Bad Credit Private Student Loan

How (and where) to get a private student loan when you have bad credit. In today's uncertain economic climate everyone seems to be stressed over finances. This scenario rings more than true for students about to embark on a three to four year college education.

In most cases the majority of students will have to look for some type of student aid in order to complete their schooling. This may prove to be more of a problem if your credit history is bad or even non-existent; however, obtaining a private student loan even when you have bad credit is not entirely impossible.

If you do decide to apply for a private loan you should know that these types of lenders are pretty sticky about your credit history – most times they require you have a FICO score in the mid to high 70's. For most people fresh out of high school this requirement is totally unrealistic so most students who opt to get private financing will probably require a co-signer.

If getting a co-signer is not desirable or possible then you need to plan carefully well in advance of applying for a private loan. Make sure you have minimized your debt to income ratio and that any bills you have are paid on time and in a regular fashion.

Should you decide that private financing is the way you want to go, start with as small a loan as possible in the first year and even though you may not be required to make payments during that time, it is a good idea to do so as this will build up your credit score which will improve your credit rating and allow you to get additional funding at a more acceptable credit rate in the future.

Make sure you understand that private loans have higher interest rates and stricter repayment plans and that interest begins to accumulate from day one of the loan. Although getting a private student loan while suffering with a bad or non-existent credit history can prove to be daunting, it can be done. Before you embark on this path you may want to investigate some of the suggestions below:

• Although private loans may, at first, seem more appealing it is a very good idea to explore the possibilities of obtaining a federal student loan first. Remember, loans come in two varieties - those that come from private lenders without government guarantees and those available from the federal government which have built in guarantees.
• There are three types of government guaranteed loans: The Stafford, The Perkins and the PLUS (Parent) Loan. Your credit score has no bearing on whether or not you can obtain one of these loans – they are issued strictly based on need. And, the repayment terms and interest rates give a lot more wiggle room than a private loan.
• Regardless of your financial situation or your credit score you should still fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is where you can get additional information on grants, scholarships or work study programs, etc. as well as finding out whether or not you can get federal aid.