Most of the students are not able to continue with their education because of the fact that it is getting expensive day after day. Government has arranged Federal Stafford Student loans for such students. It is one of the best and most affordable loans available for the students.
This is a secured loan. This low cost loan is available to the student in their name. They therefore don’t have to arrange a cosigner. Stafford loan is a federal loan for the college and university students who are willing to take up higher education. These loans come with fixed interest rates.
There are two types of Stafford student loans- subsidized or unsubsidized. Depending on the financial needs of the students the US government can either subsidize or unsubsidized the loan amount.
The Stafford subsidized loan is the federal loan which is given to the financially needy students. The interest rate does not accrue when you are in university or during the deferment period. The government pays the interest till you complete your studies. While with the Subsidized Stafford loan the interest rate start to accrue from the time the student starts receiving the loan amount.
Apart from this both the types have same terms and eligibility conditions. Both the types come with fixed interest rates which at present are at 6.8 percent.
To qualify for this loan
- You have to enroll at least half of the time in a school or a university.
- You should be a HS diploma or have a General Education Development Certificate.
- You should also have passed a college entrance exam recognized by the US Department of Education.
- To qualify for subsidized loan you should display a need for financial aid. Besides this you should be a US citizen or an eligible non US citizen.
To apply for the loan amount
You have to fill the Free Application for Federal Financial Student Aid (FASFA) form. This form or application is then processed to ensure that you are a financial needy student.
As the forms are processed and funded through the college in which you have taken admission, therefore, to fill the form you have to contact your school financial aid office. The staff will tell you about the procedure and the deadline for the form. The procedure takes some time, so, fill the form and submit it as early as possible so that you stand a chance to receive the loan amount on time.
The loan does not require a security and credit check and are given to the students in their names. The loan amount can be used as a supplement to the scholarships, grants and financial resources from parents.