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On the heels of last week's announcement that Sallie Mae would not participate in the upcoming PLUS loan auction, the student lending giant once again comes bearing news that may ruffle some feathers and potentially hurt its customers' ability to pay for school.
In a move to reduce default rates, Sallie Mae has announced changes to their popular private loan program. As of next week, borrowers will be expected to make interest payments on their loans while they're still in school. Additionally, the repayment period will be kicked down to under 15 years, as opposed to the current norm of 15 to 25, and the bank will also grant forbearances only in the case of serious financial hardship. Other student lenders have expressed interest in this plan and may soon follow suit, according to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This is actually good news for student borrowers with the means to repay their student loans quickly and make interest payments while still in school--the total amount they repay will be much smaller under this plan. Additionally, if Sallie Mae's loans become more appealing to buyers, it may help the bank stay around to make more loans and could potentially increase loan availability. This move will also cause borrowers to think twice before applying for a private loan from Sallie Mae, which could encourage more responsible borrowing.
However, not everyone is taking out tens of thousands in private loans to drive a sports car to the campus climbing wall at an elite private college. Many borrowers may already be at a community college or state university and may be using their private loans to buy ramen. These students could potentially be edged out of college unless they find alternative sources of funding. If they do stick with private loans, they may need to borrow more to be able to cover their interest payments on their current private loans. This will in turn drive their interest payments and loan balances even higher, while allowing them fewer opportunities to receive a forbearance if they struggle to make payments.
Students who are currently relying on private loans from Sallie Mae to remain enrolled in college should be aware of these changes and search for other funding options if paying interest while in school is not an option. Make your first move a scholarship search before reviewing other private loans or alternatives to alternative loans.