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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After almost two years of reporting on the latest in student loan legislation, federal financial aid policy changes that affect college students or those that are college-bound, and a myriad of other topics that make life easier for students, the NextStudent Student Loan Blog will celebrate it’s two-year anniversary at the end of this year. During that time, the blog has delivered relevant content and news updated daily that keeps college students and their parents informed on current issues and such changes as student loan interest rates that affect the college experience and the planning process.

With so much confusion abounding regarding the issues, NextStudent’s Student Loan Blog is a clear voice that cuts through the chaos and explains what is happening in a succinct manner, even in the midst of hot issues that generate heated debate. In fact, the blog is a key resource for college students and their parents, helping them keep track of crucial student loan deadlines, new developments within the Department of Education, student loan consolidation information, and serves as an educational tool for the industry.Weekly Format Explores Pertinent Issues

Each day, the focal point is a slightly different angle on student loans as follows:

Monday: “Student Loan News”

Tuesday: “This Week in Student Loans”

Wednesday: “Student Loan Legislation”

Thursday: “Student Loan Advice”

Friday: “Campus Life”Helpful Topics Educate Students

While not just about financial aid and student loans, many postings center on helpful campus life topics such as conducting job searches, getting an ideal internship, and other savvy subjects like online social media. Some of the recent postings:

“From Classes to Cash: Landing the Gig that Pays the Bills after College”

“Student Internships: Pay to Get Paid What You’re Worth?

“Give Yourself the Best Shot at Federal Student Aid: Submit FAFSA Soon After Jan. 1”

“Failure Is for Freshmen, Success Is for Seniors: What I Learned at College”

“Should Undocumented U.S. Residents be Eligible for In-State Tuition Rates?”

“‘MyNews’ for MySpace Coming Soon”

“Starbuck’s New Record Label?”Commitment to Education Extends to Customer Service

NextStudent believes in educating parents and students with online communication tools such as with the Student Loan Blog. This commitment to education extends to its dedication to excellent customer service as exhibited by personally assigned Education Finance Advisors who take clients through the entire financial aid and student loan consolidation process from start to finish. Whenever new clients contact NextStudent, they receive their own personal representative who will address their questions and assist them in getting the funding they need for school.

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

Unless you plan on being a student the rest of your life, student loan repayment is inevitable, and the ins and outs of student loan repayment can be confusing and overwhelming. The financial advisors at NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, would like to help clear the murky waters by defining terminology and laying out your student loan repayment options.� Understanding Your Student Loan Repayment Options

A grace period is a pre-determined amount of time allotted to student borrowers after they leave school or drop below half-time enrollment before they must begin repayment of their federal student loans. Grace periods vary in length based on the type of student loan: Stafford loans have a grace period of six months; Perkins loans have a grace period of nine months. PLUS, Grad Plus and Federal Student Loan Consolidation loans have no grace period. Deferment allows you to temporarily postpone your student loan payments (in most cases, up to a total of three years over the life of the student loan) if you’re unemployed or experiencing economic hardship. You can also request in-school deferments on your federal student loans while you’re enrolled at least half time.

While you’re in a grace period or in deferment, the interest on your Perkins and subsidized Stafford loans will be paid by the government. But you’ll be responsible for the interest on your PLUS, Grad PLUS and unsubsidized Stafford loans—any unpaid interest that accrues on these student loans during grace and deferment periods will be added to your principal loan balance for you to repay once repayment starts or resumes. If you want to avoid interest being added to your principal loan balance while you’re in a grace period or in deferment, you can choose to make interest-only payments during that time.� Forbearance also allows you to temporarily postpone your student loan payments. When you’re in a forbearance period, you’ll have to pay any interest that accrues, even on Perkins or subsidized Stafford loans.�� Repayment Plans

Perkins, Stafford, PLUS and Grad PLUS loans have a standard repayment period of 10 years. If your standard monthly payment amount is higher than you’d like, you have three other repayment plans you can choose from that may make your monthly payments more affordable:Extended Repayment is available to you if your federal student loans total more than $30,000 and if you received your first federal student loan on or after October 7, 1998. Depending on your student loan amount, you could extend your repayment period up to a 25-year term. Graduated Repayment allows you to make lower payments at the beginning of your repayment term and gradually increases your monthly payment amount over time. Income-Sensitive Repayment bases your monthly payment amount on your monthly income. You have to submit documentation of your income to qualify, and you have to requalify each year. Student Loan Consolidation

If you’ve taken out any federal student loans, you’re eligible to apply for a Federal Student Loan Consolidation from NextStudent, which might give you more time to repay your student loans and could substantially reduce your monthly student loan payment.

The repayment term on a student loan consolidation will range from 10 to 30 years, depending on your total outstanding student loan amount. Student loan consolidation loans generally have the standard federal deferment and forbearance benefits.

When your student loan consolidation is in deferment, the government will pay the interest on that portion of your student loan consolidation loan that was originally a Perkins loan or subsidized Stafford loan. During deferment, you’ll only be responsible for paying the interest on that portion of your student loan consolidation loan that was originally a PLUS, Grad PLUS or unsubsidized Stafford loan. When your student loan consolidation loan is in forbearance, you’ll be responsible for paying all interest that accrues.

You can consolidate one or more qualifying federal student loans and take advantage of one easy-to-manage loan with a single monthly payment. Our online applications are fast and easy, and there are no fees to apply for a student loan consolidation.

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

Whether you’ve only been out of college a few months and are still looking for a job, or you’ve just lost a job you had for the past five years, you may not always be fully financially equipped to handle your student loan debt. When unexpected expenses or hardships hit, even the most responsible borrowers can find themselves struggling to make their student loan payments.

But the good news is that your federal student loans come with repayment plans and deferment and forbearance benefits that could help you when you’re having trouble making your monthly payments.

To help you avoid getting caught in financial trouble with missed payments and defaulted student loans, NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, offers this quick guide to your deferment and forbearance benefits. Postponing or Reducing Your Monthly Student Loan Payments

If you’re having trouble affording your monthly payments, don’t just ignore your monthly bills; always communicate with your lender about your financial situation and ask about your deferment and forbearance options. Deferments and forbearances allow you to temporarily postpone or reduce your monthly student loan payments while keeping your credit score intact.

Deferments and discretionary forbearances (granted in cases of financial hardship) aren’t automatic. You need to contact your lender to request a deferment or forbearance. You may be required to complete a deferment or forbearance request form and to submit supporting documentation.

Most federal student loans (including Perkins loans, Stafford loans, PLUS loans, Grad PLUS loans, and consolidation loans) come with deferment and forbearance benefits. Some private student loans may also offer deferment or forbearance periods—you’ll need to contact your private student loan lender.Deferment

Deferment allows you to temporarily stop making payments on your student loans.

You may be able to request a deferment on your federal student loans if you are: