Yes, it is possible to defer your student loans while enrolled in graduate school, but it depends on the type of loan and your individual circumstances. Contact your loan servicer for more information.
Further information is provided below
Deferring student loans while enrolled in graduate school is possible, but as mentioned before, it depends on various factors such as the type of loan borrower have and their individual circumstances. Here is some additional information to help answer the question in more detail:
-
Types of loans that can be deferred: Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, PLUS Loans, Perkins Loans, and some private lenders.
-
Requirements for deferral: Half-time enrollment in a graduate program, good standing with the academic institution, and no delinquency on existing loans.
-
Duration of deferral: Borrowers can defer their loans for the duration of their graduate program and six months after graduation.
-
Interest still accrues during deferment: While borrowers are not required to make payments during deferment, interest may continue to accrue, increasing the overall loan balance.
-
Deferment vs. forbearance: Deferment is preferable to forbearance because interest does not accrue on subsidized loans during deferment, while it does during forbearance.
As stated before it is important to contact your loan servicer to discuss the deferment process. In their article on “Deferment and Forbearance,” the U.S. Department of Education suggests that borrowers do this sooner rather than later to avoid any potential issues.
In summary, if the borrower is enrolled at least half-time in a graduate program, they may be able to defer their federal student loans. If the borrower has private student loans, they should contact their lender to inquire about deferment. It is essential to talk to a loan servicer to understand the borrower’s options as each individual’s needs and circumstances may be different.
As Steve Jobs said, “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” Just as achieving success takes time, managing loans and understanding the process also takes some time and patience.
Types of Loans That Can Be Deferred | Federal Direct Subsidized Loans |
---|---|
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans | |
PLUS Loans | |
Perkins Loans | |
Some private lenders |
Here are some more answers to your question
In-School Deferment You are eligible for this deferment if you’re enrolled at least half-time at an eligible college or career school. If you’re a graduate or professional student who received a Direct PLUS Loan, you qualify for an additional six months of deferment after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time.
If you go to graduate school, you can defer both your undergraduate and graduate student loans. Deferment is usually automatic on federal student loans once the office of Federal Student Aid receives enrollment information from your school.
All federal student loan payments — including parent PLUS loans taken out on your behalf — can be deferred if you go to graduate school at least half-time. You can also defer federal loans during an eligible full-time graduate fellowship. Half-time enrollment means taking on half of a full-time course load.
All federal student loan payments can be deferred if you’re enrolled in graduate school at least half-time. Direct PLUS Loan borrowers get an extra six months of deferment after dropping below half-time status. You can also defer some private student loans if you’re enrolled at least half-time.
Grad school loan deferment allows you to temporarily pause your monthly undergraduate student loan payments while you’re enrolled at least half time to allow you to focus on your studies or fellowship program. It works for federal and private student loans, but there are some differences between how it works for both.
Enrolling in graduate school often means you can defer payment on student loans. Most loan servicers require borrowers to be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for an in-school deferment. The specific rules can depend on whether you have federal or private loans.
If you have federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans from college, you can have them placed into an in-school deferment while you are enrolled in a qualifying graduate degree program at least half time.
If you’re enrolled at least half-time in grad school, you should be able to defer all your federal student loan payments, including any PLUS loans that were borrowed on your behalf. The same goes for if you’re enrolled in an eligible full-time graduate fellowship program.
Deferring your loan will help you concentrate on graduate school and make the most of your grad school experience. In this article, we’ll help you understand how deferring your undergraduate school loans can help you to successfully manage your student loan debt while you attend grad school.
You can request a deferment of up to 48 months for a Smart Option Student Loan® or a Sallie Mae graduate student loan so long as you’re enrolled full-time or half-time.
Graduation from undergrad or graduate school is followed by a payment grace period of six months for most federal student loans. But if you hit a snag at some point and can’t afford payments, both deferment and forbearance are designed to allow you to apply to postpone payments.
If you are enrolled in an eligible college or career school at least half-time, your loan may be placed in deferment automatically. If it is, your loan servicer will notify you that deferment has been granted.
See the answer to “Can I defer my student loans while in grad school?” in this video
Financial expert Jean Chatzky advises graduate student Faith Lewis on how to pay off her student loans while attending law school. Chatzky suggests looking into income-based repayment programs for federal loans and refinancing or consolidating private loans with lenders offering programs for graduate students. She also recommends prioritizing scholarships and grants as they do not have to be repaid. Chatzky reassures Lewis that with a great job outlook, she should stay hopeful in being able to pay back her loans after she finishes law school.
People are also interested
- Find Programs With Research or Teaching Assistantships.
- Merit Scholarships.
- Look for a One-Year Program.
- Get a Part-Time Job.
- Consider Attending a Public School.
- Find a Niche Program.
- Work First, Learn Later.
- Find a Job With Tuition Reimbursement.