Student Loans

Student Loans
College Loan Benefits
Applying for Loans
Choosing a Lender
Compare Loans
Borrowing Amount

Government Loans

Federal Loans
Government Loans
Stafford Loans
Perkins Loans
Federal Direct Loans
Low Interest Loans
Fed Loan Distribution
State Student Loans

Alternative

Alternative
Parent PLUS Loans
Graduate PLUS Loans
Home Equity

Bad Credit

Bad Credit
Fast Loans
No Credit Check Loans
No Co-signer Loans

Major Lenders

Loan Organizations
Private Student Loans
ACS Student Loans
NelNet
Sallie Mae
Signature Loans

Banks

Loan Companies
Bank of America
Bank One
Chase
Citibank
Wachovia
Wells Fargo

Loan Consolidation

Loan Consolidation
Consolidation Benefits
Consolidation for Graduate Students
Loan Repayment
Repayment Options
Loan Grace Period
Student Loan Discounts
Loan Cancellation

Student Loan Precautions

Loan Forgiveness
Defaulted Loans
Getting Out of Default
Loan Deferment
Loan Forbearance

Going to College in Mississippi?

Find the Best Student Loan Options

Confused about where to begin planning practically for your college financial aid strategy?

Sometimes the information that can be found on student loans appears like a huge mash-up. There are a lot of terms and online keywords meant to bring all of the financial aid businesses floating to the top of the list: federal loans, private loans, alternative loans, cheap loans.

The State of Mississippi’s Education Services Foundation (ESF) has been helping students figure out the details of college financial planning for well over 10 years. T

They were created in 1995 to help make certain that Mississippi students have access to higher education. Here’s what ESF has for you:

  • College planning tools
  • Student loan strategies
  • Loan applications
  • State grant and scholarship programs
  • Information that helps you manage your student loans after graduation.
  • Timelines of application deadlines and  necessary preparation steps
college loans in mississippi

ESF Federal Student Loans

ESF modifies the federal student loan process by actually acting as your lender. This modified process also allows for some other features and benefits that are only available to Mississippi Student Loan recipients.

You can complete the FAFSA through the Education Services Foundation website, and then borrow what you are qualified for as determined by the federal government.

Here are the federal loan options most common for Mississippi students:

  • Stafford Loans are immensely popular and awarded to almost every student. Staffords come in need-based and non-need-based versions, and you could even qualify for aid in both.
  • Parent PLUS Loan allows parents with undergraduate students the opportunity to further meet the costs of education once other federal aid have run out. You can also get pre-approved for this loan through ESF, without actually taking any money out, so you’ll know in advance what your available funds will be.
  • Grad PLUS Loans are designed to give grad students financial support for their education. Many graduate students hit the limit on their Stafford Loans before they’ve earned a degree. The Grad PLUS is a very affordable layer of federal aid, almost as much as the Stafford.

Find out much more about the various federal student loan programs.

Private or Institutional Mississippi Student Loans

Private loans are widely available, and in many instances you can even get them from your personal bank. But the chances are that in the long-term, you will pay much more for private student loans than you will for traditional financial aid plans.

Keep this in mind as well, especially when approaching your college or university for an institutional loan:  an increasing number of lenders will only consider you for a private college loan once you’ve borrowed your federal loan limit.

Visit ESF’s website for more information on student aid of all types.