Mellody Hobson: Student Loan Consolidation

June 16, 2006 — -- The June 30 deadline for college graduates, parents and students to consolidate their student loans to avoid rate increases is just two weeks away, and it's time to take advantage of consolidation if you haven't done so already.

Loan consolidation refers to combining multiple educational loans into a single, larger loan that a student pays off each month. According to FinAid, two-thirds of undergraduate students graduate with some debt, and the average federal loan totals nearly $20,000 per student.

What rate increases will take effect as of July 1?

Rates on existing Stafford and PLUS loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) are variable and change annually on July 1. This year rates will rise a considerable 1.84 percent. Specifically:

While these rates have jumped significantly over the past few years, they can only go so high . By law, Stafford loans are capped at 8.25 percent, while PLUS loans are capped at 9 percent.

What does this mean in real dollars for current students or 2006 graduates?

If you are a student or recent graduate with a $20,000 Stafford loan and you consolidate before June 30, you will lock in at a rate of 4.75 percent, which represents a weighted average of the rate of the loan (or loans) being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of a percentage point. At this rate, you will pay about $129 a month and $11,019 in interest over 20 years.

However, if you choose to consolidate your $20,000 loan after June 30, you will likely pay 6.625 percent, increasing your monthly payment to about $150 and your total interest paid to $16,142, meaning you will pay an additional $5,123 over the life of your loan.

Are there any changes to the rules that current or future students should be aware of?

Since the late 1990s, Stafford and PLUS loans have had variable rates that move up or down each year on July 1, with rates based on the three-month Treasury bill yield at the end of May. But the rules for these loans have recently changed. Rather than variable rates, new Stafford loans issued after June 30, 2006, will be fixed at 6.8 percent, while new PLUS loans will be fixed at 8.5 percent. Another important change to the rules affects current students. After June 30, students can no longer consolidate Stafford loans while they are still in school, so consider taking action now.

What is the first step to consolidation?

Before you consolidate, you must take inventory of all your outstanding loans. The best way to do this is to log on to the National Student Clearinghouse Web site (www.nslc.org). You can consolidate your loans at a bank or credit union that is a member of the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Alternatively, you can go directly to the U.S. Department of Education (www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov) or call 800-557-7392. Remember, if all your loans are held with one private sector lender (rather than through the federal government or the direct-loan program), you must give that lender the first right of refusal on the chance to consolidate your loans before shopping around to other lenders.

You should not respond to a phone solicitor who calls you to consolidate your loans. Keep in mind, there are never any fees associated with consolidation, so if the lender requires you to pay an application or credit check fee, find another lender.

What are the rules of consolidation?

Most federal loans can be consolidated. Students can consolidate while still in school, during the six-month grace period immediately following graduation or during the repayment period. Keep in mind that interest rates are lower when you consolidate while you are still in school or during your grace period.

To qualify while still in school, a student needs to request early repayment status from the lender. By doing so, you lock in the lower rate but also wipe out your future grace period. However, students can still defer payments by requesting an in-school deferment until after graduation.

Here are a few stipulations to keep in mind:

Are there other advantages to consolidating?

Not only will consolidating allow you to lock in the lowest rate in history, it also opens the door to other savings opportunities. For example, if you enroll in an automatic debit plan, you could decrease your interest rate by another quarter-point.

Additionally, after 36 months of on-time payments, some lenders will slash your interest payment by up to another whole percentage point. Finally, consolidation loans do not carry any prepayment penalties -- so go ahead and pay more toward your debt -- just be sure to write "principal payment" on the memo line of your check.

Are there any pitfalls to consolidation?Yes. Although monthly payments are lowered because the life of the loan is extended, keep in mind you could pay considerably more in interest over the life of the longer loan. Additionally, when you consolidate before July 1 you forfeit your six-month grace period, which means after graduation you must start repayment immediately. For many graduates still in the job search, this can be a frightening reality. However, you may qualify for an economic hardship deferment that lets you postpone payments for a period of time. Likewise, consider contacting your lender directly to explore options.

Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Capital Management in Chicago (www.arielmutualfunds.com) is "Good Morning America's" personal finance expert.