Bad Grades: 5 Common Student Loan Errors

Fearing the Loan

Students and parents looking to fill the gaps between financial aid awards and the costs of college often apply for loans with the same level of zeal that they put into admissions applications in the first place. In that driving desire to finance higher education, borrowers are at risk for making costly mistakes. Here are the top five mistakes people make when applying for student loans -- and tips on how to avoid them.

"Borrowing some reasonable amount to help finance your college education is overall a good thing," explains Jonathan Burdick, dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid at the University of Rochester in New York. "It's a smart investment because you're increasing your long-term earning power."

Despite the increasing costs, a college education is still statistically a smart financial move. Research from Georgetown University shows that, over their lifetimes, college grads earn 84% more than workers with a high school diploma.

"Wise borrowing at a reasonable level in order to attend the college where you feel most likely to succeed is better than avoiding all risk," Burdick adds.

Borrowing too Much

Key to making sure that college pays off is keeping debt at a manageable level. Research from Sallie Mae shows that nearly 2 in 5 families do not consider cost when selecting a college. Patricia Christel, a Sallie Mae spokeswoman, says that keeping debt manageable also means thinking about life after college.

"As they make borrowing choices, families should consider the total amount they will need to pay back and how much the student can estimate to make in their chosen career path," she explains.

Estimating a post-college salary can be tricky, especially if undergrads haven't chosen their major yet. Before taking out a loan, there are a few ways families can get a clearer idea of their child's future earning potential. Consider potential majors, research the job market for those majors, and contact the school's alumni office to find out where grads in that major wind up working.

Key to making sure that college pays off is keeping debt at a manageable level. Research from Sallie Mae shows that nearly 2 in 5 families do not consider cost when selecting a college. Patricia Christel, a Sallie Mae spokeswoman, says that keeping debt manageable also means thinking about life after college.

"As they make borrowing choices, families should consider the total amount they will need to pay back and how much the student can estimate to make in their chosen career path," she explains.

Estimating a post-college salary can be tricky, especially if undergrads haven't chosen their major yet. Before taking out a loan, there are a few ways families can get a clearer idea of their child's future earning potential. Consider potential majors, research the job market for those majors, and contact the school's alumni office to find out where grads in that major wind up working.

Missing Out on Government Deals

"The biggest mistake I see is when students do not fully take advantage of the Federal Direct student loans," says Kevin Michaelsen, director of financial assistance at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C. "Instead, they secure a higher interest alternative student loan with limited terms from a private lender."

Federal Stafford loans don't require a credit check to qualify and are packed with incentives for students including low fixed-interest rates of 3.4% for qualified low-income undergrads and 6.8% for other undergrads, graduate students and those seeking professional degrees. Federal loans also come with borrower protections including a six-month grace period after graduation and the ability to extend the life of the loan or defer payments.

In fact, under the right conditions, the government will actually forgive your federal student loans entirely. Borrowers who opt for the federal income-based repayment plan will have their loan payments capped according to their income -- lowest-income borrowers won't have to pay at all -- and after 25 years of consecutive payments, the government will dismiss the remaining portion of the bill. Borrowers who go into a public service profession will have their federal debt dismissed after 10 years.

Skipping the Details

Federal loans come with fixed interest rates and are fairly cut-and-dry when it comes to the details such as loan fees and borrower protections. Private student loans can be all over the chart.

"Students have a habit of not reading the fine print on their loan, then learning after the fact that there is not a deferment provision that they expected or there's an origination fee that they were not aware of," says Jane Dessoye, executive director of enrollment management at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa.

In addition to reading up on fees and repayment terms, students should also investigate whether their loan comes with a fixed or variable interest rate, whether there's a grace period before repayment begins and what happens if they can't make their monthly payments.

Staying Hands-Off

According to Melanie Weaver, director of financial aid for Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, the biggest mistake families make is letting parents handle the loan process.

"Students come into our office their senior year confused and not really sure how much they owe or what loans they have," Weaver says. "I believe that when they get involved and understand what they are borrowing, it has an impact on their academics because they have established a relationship of what each class is costing."

Understanding their debt can also help students plan their college tenure and avoid adding courses that can tack an extra semester or year onto their academic plan.