Student Loan Cosigner for December 2024

Figuring out student loans is overwhelming. People start throwing out loan lingo left and right, and all the terms start to blend together. The term “cosigner” is one popular example of this loan lingo and often becomes a point of confusion. Understanding what a student loan cosigner is and when you may want to have …

Best Student Loan Rates of January 2025

The interest rate on your student loan(s) will drastically impact how much you pay over the life of the loan. Even a small increase in the interest rate could result in thousands of dollars more over your repayment term. Finding a low interest student loan should be of utmost priority when selecting the best option …

Best Parent Loans for College of January 2025

Given the rising cost of college, finding affordable college financing is more important than ever. As a parent, it’s both understandable and admirable to want to support your child through the process of paying for college. It’s essential that you have the tools to pick the best college loan. If you’re curious about your parent …

Best Private Student Loans of 2025

The best student loan for you will always be the one that suits your individual needs best. However, it’s helpful to have a few strong options to start with so you can get a better idea of what your loan options will look like. Whether you’re pursuing an undergraduate degree, a law degree, or a …

How and Where to Get Private Student Loans for Bad Credit

“Can I get a student loan even though I have bad credit?” The simple answer: yes. The more complicated answer: welllll, yes, but it’s going to be trickier. While most federal student loans don’t require you to have a good credit score, or any credit at all, most private student loans, on the other hand, …

What is Expected Family Contribution (EFC)? How Does it Affect Financial Aid?

While an important piece in determining your eligibility for financial aid, Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, is often misunderstood. Here’s what you need to know about Expected Family Contribution for FAFSA purposes. What is Expected Family Contribution? Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, is a number used to determine how much financial aid you are eligible …

5 Strategies: How to Pay for Grad School

Earning a graduate degree is a great way to increase your income potential. In fact, Indeed reported that, on average, the earnings increase from a bachelor’s to master’s degree is roughly 20%. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to understand how to pay for grad school. Graduate school can be expensive. According to FinAid.org, a graduate …

How to Prepare for Student Loan Forgiveness

On August 24th, President Joe Biden announced his comprehensive student loan relief plan, complete with up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness per eligible borrower. Now, as the application is nearing its release, it’s time to prepare. Here’s what you should do before the application comes out to make sure you’re ready. Stay Updated on …

Student Loan Forgiveness for Married Couples

On August 24, President Joe Biden announced broad student loan relief actions, forgiving up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for eligible borrowers. While the much-needed relief has been celebrated by many, it’s left others —especially married couples— somewhat in the dark. Here’s what married couples need to know about student loan forgiveness: To …

How to Remove Student Loans From Your Credit Report

As an adult, your credit score matters quite a bit. Whether you’re seeking approval for an apartment, a mortgage, or a car loan, your credit score will be utilized in various important life stages. If your student loans seem to be bringing down your score, you may be wondering how to remove student loans from …

Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxable?

President Biden’s recent student loan forgiveness actions are a win for many borrowers. However, as the relief gets closer, many are left wondering whether the discharged debt will be considered taxable income. This isn’t a new concept. In fact, discharged indebtedness has been classified as taxable income for years. However, the unprecedented nature of broad …

How to Talk to Your Child About Student Loans

Starting the conversation about paying for college isn’t always easy, especially if you anticipate being met with one big eye-roll. While tough to navigate, it’s an important discussion to have. If you’re not quite sure where to start, here’s a quick guide on how to have the student loan conversation with your child. Start the …

Do Student Loans Affect My Credit Score?

If you’ve borrowed a student loan to fund your college education, you may be curious about the impact it could have on your credit score.  Like other installment loans, student loans can both help and hurt your credit. If you’re diligent about making payments on time, it may give your score a boost. If you’re …

Why Did My Credit Score Drop After Paying Off Student Loans?

Making that last debt payment can feel liberating. The balance finally hits zero, and a weight is lifted off your shoulders. While an incredible accomplishment, you may notice a drop in your credit score, leaving you to feel quite defeated. It’s normal to wonder, “Why has my credit score dropped after paying my student loan? …

What to Do if You Don’t Qualify for Biden’s Debt Relief

Since 1980, the cost of a college education has nearly tripled, even after adjusting for inflation. Yet, federal aid hasn’t kept up. So, during his presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised to cancel $10,000 of federal student loan debt per borrower. In August, he followed through with his promise, announcing up to $20,000 in forgiveness for …

How to Pay Off $200k+ in Student Loans

When paying for college, a few thousand here and there might not seem like much. But overtime, it adds up quickly. And, with more expensive programs and advanced degrees, it’s hard to dodge the colossal tuition bills. If you’re staring at a student loan balance of over $200,000, you might be feeling overwhelmed, and rightfully …

How Often You Should Refinance Your Student Loans

If you’ve already refinanced your student debt once, you know just how much it can save you. For example, borrowers that use Sparrow to refinance save, on average, $17,000 over the life of their loan. With that in mind, you may be curious if you can refinance more than once. And if so, how many …

Budget for College Graduates That Actually Works

Graduating college is the beginning of a new chapter in your life. You may be moving out of your parents’ house, landing an exciting new job, or heading to graduate school. Regardless, managing your finances post-graduation is crucial in navigating your new adult life. To help keep your finances in order, consider making a college …

Can You Pay Student Loans with a Credit Card?

Making student loan payments with a credit card may be tempting, especially if you don’t have the cash to do so — or if you want to earn extra rewards on your card. That said, it isn’t always possible, nor is it recommended in most cases. Before attempting to pay your student loans with a …

How to Buy a House with Student Loan Debt ($100k+)

If you’re concerned about your student loan debt affecting your chances of buying a home, you’re not alone. In fact, over a quarter of student debt holders say their debt has impacted their decision or their ability to purchase a home. Here’s what you need to know about buying a house with $100k student loan …

Pay Off Student Loans or Invest: What You Should Do

The average borrower takes 20 years to repay their student loan debt, costing them around $26,000 in interest alone. While it may be tempting to throw all your extra cash toward your student debt to relieve that burden faster, sacrificing investing for retirement to do so may not be the best approach. That said, the …

Guide on How to Refinance Student Loans

In a very simple sense, student loan refinancing allows you to swap your current student loan for one with a better interest rate or terms. By doing so, you can save thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. In fact, borrowers who used Sparrow to refinance reduced their interest rate by 2.29 percentage …

The Ultimate Guide to Student Loan Forgiveness

Student loan forgiveness allows for all, or a portion, of your student loan debt to be removed. Yes, you read that right. All of it, gone with the click of a button. While the idea of having your student loan debt wiped out forever sounds dreamy, it isn’t that simple. While most federal loans qualify …

Best Places for Private Student Loans

The best student loan will always be the one that meets your needs best. That said, it’s helpful to start the process with a list of strong options to make navigating the process easier. Here are our top picks for the best places for private student loans. The loan options shared are in no particular …

Best Jobs for College Students to Start Paying Student Loans

The average 4-year in-state college degree will run you nearly $25,000 per year, or over $100,000 for the entire degree. If you’re borrowing student loans to cover this, it’ll likely cost you even more once interest is factored in. Having a job while in school can not only help you manage your college expenses but …

Simple vs Compound Interest: What You Need to Know

Interest, often expressed as a percentage, is the cost of borrowing money from a lender. It can be one of two types: simple or compound. The difference between simple and compound interest lies in how they are calculated. While seemingly small differences in their formulas, the type of interest on a loan can drastically change …

11 Ways to Pay for College Without Your Parents’ Help

According to Education Data, American parents save $5,143 annually for their kid’s college, on average. Without this parental support, paying for college can feel out of reach. However, each year, thousands of students pay for college on their own, successfully utilizing a variety of resources to support them.  Here’s how you can pay for college …

Best Private Student Loans for Undergraduates

Undergraduate students have a wide range of student loan options to choose from, making the selection process that much more important.  Before agreeing to any one loan, it’s important to understand your options, the pros and cons of each, and how your student loan decision impacts your future. The following are our top picks for …

Best Student Loan Companies of 2024

In a sea of student loan companies, finding the best one for you may feel overwhelming. Each private student loan company will offer something different. Some elements may be right up your alley and others maybe not so much. While the best student loan company for you will ultimately be the one that suits your …

Dentist Salary | Is Being a Dentist Worth It?

While the average 4-year dental program could run you around $400,000 with all expenses included, the career trajectory is promising. Average dentist salaries outrank various other industries, putting newly graduated dentists in a fairly sound financial position. Despite competitive salaries, the average dental student graduates with around $300,000 in student debt. While daunting, the significant …

How to Pay for College with No Financial Aid

Each year, college-bound students anticipate receiving their college financial aid award letters. Oftentimes, financial aid becomes a make-it-or-break-it factor in pursuing a higher education. If your financial aid award is too small, it could put attending that university out of the question. But what if you receive no financial aid at all?  Before you throw …

How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Ability to Get a Student Loan

Navigating adult life is easier with a good credit score. This three-digit number affects nearly every facet of your financial life, from paying for college, to renting an apartment, to buying a car. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about credit, focusing on how your credit score impacts your ability …

Top 55 Companies With Tuition Reimbursement Programs

In today’s job market, employee retention is dwindling by the minute. In an effort to keep up, companies are offering more robust benefits, including substantial tuition assistance programs.  If your eyes are set on pursuing a higher education, consider working for one of the following companies to help reduce the amount you pay out-of-pocket or …

Top 30 Companies That Will Pay Off Your Student Debt

The idea of an employer giving you extra money to pay off your student loan debt may seem too good to be true. But in fact, around 17%1 of employers offer student debt assistance and another 31% plan to offer it in the future. Regardless of how much you owe, an employer throwing extra cash …

How to Pay for Dental School: The Top 4 Strategies You Need to Know

Becoming a dentist has a variety of benefits, but getting there can be quite expensive. A 4-year dental school program could run you about $400,000 with all expenses included. That’s why it’s essential to understand how to best pay for dental school The return on investment with a dental degree is promising, with the average …

How to Pay for Law School: The Top 4 Strategies You Need to Know

According to the Law School Admission Council, a law degree can cost upwards of $150,000. While there are more affordable law programs, it isn’t uncommon for law school graduates to end up in a fair amount of student debt. If you’re headed to law school any time soon, the reality of how much it costs …

Pros and Cons of Refinancing Federal Student Loans

If you have a stable income and a solid credit score, student loan refinancing can save you thousands over the life of your loan. But if you’re planning to refinance federal student loans, know that it does come with some sacrifices. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of refinancing federal student loans. …

Best Graduate School Student Loans

The average graduate student borrower leaves school with $71,000 in student debt. This is on top of undergraduate student loans, bringing the average debt total for graduate students to $82,800. While an exciting new chapter of your life, financing your graduate education may feel overwhelming. Before selecting a loan to pay for graduate school, it’s …

Types of Student Loans: Which One is Right for Me?

When paying for college, there are two main types of student loans you will find: federal and private. Within these categories, there are several kinds of loans, each designed to cover a different academic program. Before taking out a student loan, it’s important to understand the broader landscape of your loan options. That way, you …

International Student’s Guide to Student Loans

Studying in the United States is an exciting opportunity. When it comes to funding this new chapter, there are various options including scholarships, grants, and student loans. While helpful, scholarships and grants may not cover your entire cost of attendance. If so, a private international student loan may be your next step. To get you …

Can You Get an International Student Loan Without a Cosigner?

According to the Institute of International Education, 73% of international students in the United States depend on resources outside the country to pay for their college education. This sentiment is true when it comes to cosigners, too. Most international students only have access to a cosigner outside the U.S. However, many private student lenders require …

How to Get an International Student Loan Without an SSN

While studying in the United States can be incredibly exciting, paying for it as an international student without a Social Security Number (SSN) can be confusing. But don’t worry. In this article, we’ll break down the student loan process for international students with no SSN. That way, you can feel confident in your borrowing decisions.  Jump …

Student Loan Limits: How Much Can You Borrow in Student Loans?

Student loans cover the gap between the cost of college and what you’re able to pay out of pocket. While student loans can cover quite a bit, they do have limits. There are two main types of student loans: federal and private. The borrowing limit for each type of loan will depend on various factors. …

Best Student Loans for International Students

Federal student loans are only available to United States citizens and eligible noncitizens. Thus, many international students have fewer student loan options when studying in the United States.  For many international students, a private student loan is the best way to pay for college. Many lenders offer loans to international students, but most require a …

Student Loan Eligibility: Private and Federal Loans

There are two types of student loans: private and federal. While private student loans are provided by private entities such as banks and financial institutions, federal student loans are provided by the federal government. If you think you may need a student loan to pay for college, check your student loan eligibility ASAP. How to …

How Do I Compare Student Loans?

You’ve exhausted all of your scholarship, grant, and work-study options. Now, it’s time to start considering student loans to cover that last mile of financial need. When you look at your student loan options on paper, they may seem suspiciously similar. However, there are various elements to loans that can make them drastically different. In …

Ultimate Guide to Figuring Out Your Financial Aid Package

So you got into college! Now it’s time to sift through your financial aid offers and make your decision! Before you accept any aid, it’s important to truly understand what the offer in front of you really means. We’ll break down the entire process of figuring out your financial aid award letter: The Lingo In …

6 Simple Steps to Fill Out FAFSA

We won’t lie to you. The FAFSA is an animal. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the form you fill out to get financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education to help pay for college.  The information you provide on the FAFSA will determine your eligibility for thousands of dollars …

How to Pay for College

Let’s set the scene. You got accepted into your dream school. You’re so excited you can hardly contain it. A few days go by and the reality sets in. How am I going to pay for this? You log into your school’s payment portal and look at the total cost of attendance. Before you panic, …

5 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

If the cost of the new shoes you just bought is higher than your credit score, let’s chat. Your credit score impacts your ability to take out loans as well as the interest rate associated with them. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like it, or if it isn’t in the range …

What is a Soft Credit Inquiry? What is a Hard Credit Inquiry?

Understanding how credit works may feel impossible. A great place to start is by learning the difference between a hard and soft credit inquiry. We’ll give you all the ‘deets below.   Important Note Before we dive in, we want to note that credit inquiries are also often referred to as “credit pulls” or “credit …

The Difference Between Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Deciphering your student aid package is already like reading IKEA furniture instructions. Confusing. One of the biggest points of confusion for prospective college students is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Understanding the difference is important as it impacts your interest, repayment, and overall student debt. What Are Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans? Both …

Student Loan Forbearance: What You Should Do

You may have heard the news – the federal student loan forbearance period has been extended again until student loan forgiveness litigation is resolved or debt is forgiven.   If you’re feeling out of the loop after reading that, here’s a quick recap of how we got here: COVID happened (no further explanation needed) Loan …

Parent PLUS Loans: What You Need to Know

The Parent PLUS loan program was launched in 1980 through the Higher Education Act, giving high-asset families a bit of liquidity to cover their Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Since then, the program has expanded to cover other demographics, providing a wider audience with federally-sponsored college financing.  If you’re considering borrowing a Parent PLUS loan to …

The Top 10 Student Loan Mistakes You Might Be Making

The bad news: Unfortunately, there’s several mistakes we see students make when dealing with their student loans. The good news: We’ve compiled them into a list with steps on how to avoid those mistakes so you don’t make them. Here we go! 1. Borrowing Too Much Money These aren’t in any specific order, but this …

Everything You Need to Know About Grad PLUS Loans

As if paying for undergrad wasn’t bad enough, now you have to pay for grad school! (*cries in student debt*) One of the options you may have for paying for grad school is a Grad PLUS loan. Let’s break down what a Grad PLUS loan is, who is eligible for one, and what it’s like …

How Your Federal Student Aid is Actually Calculated

We’ve heard the horror stories. Someone applies for Federal Aid and receives a whopping $0. Or, better yet, they apply with what they believe is a significant level of need and receive very little. Why is this? Let’s break it down. Your Expected Family Contribution When you fill out the FAFSA, you will enter information …

The Most Effective Tactics for Paying Off Student Debt Faster

The longer your loans sit, the more interest accrues. The more interest that accrues, the more your overall debt grows. The more your overall debt grows, the larger your payments. (You see where this is going…)  Here’s a comprehensive list of things you can do to pay off your student debt faster, helping you save …

4 Types of Financial Aid for College

You may be wondering what the difference is between scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans. The four main types of financial aid differ in terms of structure and eligibility. Here is the basic information you need to know about the different types of financial aid: The Basics: Comparing Financial Aid Options Which Type of Financial …

The Most Effective Debt Payoff Strategy You Need to Know

Even thinking about your student debt can be overwhelming, but knowing how you’re going to pay it off is important. Let’s review the 3 main strategies for paying off debt and their general effectiveness. 1. (Least Effective) The Shotgun Approach The Shotgun Approach is where you pay just a bit more than the minimum payment …

Forbearance vs. Deferment vs. Forgiveness

Forbearance, deferment, and forgiveness all have some element of not making payments on your student loan. If deciphering the difference seems a bit challenging, read on as we break it down! What is Loan Forbearance? Loan forbearance provides you the opportunity to suspend loan payments temporarily for no more than 12 months at a time. …

How Student Loan Interest Actually Works

You make a loan payment. The total debt goes down. Then you come back the next day. The loan amount is back up to where it was before your payment. Having some deja vu? This is because of interest. Let’s break down what interest is, how it works, and why your total loan balance may …

How to Select the Best Federal Student Loan Repayment Option

Federal student loans have various repayment options. While the best repayment option for any loan is the one you can commit to paying consistently and on time, there are options that will allow you to pay less interest or less money overall. Standard Repayment The standard payment plan is available to all borrowers and is …

Money Mistakes You Might Be Making: College Students’ Top Financial Regrets

We wanted to know what financial regrets college students had so you can avoid them. So, we asked the realest of the real. The best people we know…Our friends. Here are their top financial regrets from college. 1. Not Thinking More About Savings This was by far the most popular response, and it went both …

The Top 6 College Scholarship Sites You Need to Know About

It is always recommended that students exhaust all scholarship options before accepting any federal financial aid or loans. But where do you look for scholarships? We got you. Here’s a few of our favorites. 1. Sallie Mae Sallie Mae is one of the most well-known private student loan companies in the game. To support students …

Simple Hacks to Pay Off Student Debt Faster

Your student loan debt increases every single day because interest compounds daily. If you are looking to pay off your debt faster, making monthly payments won’t be most effective. Here’s two simple hacks that can help you pay off your student debt faster. You’re Paying Off Your Debt Inefficiently If you’re making monthly payments on …

The Ultimate Guide to Refinancing Your Student Loans

Refinancing is actually surprisingly easy to understand: a lender will pay off your existing loans and give you a new one with a lower interest rate or shorter repayment plan. Typically, you can refinance both your federal and private student loans.

3 Ways the Student Debt Crisis Affects You

Around 43 million Americans owe a grand total of $1.7 trillion on their student loans and unfortunately, this number is projected to increase to roughly $2 trillion by 2022. We all know $1.7 trillion is a massive number, and it’s important to recognize it as what it truly is: a crisis. The weight of student …

The Real Impact of the Student Debt Crisis

At the end of 2020, the United States reached a new high of $1.7 trillion in student debt. It’s hard to conceptualize just how much $1.7 trillion is, but what we do know is that it’s really, really, really big. How Many People are Impacted by Student Debt? The $1.7 trillion in student debt is held …

The 4 Big Differences Between Federal and Private Student Loans

A 2019 study showed that most Americans live with some financial regret. One of the highest-ranked regrets was related to choices surrounding student loans.  Trying to figure out the difference between student loan options will leave you with gray hair by age 25. The truth is, there are tons of different options available, and it’s …