Student Loan Consolidation is Insurance Against Rising Interest Rates

In a recent article by Peter Svenssen, the Associated Press is projecting a possible student loan rate increase later this year of 1.2% for the 2005 - 2006 school year (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006) based on current US Treasury yields. Today's Stafford Loan repayment rate of 3.37% could increase to 4.57%, while PLUS Loan rates could increase from 4.17% to 5.37%. What does this mean for today's graduates? Over the span of a 10 year Stafford Loan repayment term on $18,900 in loans, a college graduate would pay $2,760.01 in interest at 2.77%, while that graduate would pay $4,062.40 in interest at 4%, a difference of $1,302.39, or about the price of a laptop computer.

Quincy, MA (PRWEB) January 7, 2005 -- In a recent article by Peter Svenssen, the Associated Press is projecting a possible student loan rate increase later this year of 1.2% for the 2005 - 2006 school year (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006) based on current US Treasury yields. Today's Stafford Loan repayment rate of 3.37% could increase to 4.57%, while PLUS Loan rates could increase from 4.17% to 5.37%. What does this mean for today's graduates? Over the span of a 10 year Stafford Loan repayment term on $18,900 in loans, a college graduate would pay $2,760.01 in interest at 2.77%, while that graduate would pay $4,062.40 in interest at 4%, a difference of $1,302.39, or about the price of a laptop computer.

If graduates were to consolidate their federal student loans today, they'd be able to lock in today's rates before they change. Christopher Penn, associate director of StudentLoanConsolidator.com, urges graduates not to wait another minute to consolidate their student loans. A graduate with $18,900 would have a monthly payment of roughly $196.51 before consolidating at the projected 4.57% rate. Mr. Penn said, "If you consolidate today, right now, right this minute, you would have a monthly payment of $129.39. Consolidating would save you $67.12 a month, or $805.44 a year. Could you use an extra $805 a year? I know I could."

What about students who are still in school? Mr. Penn said that some student loan consolidation companies can "reserve" an application for current students. If students apply now and graduate before July 1, 2005, they can receive the current interest rates, but they must apply before July 1, and preferably sooner rather than later.

"With no credit checks, no fees, and no early repayment penalties, there's absolutely no reason for graduates not to consolidate their loans. However, graduates need to act now," urges Mr. Penn. "Very often, graduates wait until the last minute to file their paperwork and by then, they may not be able to insulate themselves from a drastic rate change. The earlier you apply, the better off you will be, as you'll begin saving more each month immediately."

Students wishing to file a consolidation application should do so at http://www.StudentLoanConsolidator.com immediately.

Contact Christopher Penn at StudentLoanConsolidator.com by email at CustomerService@StudentLoanConsolidator.com for more information; to apply for a student loan consolidation, graduates should visit http://www.StudentLoanConsolidator.com as soon as possible.

StudentLoanConsolidator.com is a service of the Edvisors Network, a multi-national education services company offering students options for managing the entire education life cycle, from getting into their college of choice to financing their education and beyond. The Edvisors Network is based in Quincy, Massachusetts, with offices in Quincy and London, England. Visit them on the web at http://www.EdvisorsNetwork.com for more information.

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