When interest rates on student loans rise, many college students begin to consider student loan consolidation. There are both benefits and disadvantages to student loan consolidation. This article explains the pros and cons of consolidating student loans.

Pros

Consolidating your student loans locks you in at the current interest rate. This means that, if interest rates rise, you will continue to be responsible only for your original fixed interest rate. Unconsolidated student loans have variable interest rates that fluctuate from year to year.

Consolidation loans generally have longer repayment periods. Unconsolidated student loans have a maximum repayment period of 10 years. Consolidation loans may have repayment periods up to 30 years. This means that monthly payments may be lower on consolidated loans.

Cons

On unconsolidated student loans, the government pays the interest on your loans for six months after you graduate. This means that you wouldnt be responsible for a payment during this time. However, consolidating your student loans forfeits this grace period. You will be responsible for payments on your loans immediately after graduation.

If you consolidate, you are locked in at the current rate for the lifetime of the loan. If you dont consolidate, your interest rate will fluctuate depending on economical conditions. It is possible that interest rates will drop lower than the current rate in the future. Visit www.abcloanguide.com for various student loan consolidation services.

If you consolidate under a longer repayment period and make only the minimum monthly payments, you will pay more interest than you would on in a shorter repayment plan. This could cost you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the loan.