where can i obtain the lowest cost federal stafford loans?
344826
It's true that Federal Stafford Loan interest rates are set by the government.  While there isn't much negotiating anyone can do there, there are features that help to differentiate one loan company from another AND save you money.\n\n1) Loan Fees: Find is a company that offers a 0% Guarantee fee AND a 0% Origination fee.  These are costs that CAN be high but which the guarantor and lender have the power to waive, usually as part of their arrangement with your school's Financial Aid Office. Talk to someone in Financial Aid at your school.  Most offices only have a handful of lenders (at MOST) and only 1 guarantor with whom they work.  Loan fees change all the time and MUST be disclosed to you, so you have every right to request this information.  Truthfully, these companies are ACHING for your business, so many of them have been advertising "zero fee Stafford Loans" for some time now.  Examples: Sallie Mae, Citibank, Bank of America, EdAmerica. {Note: fees may vary by school, so double check before committing.}\n\n2) Back-end repayment benefits.  If you are very good about repaying your loans on time, this is where you can really "score."  Many companies (again, sometimes as part of a deal with your Financial Aid Office) will offer additional benefits to students who have borrowed with them.  For example, some companies offer to credit you a certain percentage of your principal loan balance after you make a certain number of payments on time.  Anywhere from 3 to 4% cash back after 33-48 on-time payments (Examples: Citizens Bank, EdAmerica, Bank of America). Other companies go the interest rate route and make offers such as "2% interest deduction after 48 on-time payments."  Of course, these offers often vary by state or by school, so check to see if they apply to you (Example: Citibank).\n\nWhy can they offer these things when student loan rates are already lower than, say, mortgage and car loan rates?  Well, because most students don't get to the point where they can actually take advantage of the benefits.  Generally, if you miss even one payment, the "48 consecutive payment" offer becomes null and void. Similarly, if you  consolidate (which so many people have done lately), the benefits cease to exist. The utilization rate that many companies report for these benefits is about 20%... not bad.  If you know that you're the kind of person who has a good grasp on your finances and will pay on-time for a few years, go for it!\n\nOne last thing: it's important to shop around but it's just as important to ask your Financial Aid office for guidance before you make your final selection.  They will be able to tell you if an offer is too good to be true or if a company is tossing around benefits because they won't be around long enough to have to make good on their offer (some companies aren't as established as others).
236319
Try this website. I think there is a minimal charge, but if you are serious it wont matter.\nGOOD LUCK!!
973502
Any bank should offer very low rates and fees.  Just make sure you're working with a reputable company and you'll be fine.  There's probably hundreds of companies out there that can give you the lowest rate.
646047
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ <<<that is how I got mine
242998
go to fafsa.ed.gov...they will have all the answers to all your money needs. you have to fill out a fafsa anyways to be eligible for a Stafford loan...so you can kill two birds with one stone!
804243
No, not at all.\n\nTo be eligible for a Federal Stafford loan all you need to do is complete your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov for the academic year you plan to attend, follow-up with your school to be sure that your financial aid file is completed, and be enrolled in at least 6 units.\n\nSo, if you meet all the regular qualifications for federal student aid (US citizen or permanent resident, HS diploma/GED, meeting your school's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy), you'll also qualify for a federal Stafford loan because it too is a form of federal student aid. Depending on your school's loan funding procedures, you may automatically be offered a loan in your award letter, or you may have to go in and request it. If you receive your award letter and a loan is not included but you feel that you need one to meet your educational expenses, contact the Financial Aid Office to inquire on the application process for a Stafford loan--each school's processing flow imay be different.
1042862
Interest rates for any new Federal Stafford loans made after July 1st will will be 6.8% for all borrowers (in-school or otherwise).  \n\nIf you already have a *variable* rate Federal Stafford loan, your rate on that loan will remain variable and will be expected to increase to 6.54% (for borrowers in school, grace, or deferment) or 7.14% (for borrowers in repayment).\n\nInterest rates for any new Federal PLUS loans made after July 1st will will be 8.5% for all borrowers (in-school or otherwise).  \n\nIf you already have a *variable* rate Federal PLUS loan, your rate on that loan will remain variable and is expected to increase to 7.94% for all borrowers.\n\nPerkins rates and terms will effectively stay the same (5% fixed rate).
88921
Save enough to pay off the school is your first step, then use Americorp to help pay your current tuition (interest rates on student loans are higher now than a few year years ago).  You may also think about "consolidating" your Stafford loan to get a fixed rate before June 30, 2006.
1122164
Try FHA loans. http://www.hud.gov/fha/loans.cfm
379332
it sounds like you're looking for Direct Loans. Is your inquiry about Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans (sometimes referred to as Direct Stafford Loans)? If so, you need a *Federal* web site, so if you're getting to a site that's under construction, you're probably looking in the wrong place. The website is here: http://www.dlservicer.ed.gov/\n\nThe phone number to call depends on what you need (you can see a list on the "contact us" page of the above site. For generic questions, try 1-800-848-0979.
1134389
Many online colleges administer federal aid, so you could at least be eligible for the Federal Stafford Loan and the Federal Pell Grant if you show a lot of need.  Some schools (if they're been around for a while) will also offer Federal Perkins Loans and Federal SEO Grants.  \n\nPlease, though, if you want to apply for these types of aid, don't go to fafsa.com -- it's a huge scam.  You should only ever file the FAFSA by going to the Dept. of Ed's website, here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov . If you need assistance or have questions, there is free help available in a lot places: check out FinAid (http://www.finaid.org ) or contact your school, former high school, or library.\n\nThere are numerous scholarships available from a wide variety of sources.  Try any or all of these scholarship search engines:\n\nhttp://www.fastweb.com\nhttp://www.srnexpress.com\nhttp://www.scholarships.com\nhttp://www.scholarships101.com\nhttp://www.finaid.org/scholarships\nhttp://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp\nhttp://services.princetonreview.com/default.asp?RUN=%2Fcollege%2Ffinance%2Fscholar%2FscholInterview%2Easp&RCN=auth&RDN=7&ALD=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eprincetonreview%2Ecom\nhttp://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/pay_free_money.jsp
1809
Really depends on what you are looking for, but I have found that Amazon generally has the lowest prices.
805882
You can apply for stafford loans or private loans within your school.. go to the Financial Aid office and they should be able to help you out.
608115
I belong to a company thatwrites loans in 47 states. I am an indepemdent loan officer. You can view my site at \nhttp://www.nlcofhollywood.com/jgottschall\n\nIt sounds as though this may be what yur looking for.\n\nGood Luck
262716
Yes, there are non-federal (called "private" or "alternative") loans that you can borrow to supplement your federal aid package.  You need to be very careful, because any loan that you can obtain without credit OR a cosigner will probably have a very high interest rate.  Borrow conservatively.  Try www.campusdoor.com or www.wellsfargo.com.
416641
Make sure the FAFSA is filled out and even ask the finacial aid officer at your school for some advice. But don't get a loan from outside sources. Stafford loans and College foundation loans have low interest rates and give you awhile to pay them off. CItibank, mastercard, bank loans, etc have high interest rates and will want their money ASAP. So try to get a school loan but whatever you do, don't use outside loans.  Also they are credit based so without a very solid credit file you may not get approved for the whole amount and will need more than 1 loan which makes no sense. Just get a regular stafford loan or other school loan and you can get the amount covered. Also Sallie Mae loans are expensive (at least they were for me) and had high interest rates. I wouldn't recommend them or any other outside loan companies.
598860
Check out ING via their website ingdirect.com.  I have an account with them and last week they sent me a notice that their mortgage product will cover the closing cost for loans that are below a certain amount.  Other than that, you can get a bunch of information at bankrate.com as well.