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After a quick search of financial sites, it seems that the two main themes of student loan repayment are planning and consolidation. Several of the student loan sites we visited, such as Access Group, offered information on managing debt, estimating income after college, and the importance of maintaining good credit. At the Wyoming Student Loan Corporation, you'll find answers to common post-loan questions such as "What if I'm having trouble making payments?" They also offer information on alternate payback plans, such as graduated repayment, where your monthly payment goes up as you get older (and hopefully have a greater earning potential). Another nice resource for student lenders is
the Student Loan Marketing Association, or Sallie Mae. They provide information on interest rates, managing student loans, electronic payments, and "highly indebted" borrowers. The Sallie Mae site also touts their "SmartLoan" program, which helps graduates consolidate all their separate loans into one refinanced loan, thus reducing their monthly payment. Just remember, this doesn't lower the total amount you'll need to pay. In fact, it most likely raises it slightly, it simply makes your debts more manageable over the long haul. Finally, if you're on an unavoidable collision course with dire straits, visit the government's Guide to Defaulted Student Loans for some sober
talk on your financial options.
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