For Federal Student Loan Consolidation Last Date Is July 1st

The interest rate increase for federal student loan will be to 1.84 percentage points by July 1 2006. This increase in interest rate is based on the auction of 91 day treasury bills on May 30 2006. The change in interest rate was due to new bill which was incorporated into the recently passed Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, S. 1932, and was signed into law on Feb. 8 by President Bush. Congress cut $12.7 billion in student-loan subsidies in February, as part of the $40 billion Deficit Reduction Act, The legislation cuts a total of $12.7 billion to the federal student loan program. This is second largest rate increase in the student loan history. Student-loan borrowers have benefited from record-low interest rates for years.

Lock in your federal student loan now

Experts in the industry are now advising students to consolidate their federal student loans before July 1 2006 and lock in at the current fixed rate which are charging as little as 4.5 percent. Loan consolidation is the opportunity to combine student loans together into one big loan and lower the monthly payments. From an older variable rate debt you can now move to fixed rate. If you're on track to graduate from college this spring, you should consolidate your federal student loans before July 1.If you graduated last year but did not consolidate till now, do it now. If students consolidate before June 30, the major benefit is that they can lock in at the current lowest possible interest rate available. It is a good idea to refinance when you can get a lower rate you'll save money. It is also advisable to keep off from offers from banks which will consolidate both federal and private loans. Always keep both the loans separate. It is because you will loose repayment discounts from the federal loan if you combine these two.

Student loan interest rate to increase

Consolidation locks in Students Federal Loan Rates before July 1 Increase. Stafford Loan, carries a variable rate that adjusts every July 1 by adding 2.3 percentage points to the yield on three-month Treasury bills. The interest rate for the Stafford Loan is at 4.70 percent during in-school, grace and deferment periods, and 5.30 percent during repayment. Stafford loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, the new rates will be fixed at 6.8 percent. The PLUS loan is at 6.10 percent PLUS loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006 will be fixed at 8.5 percent. By consolidating before July 1, students can avoid the interest rate hikes and lock in a low, fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. A year ago, for example, consolidation loans were charging a mere 2.875 percent.

Graduating students who consolidate during their "grace" period - the six-month window between graduation and the time they're required to start making payments on their loans will be able to lock in a rate of 4.75%. In-school students can also take advantage of loan consolidation now. After July 1, changes in the federal aid regulations will not allow in-school students to be eligible for loan consolidation. Only graduating students will be eligible. You should be making your first student-loan payment after finishing school and not six months later.

By consolidating at current rates you will be able to reduce by the total amount you pay if you do not increase the year or term of your payment. CONSOLIDATION also allows a student or parent to extend the repayment term at a lower rate but if you extend the numbers of years to pay too long the total amount you pay will be higher. Because of rising interest rates in recent years consolidation and locking in interest rates helps. If you are consolidating now do not wait till the last minute because the lenders will be very busy towards the deadline of June 30th and you might risk missing the deadline. The paper work takes at least 30 to 60 days and so it is advisable to do it as soon as possible. You can consolidate federal student loan only once.

About The Author-- Anita Cherry is a postgraduate in economics and provides impartial opinion regarding financial matters. For more information on making money and saving go to Federal Student Loan Consolidation

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