Student Loans
QShould I Consolidate Now, Or Wait?
AThe rock-bottom interest rates on federal student loans remains in effect through June 30, 2005 so there's no need to rush. Anyone with a heap of student loan debt should check out a federal consolidation loan before next July. Recent grads may want to hurry. After they leave school, there's a six-month grace period before their loan payments begin. By consolidating during their grace period, they'll lock in a 2.77 percent rate on Stafford loans, rather than the 3.37 percent rate that kicks in at the start of the repayment period.