A college degree has become more and more of a necessity in today’s competitive job market. A bachelor’s degree is now a requirement for many entry-level positions in a wide variety of fields and industries.
Unfortunately, attending college comes with an increasingly high price tag.
For many students, paying these costs out of pocket is simply not an option, which leaves Americans seeking a college degree in a difficult situation.
While there are many different options for students to finance a bachelor’s degree, you may want to consider credit union student loans as a part of your financial plan.
Read on for a list of tips to make sure that you can afford a college degree.
1. Identify Sources of Aid
One of the first steps you may take when considering financing a college education is identifying all possible sources of aid.
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for various sources of funding/aid to offset or cover your costs. These options include:
- Grants
- Financial aid from your university
- Work-study
- Private scholarships
- Federal student loans
- Private student loans
You will, of course, need to evaluate which of these options suit you best and decide what kind of funding you will pursue.
A combination of financial aid, grants, and loans should help you on your way to a college degree.
2. Explore Credit Union Student Loans
Taking out a student loan through a credit union has many advantages in terms of financing your undergraduate education.
Though there are many ways to fund a college degree, as mentioned above, even a combination of funding sources may leave you with gaps that will require you to pay for some portion of your tuition and fees.
Once you have exhausted all of the lower-cost sources of aid, it is a good time to consider taking out a student loan through a credit union.
Some of the benefits of taking out a loan through a credit union include lower fees, great service, and favorable interest rates. Credit unions tend to have these advantages over larger banks, in addition to providing you with a greater degree of attention as a customer.
3. Know What a Credit Union Student Loan May Offer You
It is important to familiarize yourself with the details and fine print regarding student loans in order to make an informed decision about your financial future.
Here are some of the specific benefits available to you when you take out a student loan with a credit union.
- Borrow up to $60,000 with a low, competitive interest rate.
- No origination or prepayment penalties.
- Flexible repayment and in-school deferment options.
- Financial education tools that can help you succeed both in college and beyond.
Take Control of Your Student Loan Repayment
Be sure to take control of your student loan repayment through refinancing. This way, you will be able to consolidate your private and federal student loans into one manageable loan with one convenient payment.
This option may even save you some money, too.
