Consumer Reports: Seven Steps to Tackle Student Debt

YONKERS, N.Y., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are more than 36 million people saddled with federal student debt, but the depressed job market makes repaying education loans harder than it has been in decades.  Consumer Reports has identified seven steps borrowers can take to help them get a handle on their debt.  The full report, which also features advice on going to college without borrowing money is available in the May issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.     

Seven Steps to Tackle Student Debt

1. Find out how much you owe and to what lenders.  Upon graduation or sooner, line up all your student loans and determine the loan servicers, balances, interest rates, repayment options, and grace periods. 
2. Choose a repayment option.  Analyze your current financial situation and your income potential for the next few years.  You'll save money and get out of debt faster by paying off your highest-interest loans as quickly as possible, which you can do by making the largest payments you can afford each month and applying extra to the principal.  If your total debt exceeds your first-year income after graduation, you probably won't be able to afford payments under the standard 10-year plan.
3. Explore options if you can't afford payments.  Don't reduce or skip payments without permission or you might be reported delinquent or default, which can affect your credit score. You can request a deferment or forbearance for federal loans, but most private ones don't offer the latter and their forbearance terms are limited. 
4. Consider jobs or volunteer programs that qualify for deferment or forgiveness.  Certain public sector jobs, nonprofit-sector careers such as teaching, police and fire services, working in public-interest law or public health, or joining the military may qualify you for cancellation of federal loans.
5. Consider loan consolidation.  A borrower can combine his or her loans into one payment, which is more of a convenience than a cost savings.  However, private student loans usually can't be consolidated with federal student loans.
6. Think twice about going back to school to avoid unemployment.  College enrollment increases during recessions, but incurring more student debt may not pay off. 
7. Contact your lender immediately if you can't pay.  Skipping out on a student loan won't solve the problem.  Defaulting will add late fees and collection costs to the outstanding balance.  Parents or grandparents who want to help recent graduates should consider helping to pay back loans instead of giving cash.

How to avoid borrowing

If you or your child is heading to college and you must borrow money to pay for the cost, Consumer Reports says avoid using private loans except as a last resort even if their current interest rates are lower than federal loans.  Here are some alternate ways that can help minimize expenses:

• Opt for a two-year community college before transferring to a four-year institution, or attend an in-state public university.
• To determine your eligibility for need-based assistance that doesn't need to be repaid, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible after January 1st.
• Don't take out loans to cover nonessentials such as room furnishing and entertainment; consider working part-time to cover incidentals.

For the full report on student debt, check out the May issue of Consumer Reports available on newsstands on April 3rd and at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports is the world's largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications.  Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

MAY 2012
The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.  We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports®, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent commercial use of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports®.

SOURCE Consumer Reports