For many recent college graduates the repayment period on their student loans is about to begin due to the end of the six-month grace period. As many graduates find their student loan payment booklets in their mailboxes, which typically arrive approximately 30 to 60 days before the first due date for payment, it is important for graduates to make their payments on time. Some graduates may be in a position to make the scheduled level repayment, while others will find themselves in a burdensome financial situation.

Phoenix-based NextStudent, the premier education funding company offers free advice and a variety of repayment options for students. Repaying student loans (http://www.nextstudent.com/student-loans/student-loans.asp) is serious business. However, there are various options depending on a graduates situation, most repayments are set to level repayment, unless otherwise noted.

Not every college graduate is settled into life after college, and not every graduate is employed. Some graduates still are searching for a job while others have moved home to save money. Life immediately after college can be a little stressful. There are so many things to get in order along with a new job, such as a place to live and a vehicle to get you where you need to go.

By contacting NextStudent after receipt of their payment booklet, graduates can speak to Education Finance Advisers and receive free guidance about the other available repayment plans. Income-sensitive and extended repayment plans are available by directly contacting the lender. With graduated repayment plans, graduates agree initially to pay lower payments. However, the payment amount increases every two years. This is a good choice for those graduates who feel or know that their salary will increase over time.

Forbearance is an option that graduates can use for any given reason. Graduates can use forbearance for up to three years. However, it is important to note that interest continues to accrue throughout the forbearance period.

There are those graduates who opt to defer their student loan payments. With deferment, student loan payments are postponed for a maximum of three years. While in deferment, interest will not accrue on subsidized loans. Graduates must show economic hardship to be eligible.

There are many available options for student loan repayment. NextStudent knows that when a grace period ends, it not always is the best time for graduates to repay their student loans. The Education Finance Advisers are there to help students and graduates with all the questions they may have regarding repayment and the options available to help make life easier and more manageable including student loan consolidation (http://www.nextstudent.com).

About NextStudent

NextStudent, http://www.nextstudent.com/, federal lender code 834051, is dedicated to helping students and their families find affordable ways to pay for college. NextStudent offers one-on-one education finance counseling and has a portfolio of highly competitive education finance products and services including a free online scholarship search engine, federally guaranteed parent and student loans, private student loans, both federal and private student loan consolidation (http://www.nextstudent.com) programs, and college savings plans.

The NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, one of the nations oldest and largest scholarship search engines, is updated daily, available free of charge, completely private and represents 2.4 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion.

For more information about NextStudent and its student loan programs, please visit the companys Web site at http://www.nextstudent.com/.

This article was posted on November 14, 2006