Types of Student Loans.

Types of Student Loans

The main types of U.S. student loans — federal and private — explained in plain English: what each is, who it's for, and how it works. Informational only; verify current terms at studentaid.gov.

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Federal Student Loans5 types Private Student Loans1 types Consolidation, Refinancing & Repayment3 types

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Federal vs. Private Student LoansHow government student loans differ from private (bank/lender) loans —…Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized LoansThe key difference: who pays the interest while you're in school — the…Consolidation vs. RefinancingBoth combine loans into one payment — but federal consolidation keeps …

All student loan types (A–Z)

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Federal Direct Subsidized Loans Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans Federal Perkins Loans (Historical)Grad PLUS Loans (Direct PLUS for Graduate Students)Income-Driven Repayment (Repayment Context)Loan Consolidation (Federal vs. Private)Parent PLUS Loans (Direct PLUS for Parents)Private Student Loans Student Loan Refinancing

Plain-English student loan tips

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