To consolidate private student loans, or not to consolidate is a common question among borrowers trying to simplify their life. While the initial reaction by most borrowers is to roll all their loans into a single loan for ease of repayment, it is not always the right answer. The following are some facts about student loan consolidation to help your decide if a consolidation is best for you.

How does loan consolidation work?

The action of consolidating student loans pays off the original debts and creates a single debt that equals the balances combined. In short you get a larger loan with a fixed or variable interest rate depending on the program.

What are the cons to consolidation?

By consolidating you increase the length of payments on your loan, this means you accrue more interest in the long run and are subject to larger charges.

If you consolidate private student loans, how does that drop the payment?

Typically, by consolidating your student loans your monthly payments can drop as much as 50 percent. This is because

What will my interest rate be?

Your consolidated interest rate will depend on the private lender you choose and your credit rating. If you find the interest rates available to you are a little steep, you may consider asking a parent or relative to cosign. Specific information on interest rate plans vary with each lenders

What happens when I consolidate private student loans during my grace period?

If you consolidate during your grace period, you will lose any remaining grace period time you have. So if you do decide to combine your loans, do it towards the end of your grace period.

Where can I learn more about how to consolidate private student loans?

There are numerous online resources to help you consolidate your student loans. You may also consider contacting your current lender(s) to find out what types of programs are available to you.