College is expensive nowadays. Students graduate with serious debts in their name because of college expenses. Getting a loan from a bank without proper documentation doesn't work out very well since banks always have risks attached to them.
Paying for your college tuition should be a discipline in itself that should be offered in schools. Ever heard about uncertified student loans? These loans are also known as non-certified student loans. Taking uncertified student loans might be an option if your family or friends do not offer you financial aid after graduation from college or high school. Let’s look into it!
Uncertified student loan
Whereas the government usually grants other loans, uncertified student loans are riskier in this regard. Uncertified student loans are those you take directly from the lender.
The main benefit of this loan is that you do not have to spend it on your qualified educational expenses. You can spend it however you want it to, whether it is your transport or residential expenses. Your form of needs is not considered while taking the loan.
Although it sounds almost ideal, uncertified student loans are riskier because the terms and conditions can be shady. It is also difficult for the lender since they cannot have the guarantee.
The lender, on the other hand, is not risking anything. The borrower’s financial stability can be questionable at this point in time, but if the borrower becomes successful in his/her career, later on, the lender stands to gain a good amount of money.
It depends upon your personal ability to pay back your loan that will ultimately decide whether you need uncertified student loans or not. Only take them when you are sure that they will help you settle down after education with lesser expenses for a living!
Certified student loan
Certified student loans are issued when the school verifies them. Those funds should be used for tuition and academic expenses. The procedure is the same but certified student loans are issued by the government. The eligibility of these loans depends on your financial study, academic records, and credit score among other factors.
These loans are beneficial when you fail to get any other type of loan after the rejection.
The eligibility for this kind of loan will be low since it is offered with a lot of conditions attached to it. Getting into college might not be that easy if you have opted for carrying out cash transactions in this case.
Unauthorized expenditures can lead to legal action against you later on so it's better they do not reach your family or friends in cash paper form. Certified student loans are safe if used in the right manner, else they can prove to be dangerous in times when you have to repay them.
In both cases, you do not need to pay collateral for borrowing money from a lender. If the loan is approved, the lessor will make a deal with you and take care of all your problems in installments.
Pros and Cons of uncertified student loans
The pro of the uncertified student loan is definitely that you can borrow money for any expenses. It is risky for the same reason. You can borrow money for things that you can afford anyway. You can overborrow the money, and you can overuse the money as well this way. But if other financial aids are not covering your expenses, non-certified student loans are the best option for students in need.
Another benefit of this type of loan is that you can make money for further studies as well. The cons are that they are risky, and the loans are not covered by any collateral. If you don’t fulfill your debt obligations, then there is no guarantee that the lender will be able to get his/her money back.
The cons of uncertified student loans are that you can easily become dependent on them without much awareness. You also have to take care of the interest rate and repayment term yourself. There might be other hidden charges as well so it is better if you learn all about ISL before applying for one.
Hence, make sure that if you are not sure what you are going to do with the loan, don’t apply at all!
Uncertified student loan and the way to use it
Since uncertified student loans are not monitored, you can use them for any purpose. They are directly given to the students and not through the department of education; therefore, it gives you the liberty to spend money on your transportation, off-campus housing, school supplies, and other miscellaneous things.
Uncertified student loans are beneficial for students who do not qualify for federal loan programs.
You can also use this money to repay defaulted loans or any other type of personal debt since it is easier to maintain this kind of personal debt through your credit score. Uncertified student loans are helpful in times when you need quick cash and the option is thin.
While affording such things, you can also use it for your tuition fees and books for your classes. That is why many people opt for such loans. There are also few restrictions in this case since it is not given by the government. So, you can apply for it online and get access to your funds quickly.
If you want to consolidate all of your student loans, you should use uncertified loans first because they will offer better rates than other types of loans. If you still have an uncertified loan with a high APR interest rate, then getting a consolidation loan might be the way to go. The best thing about these types of services is that you do not need much documentation to avail them.
How to qualify for the uncertified loan?
Qualifying for uncertified student loans, you have to have a good credit history. It can be challenging for those students who are freshly out of high school. Since they have not taken any loan before or do not have any rental record, it is hard for them to have a good credit history.
Although, many lenders are willing to help you with your good credit history to apply for loans in the future. Non-certified student loans are like shooting in the dark; the lenders need to have a co-signer with a student to collect their money back.
How to get a non-certified student loan?
There are many outlets to apply for loans, such as Sallie Mae, CollegeAve, or Citizen Bank. They help you with these private student loans. You should proceed with the uncertified student loan application when you know you are not a big spender.
Whether you take an uncertified or a certified loan, the eligibility criteria that need to be fulfilled remain the same. You will have to meet all the requirements under both categories in order to get approval from uncertified student loan lenders:
- Prove your citizenship status by submitting necessary forms like social security number (SSN), permanent id card (driver's license or passport), and birth certificate.
- You must provide your permanent address with proof like telephone bills, lease agreements, utility bills, etc.
- Submit income information like W2 forms (only if you are working), pay stubs (only if you are working)
- Proof of college status by submitting transcripts or enrollment certificates both in case of graduate or undergraduate students.
- Prove your academic standing by showing the high school diploma and transcript for those who do not go to college; otherwise, submit official transcripts from all the colleges attended.
Other considerations about uncertified student loan
Before taking out such kind of personal loans, it is because the uncertified student loan interest rates are higher than other kinds. This gives you an edge to think if it's worth getting a private loan or not.
The only advantage with uncertified loans is that they offer flexible repayment and terms and conditions as well as lower interest rates (if you have paid your previous loans on time)
If you want to consolidate all of your student loans, then take the best option available under the certified category. You should check out alternatives like income-based repayment plans or public service forgiveness since they will give you more options than just consolidating your certification under one lender.
Conclusion
You must remember that taking a loan could be tricky because the overspending issue is ever-present. If you believe in your willpower and return ability you should definitely go for the above-mentioned loan, otherwise, it is best to skip this option. If you do not, take a loan from family or friends or look for other options.
If you take uncertified student loans you should keep in mind their higher interest rates and stricter repayment terms than government-backed programs. The major disadvantage of such types of loans is that they lack federal repayment plans and income-based deductions. You will also face strict penalties if you fail to repay the loan on time.