February 11, 2009 7:18 PM
- Text
'Big Brother 6': Sexuality, Deceit
(CBS)
The low rate on consolidation loans for students is likely to end this Summer. Financial adviser Ray Martin visits The Early Show to help you decide what to do with your student loans.
College grads, former students and their parents with education loans have what may be one of the best opportunities to save money on their loans.
At the center of this opportunity is that the interest rate that applies to consolidation loans – a fixed rate loan that replaces the variable rates of the existing student loans – is set to rise this summer.
Under a federally subsidized program, in July of each year, the Department of Education sets a fixed rate that applies to consolidation loans for the following 12 months. The fixed rate is tied to an index of the 91-day Treasury Bill rate as of the end of May each year, and that rate is approximately 2.85 percent, which is over 1.75 percentage points higher than where it was last year. This means that the fixed rate that applies loans consolidated AFTER June 2005, could be approximately 5 to 6 percent, versus 3.37 percent for Stafford Loans and 4.17 percent for PLUS Loans consolidated BEFORE July 2005.
Stay tuned for the full report.
College grads, former students and their parents with education loans have what may be one of the best opportunities to save money on their loans.
At the center of this opportunity is that the interest rate that applies to consolidation loans – a fixed rate loan that replaces the variable rates of the existing student loans – is set to rise this summer.
Under a federally subsidized program, in July of each year, the Department of Education sets a fixed rate that applies to consolidation loans for the following 12 months. The fixed rate is tied to an index of the 91-day Treasury Bill rate as of the end of May each year, and that rate is approximately 2.85 percent, which is over 1.75 percentage points higher than where it was last year. This means that the fixed rate that applies loans consolidated AFTER June 2005, could be approximately 5 to 6 percent, versus 3.37 percent for Stafford Loans and 4.17 percent for PLUS Loans consolidated BEFORE July 2005.
Stay tuned for the full report.
Popular Now in CBS News
- Teen's Facebook Sex Scam
- The Best Pregnancy Tests
- Pom-Pom Mom Goes To Extreme
- Eight Delicious Foods That Help Fight Belly Fat
- Perks of Five-Hour Energy Put to Test
- Which Yogurts Are Healthiest?
- Cyberbullying Continued After Teen's Death
- How Long Foods Stay Fresh In Fridge
- "Designer Babies" Ethical?
- Ten Healthiest Fast Food Chains
- Could Protein Shakes Harm Your Health?
- Best Low-Tech Cell Phones Suitable for Seniors
- Electronic Cigarettes: Are They Safe?
- Can Exercise Make You Gain Weight?
- How to Stop a Cold Before It Takes Hold
- Best Sleep Positions To Rid Aches, Pains
- Countertop Makeover In A Paint Can
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Daughter: Jailed Tymoshenko denied painkillers
- NY cable dispute blacks out Knicks, 4 NHL teams
- Daughter: Jailed Tymoshenko denied painkillers
- Serbia urges citizens to save power in big freeze
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
on CBS News





