student loans

The Ultimate Guide to Refinancing Your Student Loans

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 14, 2024

Refinancing replaces your existing loans with a new loan through a private vendor, and could potentially change your interest rate, monthly payments, and terms. Refinancing could save you thousands of dollars in the long run, especially if you can score a lower interest rate, or help you better manage high monthly payments. All refinancing is …

student loans

What Happens if You Default on Student Loans (It’s Not Pretty)

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 25, 2025

What happens if you don’t pay student loans? The short answer is – a lot. As soon as you miss the first payment, your student loan enters delinquency. Your loan remains in delinquency status until you make that payment. If your federal student loan continues to remain unpaid for 270 days, it enters default. Private …

student loans

What to Do If You Can’t Afford Your Student Loan Payments

By Tyler HakesLast updated on February 25, 2025

It’s never a good feeling to look at your bank account and know that you don’t have enough to cover your bills. Unfortunately, too many people with student loans find themselves in this position after graduating. When the student loan payments come due, it can be a scary proposition. Some students haven’t been able to …

student loans

3 Strategies for Saving Money on Your Student Loans

By Tyler HakesLast updated on February 25, 2025

Are you feeling stressed about your student loan payments? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Each year, hundreds of thousands of students graduate from college with debt. Some borrowed more than others, but almost all students agree that paying back your student loans can affect everything from buying a new car to buying your first house or even …

student loans

Is Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Right For You? 8 Things You Need to Know

By Tyler HakesLast updated on February 25, 2025

Many people with student loan debt hear about the federal government’s income-based repayment program (IBR) for direct loans and think it may be too good to be true. Who wouldn’t want to have their monthly payment capped at a fixed percent of their monthly income? If you’ve just recently graduated and you’re working an entry-level position …

student loans

When to Refinance Your Student Loans: 5 Signs Now Is the Time

By Tyler HakesLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many students go through similar experiences with their student loans. When you’re in college, it all seems like some sort of distant reality. You know you’re accumulating student loan debt, but you haven’t considered how much you’ll ultimately owe, or what the payments will look like. Understandably so, because school is your main focus. But, …

student loans

Student Loan Refinancing 101: 5 Steps to Start Refinancing Your Student Loans

By Tyler HakesLast updated on December 22, 2022

If you’re like most students thinking about student loan refinance, then you’re probably feeling a whole lot of anxiety. You know that you could save money by refinancing (maybe?) but trying to unravel the process is like untangling your headphones after you’ve carried them around in your backpack all day. Consolidation? Refinance? Income-based repayment? What’s …

scholarships

8 College Scholarships for Black and African-American Students

By Kaeli Nieves-WhitmoreLast updated on December 22, 2022

College degrees have taken the place of high school diplomas when it comes to obtaining an entry-level position. With the cost of college constantly on the rise, scholarships and grants are more important than ever. Here are some great scholarships and grants offered for Black and African-American students who need help paying for college. 1. Ron …

scholarships

8 College Scholarships for High School Seniors

By Kaeli Nieves-WhitmoreLast updated on December 22, 2022

Senior year is the ultimate time to be searching and applying for college scholarships. While some scholarships are only for select majors, locations, colleges, or age groups, more scholarships for seniors than any other group of students. Here are eight amazing scholarships for high school seniors. Olin Teague Award Amount: $4,000 Deadline: June 30, 2022 …

scholarships

5 Fabulously Easy College Scholarships for All Kinds of Students

By Kaeli Nieves-WhitmoreLast updated on December 22, 2022

Scholarship applications and essays take a lot of time to complete. Each requires a specific set of criteria and generally requires new and original content specific to the scholarship. Applying for these scholarships can get tedious. Generally, scholarships ask for long essays. The application process also feels monotonous. However, these five fabulously easy college scholarships …