How long is the repayment term on the loan?
Most often you will be able to set this yourself. We suggest you try to make this as short as possible—ten years if you can handle it. This will make your monthly payments higher, but you will pay off the loan sooner and get charged less interest over the life of the loan. Plus, you can always negotiate with the lender to extend the term later if you need to. Am I required or allowed to have a cosigner? You want to see if the lender cares about lending to someone with a short and possibly not so pristine credit history. And if they will let you take on a cosigner since this can often improve your rate. Depending on your credit and whether or not you have a willing cosigner, choose the lender that best suits your situation. If I choose to consolidate after I graduate, are there fees attached? It’s good to know up front, if you choose to consolidate later to extend your term or lower your rate, what kinds of fees the process will involve. For more on consolidation, see our guide. Can I e
