A variable rate loan usually offers a lower initial interest rate
than a fixed rate student loan, but because the rate can fluctuate over time, it also presents a greater risk.
Not exact matches
Variable interest
rate loans are usually offered at lower
rates than fixed rate loans, but can be risky because the
student loan
rates could rise significantly in the future.
Variable
rates currently offer lower interest
rate options, resulting in additional interest savings, but keep in mind — variable
rate student loans are often higher risk for borrowers
than fixed interest
rate student loans.
The important thing to remember is, all other things being equal, a lower
student loan interest
rate is better
than a higher one — but you need to consider all of the terms of the loan including whether the
rate is
fixed or variable and what your loan repayment options are to ensure you get the best overall deal.
So even though you're assuming a certain level of risk that your
rate could go up, you're also getting a
rate that's lower
than the one you'd get on a
fixed rate student loan.
How much lower is a variable
rate than a
fixed rate for
student loans?
Benefit Your starting MBA Loan interest
rate may be less
than a
fixed interest
rate, which could result in a lower total
student loan cost.
If you are carrying
student loans issued through FFEL (private funding) or Federal Direct loans, such as Stafford or Perkins, you are eligible to consolidate your loans under federal guidelines that will ensure a reasonable
fixed rate (no higher
than 8.25 %) and extended payment terms (10 to 20 years).
The Perkins loan (for
students demonstrating «extreme financial need») can potentially get you more money
than the direct subsidized loans in the first two years, but once you leave, you'll be paying a
fixed 5 %
rate.
Most private
student loans have variable interest
rates that are higher
than the
fixed rates offered by federal loans.
The good news is, if you're planning to accelerate your
student loan payoff, variable interest
rate loans are generally much lower
than fixed rates.
After the
student loan
rate extension of 2012, Rep. Culberson mentioned that the Republicans «recommended using variable interest
rates rather
than fixed interest
rates» way back in 2002.
While this doesn't stack up against some of the best
fixed -
rate cash back credit cards, it's better
than the average offer available to
students.
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan for graduate
student borrowers carries a higher interest
rate at 6.00 %
than the 4.45 %
fixed rate Direct Unsubsidized Loan available for undergraduate
student borrowers, and both of these loans carry a 1.066 % origination fee.
Say you can pay off your
student loan debt quickly — a variable
rate student loan may be a cost - saving solution if the
rate is lower
than the available
fixed rate, and does not increase above the available
fixed rate during the repayment period.
However, because federal
student loans issued as of July 2006 have
fixed rates, «There is no financial benefit to consolidating federal loans, other
than having a single monthly payment and access to alternative repayment plans,» Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid, told Forbes.
Pick a variable -
rate private
student loan, and you'll start out with a better interest
rate than you'd get on a
fixed -
rate private loan with the same repayment term.
Consideration You may pay more for your total
student loan cost because a
fixed interest
rate is usually higher
than a starting variable interest
rate.
Fixed rates are generally higher
than what you'd get with federal
student loans, though variable
rates can sometimes offer a better deal — at least in the beginning.
Benefit Your starting Health Professions Graduate Loan interest
rate may be less
than a
fixed interest
rate, which could result in a lower total
student loan cost.
Most home equity loans have single - digit interest
rates that can be a few percentage points lower
than student loans, and lenders typically offer
fixed rates.
The average
student loan interest
rate for variable
rate student loans tends to be lower
than fixed rate loans, at least initially.
Say you can pay off your
student loan debt quickly — a variable
rate student loan may be a cost - saving solution if the
rate is lower
than available
fixed rates and if the
rate does not increase above the available
fixed rate during the repayment period.
If one or both are variable
rate loans (well, you say the
student loan is
fixed),
than you have to guess what the
rates might be in the future.
Typically,
fixed rate student loans come with a higher interest
rate than private
student loans, but charge the same
rate for the life of the loan.
«Consolidation of
student loan debt is a good idea if and when you can find a loan that has a
fixed and lower interest
rate than the one you have now,» Tayne said.
TFCU offers
fixed and variable
rate student loans as well as flexible line of credit options to
students attending one of more
than 1,200 colleges and universities.
Fixed interest
rate loans may be lower
than federal
student loan interest
rates for the most qualified borrowers, but they are often higher for borrowers with less
than perfect credit.
Benefit Your starting interest
rate may be less
than a
fixed interest
rate, resulting in a lower total
student loan cost.
Benefit Your starting Dental School Loan interest
rate may be less
than a
fixed interest
rate, which could result in a lower total
student loan cost.
Each year, Congress sets federal
student loan interest
rates, which are
fixed for the life of the loan and, generally speaking, lower
than what private lenders may offer.
If you are potentially thinking about refinancing and consolidating your
student loans, it could be a better decision to refinance your loans with a
fixed rate loan rather
than a variable
rate loan.
However, private
student loans also provide variable interest
rates, that can be several points lower
than fixed rates.
While this doesn't stack up against some of the best
fixed -
rate cash back credit cards, it's better
than the average offer available to
students.