Many Options for a Student Loan for Those With Bad Credit

Do Not Not Let Bad Credit Prevent Your Higher EducationAre you looking for a student loan? What kind of credit scores do you have? Of course, good credit is a great help in getting any sort of financing, including student loans for those with bad credit. But, financial aid for students with bad credit, or no credit, is widely available. Regardless of your creditworthiness, you should first go to the student financial aid office and fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a standard form required for all federally funded student loan and grant programs. Through it you may have access to a Stafford loan, the most-used funding device for college or university education.Stafford Loans and Perkins LoansThe Stafford loan is designed for students who go straight from high school to college with no chance to build, or ruin, a credit history. So credit scores are not even considered, even if you do somehow have bad credit. The same is true of Perkins Loans, though they are reserved for students who are in dire need – and can prove it – of educational funds. The only thing that may prevent you from qualifying for either of these student loans for those with bad credit. is if you have defaulted on a federally funded loan in the past, or if you have a criminal record. If you have had a run in with the law, there are counseling services that may lead you to being qualified for either loan.Other Options to ExploreYou should ask financial counselors about other venues of educational funding. They may make you aware of student work-study programs that are available at your school. They can also point you to grants for which you may qualify. The can also set you to seeking certain scholarships that you may have overlooked when you first started on figuring out the financing for your continued education. These and even other options are within the sphere of the counseling services offered by the individuals staffing these offices. They have the experience behind them of helping countless students fund their educational desires. You are not entirely dependent on student loans for those with bad credit.Mom and Dad Can Help This WayIf your parents have a better standing credit-wise than you do, another financial venue, beside a student loan for those with bad credit, is available. PLUS loans are granted to parents, not students. These may be the perfect opportunity for a cash-strapped student. These are backed by the U.S. Department of Education. Since Stafford and Perkins Loans are designed to cover only part of the cost of an education. PLUS loans help students and their parents raise the funds for the rest of the college costs.An Amalgamation of Ways Is Often Needed to Complete an EducationIf these federally funded student loans for those with bad credit are not available or if they do not meet the full costs, a student may enlist the help of a creditworthy adult who is interested in his or her future to cosign an educational loan. The cosigner must be aware that any default on your part for whatever reason would make them legally liable for the student loan for those with bad credit. Or, if the student is studying in a discipline that high potential earnings, such as a career in medicine or law, a private lender may be willing to offer an educational loan. If you do find yourself eligible for some high-interest student loans for those with bad credit, understand that these loans are often deferred until studies are complete. At that point, a decent salary may make them manageable, or a consolidation loan could be sought, offering lower interest rates and more comfortable repayment terms.