Canada Student Loans Guide

Private Student Loans

Mention the word college and most parents will cringe at the thought of the costs involved in sending their kids to one. This is the reason why they are encouraged to save up for their children's college education as early as possible. However, there are other household expenses which need to be prioritized, that is why when their children are finally college-bound, there is still a need to stake out a student loan. Fortunately, there are several student loan types which are available.

The first type of student loan is the federal loan offered by the government, which is available on a national and provincial level. The second type is a private student loan which is offered by banks, financial institutions and other forms of lenders. The difference between a federal and private loan is that private loans have lesser repayment options. Private loans also have higher interest rates as compared to federal loans, since they are based on the credit rating of the applicant. The advantage of student loans is that it is possible to start paying off the loan only after you have permanently stopped attending school. This is unlike the loans which are issued to parents – who are responsible for the monthly payments while their child is attending school on a full time basis. Remember that when applying for student loans, it would help to compare the interest rates offered by each lender, as well as the terms of agreement. Narrow down your choices to two or three lenders, and make a comparison of each so that you can make sure that you are getting the best student loan possible.