Student Loan Debt Resource Center

Do you have student loan debt? If so, this resource center is for you. We want to help you learn how to better manage and eliminate your student loan debt. Who are we? We’re ReadyForZero, a company dedicated to helping people get out of debt – on their own. We created this resource center for our users and anyone else who’s working to pay off their student loans. We’ll keep updating it regularly, so be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back and find it in the future.

Paying Off Student Loans – The Basics

With average student loan debt upon graduation currently standing at $25,000, many people are looking for information on the best way to pay off student loans. Below, you’ll find articles written by us and other financial sources we trust that will help you understand how to tackle your student loan debt and the options available to you if you’re struggling to make your student loan payments.

The Four Most Common Student Loan Problems and How to Fix Them (Forbes)
How to Pay Off Student Loans (Real Simple)
Pay Off Student Loan Debt (ReadyForZero)
How to Understand the Difference Between Private and Federal Student Loans (ReadyForZero Blog)
Student Loan Tips for New College Graduates (Money Smart Life)
10 Things I Wish I'd Known About Student Loans (ReadyForZero Blog)
Student Loans and Marriage (Adaptu)
How Your Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score (Free From Broke)
How Student Loan Debt Affects Your Credit Score (Money Crashers)

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Student Loan Default and Its Consequences

Are you having trouble making your student loan payments or have you made a late payment? Perhaps you’re concerned about going into default or you’re already there. If so, have no fear. We’re here to help you navigate this territory and make the best of it. The articles below can help you understand student loan default and potential consequences.

Understanding the Consequences of Student Loan Default (ReadyForZero Blog)
What Happens If I Can’t Pay My Student Loans? (ReadyForZero Blog)
How Student Loan Delinquency Can Affect Your Credit (Credit Karma)
How to Avoid Defaulting on Student Loans (Money Crashers)
Can the Government Garnish Your Wages if You Don’t Pay Student Loans? (ReadyForZero Blog)

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Federal Student Loan Programs that Can Help You

If you have federal loans (or even if you have private loans) it’s worth researching the government programs that exist to help people like you manage their student loan debt. There are programs for things like consolidating your student loans, lowering your monthly payment, and stopping repayment while you’re unemployed. Don’t let these opportunities pass you by!

What Is the Income-Based Repayment Program? (ReadyForZero Blog)
Can the Special Direct Consolidation Loan Program Help You? (ReadyForZero Blog)
Pay As You Earn (ReadyForZero Blog)
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (Department of Education)
Deferment and Forbearance (Department of Education)
How to Apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (ReadyForZero Blog)

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Student Loan Calculators

Loan Payment Calculator (FinAid)
Compare Financial Aid and College Cost (CFPB)
How Much Will You Pay? (CNNMoney)
Direct Loan Calculator (Department of Education)
Repayment Plans and Calculators (Department of Education)
IBR Calculator (IBR Info)

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Student Loan Forgiveness

If you ran through some calculations and realized you won’t be able to pay off your student loans at all, then it may be time to consider student loan forgiveness. While student loan forgiveness for the whole nation may never happen (see below), there are ways for you to get your student loans forgiven based on other factors.

Is Student Loan Forgiveness for All Students a Good Idea? (ReadyForZero Blog)
Student Loan Forgiveness Info (FinAid)
Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers (Department of Education)

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Student Loan Debt Consolidation

Student loan consolidation is different than other kinds of debt consolidation. So if you are interested specifically in student loan consolidation, use the resources below to determine what your best course of action will be.

How Does Student Loan Consolidation Work? (ReadyForZero Blog)
Direct Consolidation Loans (Department of Education)
The Special Direct Consolidation Loan Program (ReadyForZero Blog)
Special Direct Consolidation Loans (Department of Education)
Student Loan Consolidation Checklist (Department of Education)

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Student Loan Statistics

Curious who else may be dealing with student loans? The reality is that you’re not alone. Millions of people across the U.S. are currently paying off student loans, and each year millions more take out student loans for the first time. Below, we’ve compiled some interesting links that show you the most relevant student loan statistics for the U.S.

Student Loan Debt Tops $1 Trillion (The Wall Street Journal)
Too Big To Fail: Student Debt Hits a Trillion (CFPB)
What America Owes in Student Loans (NPR)
Student Loan Debt Statistics (American Student Assistance)
Student Loan Debt Clock (FinAid)

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Student Loan Debt Resource Center

Paying Off Student Loans – The Basics

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Student Loan Default and Its Consequences

Federal Student Loan Programs that Can Help You

Student Loan Calculators

Student Loan Forgiveness

Student Loan Debt Consolidation

Student Loan Statistics

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