Fact or Fiction: Student Loans

So you took the plunge and traded future debt for a college degree, and now you’re ready to face your student loan payments… at least we hope. You’re probably pecking away at your keyboard, exploring ways to pay back your loan, and hopefully avoiding forums from random people claiming to be so called experts.

Before you trust the World Wide Web, read about some common facts and myths that you might come across during your search.

1. Federal and private loans are different. FACT. The federal government funds federal student loans – unlike private student loans, which are non-federal loans provided by lenders, such as banks, credit unions, schools or state agencies.
2. There are no serious consequences to default. FICTION. Not paying your loan on time is a bad idea. You should always maintain communication with your loan servicers and try to avoid missing payments, which can result in wage garnishments or damage to your credit. Student loans must be repaid, and there is no way around it.
3. It’s difficult to discharge student loans through bankruptcy. FACT. Unlike other forms of debt, student loans are federally protected against being written off through bankruptcy except in extenuating circumstances. Even during bankruptcy (though your loans will be deferred), fees and finance charges will continue to incur until the loan is paid off.
4. Deferring or lowering payments on loans doesn’t cost you a lot of money. FICTION. Assuming a 6.8% interest rate over 10 years for a $25,000 loan, you’d pay over $9,500 in interest on the life of the loan, and if the same payment was over a 20-year period, the amount of interest paid jumps to over $20,000, and that’s if you paid on time! Consider adopting a mindset of paying off all debts, including student loans, as soon as possible so that the total interest paid over the life of the loans is kept to a minimum.
5. Americans owe more in credit card debt than student loan debt. FICTION. Recent statistics show there are over 40 million borrowers who collectively owe almost $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, which is over $600 billion more than the total U.S. credit card debt.¹
6. Over 50% of student loan borrowers don’t fully understand the terms of their loans or the borrowing process. FACT. 65% of borrowers could use a little help when it comes to understanding the details of their loan and how the repayment process works.²

When it comes to student loans, understanding the best way to tackle your debt while thinking about other financial priorities can be pretty overwhelming. We work with people all the time who want help for this stage of life. If you’re in a similar place, consider talking to a Money Coach. And hey, just so you know, we don’t think you need to survive on Top Ramen to save money either. Give us a call at 888-724-2326, and we’ll look forward to helping you with options to repay your student loans!

¹“A Look at the Shocking Student Loan Debt Statistics for 2018.” Student Loan Hero, March 2018. https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics/. Accessed 6 August 2018.

²“11 Facts About College Debt.” Dosomething.org. N.d. https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-college-debt. Accessed 6 August 2018.