3 Surprising Facts About Student Loan Interest

The interest rates for federal student loans change from year to year, but they’re typically lower than the interest rates charged by private institutions.

In 2018, undergraduate students paid 5.05% on their Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Graduate and professional students paid 6.6% on their Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Direct PLUS Loans carried a 7.6% interest rate for graduate and professional students.

Students who get loans from private institutions can expect to pay higher rates. Overall, private student loans have an average interest rate of 7.99%. The average interest rate of a private student loan without a cosigner, however, jumps to 9.25%.

Even though the federal government charges lower interest rates, it still generates income from student loans. The precise amount of money changes depending on how you evaluate student loan payments. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal student loan program earned $1.6 million in 2016.

Luckily, undergraduate students don’t have to worry about the federal government taking advantage of them. All of the profit comes from loans given to graduate and professional students.

Although Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans have the same interest rate, you’ll spend less money in the long run by choosing subsidized loans. When you take a subsidized loan, the government pays the interest until you leave school. Unsubsidized loans, however, start accumulating interest immediately.

Private institutions also begin charging interest as soon as you accept their student loans. As a result, people with private and unsubsidized loans face larger debts when they graduate.

Several factors have contributed to college tuition hikes. Some driving forces behind increases include the higher demand for degrees, inadequate (and falling) funding from state governments, and an increased need for financial aid. Until someone finds a way to solve these problems, students will keep relying on loans. Unfortunately, that means they face a lot of debt when they enter the workforce.