Community Based Student Loans Also Accessible For Students

By Cornelius Nunev


School loans have been an item of worry lately, not only due to the amazing pace of growth in debt levels but also in interest rates assessed on them. There are some options beyond private loans or subsidized loans, such as community-based school loans, which are getting traction.

Organizations all over

Though Daily Finance made it apparent that there are a ton of community associations showing up to help students, MarketWatch had most of the info about them. These organizations are community-based and offer school loans to students in the area that need a bit of help.

The donors get solicited for funds with "crowd sourcing," and the program is very similar to that. Loans are given with the money people put to the communal pot.

According to MarketWatch, it isn't even new; one such organization, the Canton Student Loan Organization of Canton, Ohio, has been around since 1922 and has lent $27 million to more than 5,000 students.

However, just like crowd funded personal loans online websites such as Lending Club or Prosper, those loans do have to be paid back with interest.

What are the loans?

Daily Finance, Bankrate and MarketWatch all made it clear that community-based school loans, with regards to cost, are somewhere between federal school loans and private school loans.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau got 46 percent of its student loan grievances from Sallie Mae, which is pretty e expensive for private loans. You may also get private loans from a credit union or community bank, though they are usually cheaper.

Typically, federal Stafford loans have the very best rates. Private loans range dependent upon lender, but could be as high as 16 percent. Community-based student loans can range from zero-percent interest, from some organizations and generally top out, according to MarketWatch, at 8 percent from most institutions. However, they also usually come with harsher terms, as many have shorter repayment periods and some require collateral up to and including the parent's home.

Do some homework

The small organizations do not have a lot of cash to them, which is why the loans are typically pretty small. It is enough to cover tuition and books, but typically it is not much more than that, according to Bankrate.

A "personal loan for educational purposes" could be provided by credit unions in the same way, and the terms would be better than if you were to go to a private lender. Students and parents need to do the work to determine which program will work best for them. According to CBS, there are loan consolidation programs at credit unions that could be worth checking out.




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