Student Loans Vs Personal Loans

While students usually think of college as a low-expenditure period, college expenses are often higher than what is covered by a student loan. While student loans are intended to cover educational costs, they do not cover basic living expenses, such as food and lodging. Often students do not have sufficient funds to pay for their rent or other expenses, and personal loans are the next logical step. Student loans are protected by the federal government, and interest rates are lower. Students who take out a personal loan must pay the loan back immediately, however.

Student loans are protected by the federal government

Most student loans are held by a lender, quasi-governmental agency, or third-party loan servicing company, rather than the federal government. Although the federal government protects the government-backed loans, private loans are less favorable. They typically carry higher interest rates and fees, and are not dischargeable through bankruptcy. There are no loan limits for private loans, and the interest rate is higher than on federal loans. In addition, private student loans may have higher loan fees and penalties.

They have lower interest rates

Aside from being more affordable, student loans also offer higher flexibility. Instead of repaying the loan in one lump sum, you can pay it back over a period of time in installments, each consisting of both interest and principal. You may be able to defer payment if your monthly income is low, but not all private lenders offer this option. Personal loans may be an option if you have an unexpected emergency that requires you to pay back a large sum of money in a short period of time.

They offer deferred payments

A deferred payment plan is one way of extending a credit line. Sometimes, a creditor offers a deferred payment plan for the first six months of a new customer’s account. In this case, the customer only pays interest on the credit card balance during this period and then makes regular payments after that. The deferred payment plan may be a great way for a creditor to attract new customers.

They are easier to discharge than other consumer debts

Bankruptcy is often used to eliminate other types of debt, including credit card bills, but student loans are harder to eliminate. Despite being easier to discharge than other consumer debts, they are also not completely wiped out. Although most consumer debts are non-dischargeable, student loans aren’t. In fact, they are among the few debts that can’t be eliminated through bankruptcy.