditworthiness rather than need.

The Takeaway

What happens if your parents make too much money to qualify for financial aid? You may have to shift course a little bit, but there are other ways to get help paying for all of the expenses of college, including merit-based scholarships, non-need-based federal student loans, and private student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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Source: sofi.com

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Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans are federally backed loans that were originally funded by private companies. The FFEL Program ended in 2010 to pave the way for Federal Direct Loans, but many borrowers still have them. If you took out federal student loans prior to 2010, you may have a FFELP loan.

These older loans may have a high interest rate and don’t qualify for certain federal student loan benefits and forgiveness programs. As a result, you may want to consider consolidating or refinancing FFELP loans.

Read on to learn how you can find out if you have a FFELP loan and, if you do, what your options are in terms of repayment, forgiveness, consolidation, and refinancing.

Does the Federal Family Education Program Still Exist?

Congress discontinued FFELP loans in 2010 and no new loans have been issued under the program since July 1, 2010. At that time, FFELP was replaced by the Federal Direct Loan Program.

Even though no new FFELP loans are being issued, they are far from paid off. As of June 2023, there was a total of $191 billion in FFELP loans remaining with 8.5 million borrowers. Borrowers of these loans are still responsible for making these payments, lenders are required to service them, and the federal government still insures them.
💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? You could save thousands.

What Are FFELP Student Loans?

FFEL Program loans are student loans that were issued by commercial lenders but guaranteed by the federal government. That means if a borrower defaulted, the government would pay the lender an interest subsidy to make up for the loss.

The FFEL Program included:

•   Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans

•   Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans

•   Federal PLUS Loans (also known as FFEL PLUS Loans)

•   Federal Consolidation Loans (also known as FFEL Consolidation Loans)

The federal government purchased some lenders’ FFELP portfolios during the Great Recession (2007-2009). As a result, some FFEL Program debt is owned by the government. However, the majority of FFELP loans are privately held.

All federal student loans issued now are from the Direct Loan Program, which includes the same types of loans listed above. However, there are big differences in how the program is administered. The federal government itself now draws on its own capital to directly lend to students, while several federal contractors take care of servicing the loans.

Borrowers with FFELP loans might have had different terms and benefits compared with Direct Loans.

Recommended: Private Student Loans vs Federal Student Loans

How Do I Know if I Have FFELP Loans?

If you have federal student loans from prior to July 2010, you probably have FFELP loans.

To find out if you have a FFEL Program loan, simply log in to your studentaid.gov
account. Under the “Loan Breakdown” section, select “View Loans” to see the list of loans you’ve received. If a loan has “FFEL” at the front of its listing, it’s a FFEL Program loan.

Understanding Your FFEL Loan

If you have a FFELP loan, the biggest difference from a Direct Loan is the source of the money — you received it from a private lender instead of the federal government. Within the FFELP, you can have one of these types of loans (which are no longer offered):

•   Subsidized Stafford Loan This is a loan for undergraduate students where interest is covered by the federal government while the student is in school at least half-time, and during grace or deferment periods.

•   Unsubsidized Stafford Loan This is a loan for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree students where interest is charged during the entire life of the loan.

•   Federal PLUS Loan This is a loan for either parents of dependent undergraduate students or for graduate or professional students. Interest is charged for the entire loan period.

•   Federal Consolidation Loan This is a loan designed for borrowers to combine multiple federal student loans into a single loan with a single payment.

If you’re not sure what type of loan you have, one place to look is the National Student Loan Data System . This database houses everything you need to know about your federal student loans, including your interest rate, balances, and payment plans.

Are FFEL Loans Eligible for Forgiveness?

FFELP loans are eligible for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness. With this plan, your monthly payment is based on your income and family size and after making payments for 20 or 25 years, the remaining loan balance is forgiven. The only exception is FFELP loans for parents, which do not qualify for this repayment plan.

However, FFELP loans are not eligible for:

•   Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

•   Pay As You Earn (PAYE)

•   Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) — formerly the REPAYE Plan

•   Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)

To access these programs, you’ll have to consolidate FFELP loans into a federal Direct Consolidation Loan.

Can I Still Consolidate or Refinance My FFEL Loans?

Yes, you can still consolidate or refinance your FFEL loans.

Most types of FFELP loans can be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. If you choose to consolidate, you may become eligible for additional income-driven repayment plans that offer loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of repayment. You can repay a Direct Consolidation Loan using the PAYE, SAVE, or ICR repayment plans.

Consolidating your FFEL loans also opens up access to PSLF, which forgives your remaining loan balance after 120 payments while working in a public service job.

In addition, consolidating multiple federal student loans simplifies and streamlines repayment, since you’ll only have one monthly payment to make.

However, student loan consolidation involves some risks. These include losing previously earned PSLF and repayment plan forgiveness credit. (However, the federal government has waived this penalty for those who consolidate before the end of 2023.)

It’s also important to understand that consolidation most likely won’t save you any money. Your new interest rate will be the weighted average of your federal loans’ interest rates, rounded up to the next one-eighth of the percentage point. While consolidation may extend your repayment term (and lower your payment), an extended repayment term means paying more in interest in the long run.

You also have the option of refinancing your FFELP loans. This involves getting a new student loan with a private lender and using it to pay off your FFELP student loans (you can also fold in any other private or federal student loans you may have).

If you have excellent credit, student loan refinancing may allow you to qualify for a lower interest rate. This is especially true of older federal loans, which were made at higher interest rates. Just keep in mind that refinancing federal student loans with a private lender will cause the loans to lose federal protections, such as forbearance and forgiveness programs.
💡 Quick Tip: When refinancing a student loan, you may shorten or extend the loan term. Shortening your loan term may result in higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid. A longer loan term typically results in lower monthly payments but more total interest paid.

The Takeaway

The Federal Family Education Loan Program, or FFELP, was a loan program in which the U.S. Department of Education worked with private lenders to provide student loans that were backed by the federal government. The program ended on July 1, 2010, but if you have federal student loans from prior to that date, you may have a FFELP loan.

To become eligible for federal programs like PSLF and the new SAVE repayment plan, you’ll need to consolidate your FFEL loan into a Direct Consolidation Loan. If you’re looking to save money on your FFEL loan, you may want to explore refinancing the loan.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.


SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SOSL1123022

Source: sofi.com

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Nursing can be a rewarding career in a couple of important ways. It involves caring for the health of others and helping them through what can be a challenging moment in their lives, which can be satisfying. A nursing degree can mean job stability as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for nurses will increase at 6% per year, faster than the average career growth. And here’s one other important fact: The average registered nurse salary is at a median of $81,220 per year. Compare that with the median US salary for the same period of $54,132, and you can see that nursing can be a lucrative career, too.

The average nursing salary will vary depending on the type of nursing you do. For instance, there’s the average nurse salary vs. the average registered nurse salary vs. the average nurse practitioner salary. Qualifications and other factors will determine how much you make as a nurse.

Read on to learn more about this important topic. The information that follows can help you decide if nursing is the right career path for you, and, if so, which type of nursing you want to pursue.

Average Salaries for Different Types of Nurses

Wondering, “How much do nurses make?” First, understand that when considering nursing as a career, it’s vital to know about the different types of nurses. Each has its own education and certification requirements.

•   A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) is one of the lowest-paid jobs within the nursing field. Job responsibilities are typically similar for LVN and LPNs. California and Texas use the term LVN, while the rest of the country uses the designation LPN. These positions also have the lowest educational requirements.

While LVN/LPN roles don’t always require a college education, there are usually state-approved training certification programs. Most of these courses take aspiring LVN/LPNs one year to complete, and then they must pass the NCLEX-PN examination for state licensing. How much does a nurse make a year with this kind of credential? The average salary for LVN/LPNs as of 2023 was about $50,580 annually.

•   Aspiring registered nurses (RN) typically need a bachelor’s or associate’s degree from an accredited program. There are also some accelerated programs available and some second degree programs for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field.

After successfully completing their chosen coursework, nursing students must then pass the NCLEX-RN exam in order to become a certified RN. In addition, RNs usually must obtain a state license after passing the NCLEX-RN exam.

To drill down on the details here, know that each state has its own licensing board. You may want to research the specific requirements in the state where you plan to practice. How much do RNs make? The average RN salary as of 2023, as noted above, was approximately $88,220 per year. (Below you will find state-by-stage nursing salaries, though not specifically for RNs.)

Next, consider the career of a Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS). This type of nurse has gone a step beyond RN and pursued additional education. At a minimum, you must have a master of science in nursing (MSN) to become a CNS.

A CNS typically trains extensively in a specialty area, such as emergency medicine, oncology, or women’s health. At the end of 2023, the average salary for a CNS was $99,148 annually, which is higher than the RN salary, reflecting the additional education and skills.

•   A Nurse Practitioner (NP) holds an advanced degree, but their responsibilities vary slightly when compared with a CNS. For example, in most states, a nurse practitioner is able to prescribe medication, while a CNS is not. The average nurse practitioner salary at the end of 2023 was $124,680 annually.
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Average Salaries and Location

Here’s another factor that can impact the average nurse’s salary: location. After all, wages and overall cost of living can vary dramatically depending on whether you live in, say, a small town or close to a pricey urban center.

Check this chart to see how average nurse salaries compare state by state. Note that these figures reflect LPN salaries, which are at the lower end of the spectrum, but they can give you an idea of how much nurses make by location. This could be good information to consider when deciding where to practice.

State Mean Annual Nurse Salary
Alabama $45,260
Alaska $66,710
Arizona $61,920
Arkansas $45,990
California $69,930
Colorado $60,310
Connecticut $62,620
Delaware $57,360
District of Columbia $62,010
Florida $53,780
Georgia $50,830
Hawaii $55,730
Idaho $54,710
Illinois $58,840
Indiana $55,850
Iowa $51,400
Kansas $51,700
Kentucky $49,570
Louisiana $47,430
Maine $55,830
Maryland $60,180
Massachusetts $68,170
Michigan $57,180
Minnesota $54,870
Mississippi $45,020
Missouri $49,500
Montana $52,420
Nebraska $52,080
Nevada $63,910
New Hampshire $63,550
New Jersey $61,990
New Mexico $59,400
New York $57,560
North Carolina $53,010
North Dakota $53,080
Ohio $52,330
Oklahoma $48,090
Oregon $66,190
Pennsylvania $54,520
Rhode Island $66,770
South Carolina $51,060
South Dakota $46,000
Tennessee $46,540
Texas $52,850
Utah $55,790
Vermont $57,150
Virginia $52,790
Washington $69,950
West Virginia $45,530
Wisconsin $52,610
Wyoming $54,880

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Nursing Degree?

The cost of getting a nursing degree varies based on the type of nursing program you choose. Each of the nursing positions listed above requires different degrees and certification.

•   The process to become an LVN/LPN generally costs between $1,000 and $5,000.

•   Taking an RN two-year associate’s program can cost $3,500 per year at public institutions; $15,470 per year at private schools.

•   An alternative is to become an RN through a four-year bachelor’s program. This process works similarly to most other bachelor’s degree programs and typically costs the same as a four-year college or university.

•   In addition to having already been an RN, both CNS and NP careers require advanced degrees. Typically, a masters of science in nursing (MSN) is required for both positions, which can cost between $18,000 to $57,000 in total.

•   Some choose to further their education, becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). These degrees can be expensive but also have the potential to increase a nurse’s salary. After a master’s degree, expect to pay an additional $20,000 to $40,000, but your nursing salary is likely to rise, too.

There are usually costs beyond nursing school tuition. You’ll likely have to buy textbooks and supplies like a lab coat, scrubs, and a stethoscope. Many programs also charge additional lab fees each semester. Many schools will require nursing students to take out liability insurance and get some mandatory immunizations.

After graduating from your chosen program(s), you’ll also likely want to factor in the cost of licensing and exam fees as you enter the job market.
💡 Quick Tip: When refinancing a student loan, you may shorten or extend the loan term. Shortening your loan term may result in higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid. A longer loan term typically results in lower monthly payments but more total interest paid.

Paying for Your Nursing Degree

Becoming a nurse can be a pricey process, depending on the path you choose. But there are options available to help students pay for their nursing degree. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has a database of scholarships for nursing schools. As you may know, scholarships don’t need to be repaid. This can make them an especially valuable resource in making ends meet as a nursing student.

In addition, federal aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans could provide some relief. To apply, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

Student Loan Forgiveness Options for Nurses

There are a number of student loan forgiveness programs available to nurses. Keep in mind that each typically has its own program requirements, so it’s helpful to review them closely to determine whether you qualify.

•   Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives certain federal Direct loans after 10 years of qualifying, on-time payments. This program is open to borrowers who work for a qualifying organization. You can find details online about qualifying for the PSLF program to see if you could benefit from it.

•   The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program will repay a portion of a nurse’s eligible student loans when they work full time at a Critical Shortage Facility or as a faculty member at a qualifying nursing school. Those accepted by the program are eligible to have 85% of their outstanding loan balances forgiven over a two-year commitment.

•   The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program provides loan forgiveness to qualifying nurses who commit to working for two years in clinical practice at a National Health Service Corps site.

Repaying Student Loans after Nursing School

If you borrowed federal or private student loans to help you pay for nursing school, developing a repayment strategy can be valuable. Not only will it set you on a path to repaying your debt, it can teach you valuable budgeting skills as well.

If you don’t qualify for any of the available loan forgiveness options, federal student loans come with a few different student loan repayment plans so you can find the option that works best for your budget.

If you relied on private student loans to help you pay for your tuition at nursing school, you may want to review your repayment terms. Each lender will determine their own terms and conditions for the loans they lend.

As you develop a game plan to help you repay your student loans, one option to consider is student loan refinancing.

When you refinance a loan, you take out a new loan with new terms. This loan can then be used to repay your existing loans. If you borrowed multiple loans, that means you could have the option to consolidate them into one single monthly payment — potentially with a lower interest rate.

However, it’s important to keep in mind a couple of factors:

•   You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with a longer term.

•   If you are considering refinancing federal student loans, know that they come with an array of benefits and protections that are forfeited if you refinance.

To see how refinancing could impact your student loan, you can take a look at this student loan refinancing calculator.

The Takeaway

Nursing can be a challenging but rewarding profession, and the average nurse salary could provide a well-paying career. How much do RNs make? The typical salary currently tops $88,000. There are different kinds of nursing degrees and positions, so it’s wise to do your research to understand what each one requires and which might best suit your needs. Also, financing your education as a nurse can also need research to understand the obligation and how you might fund it.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Source: sofi.com

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If you’re wondering where you go to pay off your student loans, you’ll first need to contact your loan servicer. If you aren’t sure who your loan servicer or loan holder is, you can contact the U.S. Department of Education for federal loans. For private student loans, you can contact the bank or lender who originated your loans.

Contact Your Student Loan Servicer

Before paying back student loans, graduates will have to figure out who their student loan servicer is. A student loan servicer is the company assigned by the U.S. Department of Education (federal student loan creator) to take care of the day to day servicing of a federal student loan. If a person needs to talk to someone about their federal student loan, they can reach out to the servicers instead of traveling to a government office.

Students don’t have to do anything for their loan to be transferred to a loan servicer. The federal student loan will be transferred to a servicer after its first disbursement. Once that happens, students should expect to be contacted by the servicer.

But, unexpected moves or outdated contact information could mean the servicer doesn’t reach you. If a student needs help figuring out who their servicer is, one option is to call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC): 1-800-433-3243.

However, the FSAIC can only help students figure out their servicer if they hold federal student loans, not private student loans.

Another option for borrowers with federal student loans is to log into their Federal Student Aid account. From this portal, borrowers can access information on their student loan servicer.

Federal student loan borrowers can also check the National Student Loan Data System to find information about their loan servicer.

Once a student figures out their loan student servicer and contacts them, they can begin sorting through the repayment process. A loan servicer should help a student figure out how to repay loans free of charge.

Be warned, any federal loan servicer that asks for payment may be a scam, warns the U.S. Department of Education.

Recommended: How to Find Out Who Your Student Loan Lender Is

Grace Periods

A loan servicer can help students and graduates figure out when their loan repayment will begin. Most, but not all, federal student loans have a six-month grace period, or an allotted amount of time before a student has to start paying back the loan.

The student loan grace period generally begins once a student graduates, leaves school, or enrolls in class less than part-time. This time is meant for students to get in contact with their loan servicer and begin setting up a repayment plan so they don’t have to scramble post-graduation when so many other changes are happening.

Students should be aware that interest on their unsubsidized loans may be accruing during their grace period. For that reason, some students may decide to begin repayment before the grace period is up in order to keep the interest capitalization down.

Borrowers with subsidized student loans will not accrue interest on their loans during their grace period.

There are some circumstances that can extend or end a grace period early:

•   Being called into active military duty. This will restart the grace period, which will begin again once the student returns.

•   Going back to school before the end of the grace period. If a student goes back to school at least part-time, then they won’t have to repay their loans until they finish school, in which case they’ll have another six-month grace period.

•   Consolidating loans. If a student decides to consolidate or refinance a loan before the end of the grace period, they’ll start their repayment as soon as the paperwork is processed.

Selecting a Repayment Plan

During the grace period, students can work with their loan servicer and other online tools to figure out the right repayment plan for them.

There are several student loan repayment plans a student can choose from, depending on their finances and the type of federal student loans they have.

•   Standard Repayment Plan. All federal loan borrowers are eligible for this repayment plan. Payments are in a fixed amount each month and sets borrowers up to pay off their loan within 10 years.

•   Graduated Repayment Plan. This plan starts out with low monthly payments that gradually increase every two years. Payments are made monthly for up to 10 years for most loans (10-30 years for consolidated loans).

•   Extended Repayment Plan. In this plan, standard or graduated payments are made monthly, but at a lower rate over a longer period of time, typically 25 years.

•   SAVE. The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan is the newest income-driven repayment plan. Payments are calculated as 10% of a person’s discretionary income; starting in July 2024, that will drop to 5%, and some participating borrowers will see their loan balances forgiven in as little as 10 years.

•   Income-Based Repayment Plan. The income-based repayment plan allows for monthly payments that are roughly 10-15% of a person’s monthly income, but borrowers must have a high debt-to-income ratio to qualify.

•   Income-Contingent Repayment Plan. In the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan, eligible borrowers will make monthly payments based on the lesser value of either 20% of their income, or the “amount you would pay on a repayment plan with a fixed payment over 12 years, adjusted according to your income,” according to the Department of Education.

•   Income-Sensitive Repayment Plan. This plan is only available under a few federal loan programs. Payments are based on annual income, and the loan will be paid off within 15 years.

Depending on a borrower’s income and the type of loan they took out, they can work with their servicer to determine which student loan repayment plan might be the best course of action. If a borrower doesn’t reach out to their servicer to coordinate a repayment plan before the end of the grace period, they will be on the Standard Repayment Plan by default.

Start Repaying Student Loans

Once a repayment plan is selected and the grace period draws to a close, borrowers will begin making payments on their student loans.

Where a borrower will make their payment is dependent upon who their student loan servicer is. Most student loan servicers make it possible for borrowers to make monthly payments online, but it’s best to confirm that with the servicer before payments begin.

Most servicers also have an automatic payments set-up, where monthly payments are automatically debited out of borrowers’ accounts each month. Setting up automatic payments can help borrowers avoid missing a payment or racking up late fees.

Additionally, some federal student loans provide a discount when a borrower sets up automatic repayment online. For example, if a borrower has a Direct Loan, their interest rate is reduced by 0.25% when they choose automatic debit.

Repaying Private Student Loans

Private student loans are generally repaid directly to the bank or financial institution that issued them. Borrowers can check their statements to see who the loan servicer is. Generally, payments can be made online.

Refinancing with SoFi

When a borrower works with their student loan servicer, they can take advantage of free tools that might help them pay back their student loans quicker.

But, for some student loan borrowers, the existing interest rates and repayment plans offered by a servicer might not be the best fit.

In that case, borrowers may have the option of refinancing student loans. This can be helpful when there are multiple loans to pay off since refinancing allows borrowers to combine multiple loans into a new single loan and qualifying borrowers may be able to secure a lower interest rate.

Refinancing federal student loans eliminates them from all federal benefits and borrower protections, such as income-driven repayment plans and deferment. If you are or plan on using federal benefits, it is not recommended to refinance student loans.

SoFi’s student loan refinancing offers flexible terms and competitive interest rates. With no hidden fees or pre-payment penalties, borrowers can apply for refinancing in an easy online process — no phone calls required.

The first step to figuring out student loan repayment is figuring out who holds the loan, but with the right help, borrowers can have a plan set up to conquer their loans before the grace period is even finished.

With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are a federal student loan borrower, you should consider all of your repayment opportunities including the opportunity to refinance your student loan debt at a lower APR or to extend your term to achieve a lower monthly payment. Please note that once you refinance federal student loans you will no longer be eligible for current or future flexible payment options available to federal loan borrowers, including but not limited to income-based repayment plans or extended repayment plans.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Source: sofi.com