How to Pay for Your MBA

Thinking about getting an accredited MBA online? You should know that they can come with significant cost implications. And, unless you have a huge nest egg hidden away, this can keep many from enrolling.

This guide can help you assess and provide various (and creative) resources to plan for and pay those costs.

Chapter 1 – Getting Started
Chapter 2 – Low Cost (or Free) MBA Funding Options
Chapter 3 – Going to a Bank or Financial Institution
Chapter 4 – Paying Off Your MBA Loan
Chapter 5 – Special Chapter for Veterans
Chapter 6 – Special Chapter for International Students

Getting Started

Rushing into a top AACSB accredited online MBA program at the last minute is not in your best interests. At the last minute, you have little time to compare schools and programs. You may not be able to find the program that matches your requirements. Plus, time restrictions mean you have little control over the many processes involved. With time on your hands, you can compare and find the lowest cost loans with the best terms. Do this at the last minute, and you have to sign up for whichever loan you can get in the shortest possible time.

Why Pursue an MBA?: Unraveling the Advantages of an MBA Program

Start Early

Leaving your planning until late? This creates a risk that that MBA program you scouted out has already filled with other qualified students by the time you put in your application. The open ones may be too expensive, have lower-quality instruction, or focus on specializations you don’t want to pursue. Either way, you compromise on critical aspects that affect the value you get from the online degree.

Investing early for your higher education

Finding the money for your online MBA is one of the biggest challenges you will face. What if you had already planned for this program and put aside the money you need well before you needed it? You can do this with a 529 education savings plan (named after the IRS Section 529). Some points about these savings plans:

These plans are operated by the state or academic institutions.
Their purpose is to help families/individuals put aside savings for higher education.
You enjoy special tax benefits with the savings you have in these plans.
A big plus about these savings plans is that you do not have to enroll in the same state where you have the plan. Before you enroll, check if your university is eligible under the plan’s rules.
Your state may offer more than one such plan. You should do some research on which one will be ideal for you before you start saving up.

Know what factors impact your course cost

Before you apply, make sure you understand the various factors that will add to your total cost when choosing an MBA program. There may be a host of other fees that you have to pay apart from your tuition fee or general fee. The UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School online MBA has a tuition fee plus a mandatory fee. They also charge orientation fee, MBA Student Association fee, and Analytics Skills Workshop fee. At first glance, you may only look at tuition, but these additional fees can total up to a large portion of your bill. Calculate your total cost by adding the fees charged under the following heads:

Talk to Financial Aid Office at top schools in consideration

Visit your university’s financial aid office as soon as you start planning to pay for your degree. This office helps you identify and understand the financial options available to you. They can also help you apply for and get financial aid. You can also explain to the financial aid administrator your situation and ask for advice. This office has the authority to adjust the university’s fee requirements to a certain extent. They keep in view the needs and circumstances of students like you. If you have a hardship, such as medical condition, unemployment, or special circumstances such as military service, the financial aid office can adjust your fee structure to accommodate you.

They can tell you about various financing options for which you are eligible.
They can give accurate information about the aid application procedure, formalities, and deadlines.
They can inform you about the total aid you can expect how you will get it, and when.
They can educate you about taking a loan to fund your degree.
They can give you instructions about appealing financial aid decisions.

Different types of financial aid

You may be eligible for aid from the university itself. Your school’s financial aid office has information about these. For example:

School Aid may be available for all students of the school, for all courses.
Departmental Aid may be available to all candidates in different courses managed by the same department.
Program Aid applies to the specific program you choose to enroll in.

Start with Free Money – Grants and Scholarships

Most of the students enrolling in MBAs do not have enough savings to finance the entire program independently. Thankfully, free money is available from some sources. These come in the form of grants and MBA scholarships that you can use if you do not have enough savings. 25 of the top-rated B-schools give over $230 million in scholarship money during a year. MBA schools are keen on getting the best, most talented students on their rolls. This is why you should highlight your best qualities when making your scholarship application. Just like scholarships, grants are a good option to choose when you need funds for your online degree.

Grants vs. scholarships

Both grants and scholarships are free money and do not need to be repaid to their originators. The major difference between them is the source of the money. Your scholarship may come from a school, a corporation, non-profit entities, or even an individual. They are usually based on your merit. Scholarships may also be given based on values or goals that the founder stands for. A grant comes from the government, a foundation, or trust. It is usually given to an educational institution, a business, or an individual. For grants, the criteria may be something more general, such as family income. Some points to note about grants and scholarships:

Are you applying for a federal grant? You need to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is used to find out whether you are eligible for the grant. Some scholarships may need the FAFSA too. Generally, you will need to show your skills. You may be asked to by writing an essay or proving athletic ability to win a scholarship.

Some scholarships are open to students with specific backgrounds. For example, you may be eligible for one if you belong to a specific ethnic background.

Grants are for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Scholarships are generally confined to undergraduate studies. For higher studies, you will often apply for private financial aid, also called fellowships. These are also given for research purposes.

International students may be able to apply for scholarships. Grants are for U.S. students only.

How to Improve Your Chances of Bagging a Scholarship

Almost all students applying for MBA programs will be applying for scholarships too. To improve the chances of your application being accepted keep these in mind:

Research all possible scholarship options that are open to you. Apply for the ones that have the least competition. You can also apply for scholarships for which you have some special qualifications. These give you the best chance of winning the funds.
Does your application show why you are the perfect candidate for the scholarship? Highlight the points in your favor and make sure you communicate all your positives. Contact alumni or current students and learn what kind of scholarships they have. There may be some, both from the school and from outside parties, that are not well-publicized.

Non- conventional scholarships that you can win

If you think that scholarships are only for those with a history of academic excellence, you are in for a surprise. In recent times, creativity is being acknowledged and rewarded with scholarships. Many private organizations, businesses, and academic institutions are following this trend.

Check with your church for religious scholarships. Members of the parish or individuals participating in church activities are eligible for these.
Ask if your parents have connections or affiliations that can help with your scholarship. For example, children of U.S. Armed Forces personnel have special scholarships. Similarly, members of Rotary Clubs or Lion’s Club may be eligible for financial help.

Look for scholarships for specific ethnic groups, nationalities, or even gender identities. Search for options like the National Black MBA Association scholarship of $10,000. Businesses offer scholarships to encourage talented students in their niche industry.

Grants

Do not expect every school on your shortlist to show the same generosity with their grants. Some schools give away funds as grants, such as the Anderson School of Management. Others do not consider financial aid a priority.

How Do You Get the Grant Money? Contact the financial aid office at the school as soon as your application has been accepted. Talk to them and find out what kind of financial aid they offer. Remember that in many schools, this kind of free money may not be advertised well. You may not get to know about these options until you ask about them. Find out about the eligibility criteria and application process for grants and apply. Applying quickly is important because grants are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Some schools may not have grants that apply to all students. Or, you may be too late to apply for them. Check if the school has any grants for students with special circumstances. B-schools usually keep grants reserved for students who cannot afford the course. If you have huge debts or your income is low, you may qualify for these. Your school’s financial aid office has some discretion in the matter of grants. Explain your financial limitations to them in person. Present all the facts that show why you deserve a grant.

Once approved, a grant is usually paid when the semester starts. It is often paid directly to the school.

A List of MBA Grants and scholarships

America Association of University Women- Accenture American Indian Graduate Level scholarship
Military MBA
Little Family Foundation MBA fellowship
For Survivors
National Society of Hispanic MBA
Toigo Fellowship for African-American, Alaska Native, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Native American descent students
Thurgood Marshall scholarship for African-American students
National Black MBA Association Grants
American Indian Graduate Center Fellowships

How to Improve Chances of Winning a Grant

Like scholarships, grants help reduce the financial burden of the MBA degree. This is why there is great competition for this form of financial aid as well. To improve your chances of winning your grant, you should follow these tips:

Highlight why you are the ideal candidate for the program you want to enroll in and the grant.
Choose grants that have specific requirements. These are likely to have fewer contenders.
Find out about grants in advance and make sure you apply as early as possible.

Employer and Company Programs

Coming from a good business school makes you an asset to your employer. Your company has some great reasons to finance your MBA. Tell your employer why your online degree is just as good as a full-time classroom-based one. Point out that an online degree won’t disrupt your work. Talk about how the company will benefit from everything you learn during the program. Finally, call attention to your work achievements to show why investing in you is a good idea for your employer. Companies are open to the idea of online courses now. Many companies, like Starbucks, have reimbursement systems in place for just such a program.

How to check if your company has a Reimbursement Program

Find out if your company’s policy encourages higher education for employees. If there is no mention of tuition reimbursement in company policy documents, talk to your higher-ups. Ask if any support is given to employees who want to pursue academics while working.
Talk to colleagues, especially those who have been in the organization for a while. If they have not made use of the tuition reimbursement themselves, they may know others who did.
Network with other MBAs at your workplace and check if they used the company’s funds to finance their degree.
Talk to the human resources department or with your supervisors about your education. Ask about company financing options you may be eligible for.

Common ways for companies to pay for your education

Some companies pay your fee or the part of it that they are sponsoring upfront.
In some companies, your tuition fee may be reimbursed if you achieve a high grade in the semester.
Some companies pay for specific types of courses. Usually, they pay for courses that add value to their bottom line or improve their efficiency.
Some employers pay a fixed percentage, say 30%, of your fee. This payment is yours irrespective of your course, your grades, or any other criteria.

Five things to think about before accepting company money

So, your employer is willing to help pay for your MBA degree? That’s great news, but there are some points to check for and keep in mind before taking the money. You may need to sign a formal document when you accept the funds. When you do this, you also agree to certain terms and conditions outlined in this contract. Check for the following before you sign up:

One: Does the contract bind you to the company for an unreasonably long time in exchange for the tuition reimbursement?

Two: Are there unrealistic terms in the contract that you may not be able to fulfill?

Three: What happens if circumstances beyond your control force you to quit the MBA midway?

Four: How is the tuition fee paid? Is it reimbursed or paid upfront?

Five: Are there any conditions to ensure that the full or partial fee/reimbursement will continue until your MBA is completed? Are these conditions acceptable to you?

Does the contract bind you to the company for an unreasonably long time in exchange for the tuition reimbursement?
Are there unrealistic terms in the contract that you may not be able to fulfill?
What happens if circumstances beyond your control force you to quit the MBA midway?
How is the tuition fee paid? Is it reimbursed or paid upfront?
Are there any conditions to be met to ensure that the full or partial fee/reimbursement will continue until your MBA is completed? Are these conditions acceptable to you?

Low Cost MBA Funding Options

‘Free money’ through scholarships and grants may not cover the full costs of your online MBA program. You may have to fall back on other funding options. Try not to worry, though, because these do not necessarily have to be expensive. Here’s a look at some low-cost funding strategies that can make your MBA journey smooth and stress-free.

Government Student Loans

Roughly two-thirds of graduate and undergraduate students borrow money to fund their college education. Government student loans are popular among a majority of individuals pursuing higher education. You have two options in government student loans: federal and state education loans.

Federal student loans

Federal education loans are given to students who have applied at a school that participates in the Title IV federal student aid programs. Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 provides loans, grants, and work-study funds from the government to eligible students seeking admittance to college or career school.

Loans are made available through the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. They are paid out through the universities and colleges serviced by contractors to the U.S Department of Education. Most federal student loans do not require a credit check or a co-signer. The federal government offers a maximum loan principal of $57,500 to undergraduate students and up to $138,500 for graduate students.

If you’re a resident of a U.S state or you’re an out-of-state student enrolled in a university or college within a given state, then you can apply for that state’s student loan program. It is a good option if you’re not eligible for a federal loan program or a federal loan does not cover your online MBA program’s full cost. There are some more reasons why you may want to consider federal student loans:

One: They come with a fixed rate of interest, so your payments won’t increase even in a high-interest rate environment.

Two: Repayment terms can be more flexible than those offered by private lenders. For instance, if you expect to get a public service or low-paying job, you can apply for ‘income-based repayment,’ where you’ll make a fixed payment no more than 15 percent of your income.

Three: You can receive a deferment or forbearance that allows you to stop making payments for a while or reduce your loan payments. When you defer your loan, the government pays the interest on it throughout the deferment period. But this is restricted to the Federal Perkins Loan, Direct Subsidized Loan, and/or a Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan.

The government keeps adding interest on Grad PLUS and unsubsidized Stafford loans, so your total debt will increase. Forbearance allows you to reduce making payments or stop making them for up to 12 months. Interest will continue getting added to your subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

Four: You are eligible for loan forgiveness and/or loan assistance if you, for example,
opt to enter certain careers or join the military. Here is a list of possibilities.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

SEMA Loan Forgiveness
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
National Institute of Health Loan Forgiveness
IHS Loan Repayment
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Faculty Loan Repayment Program
Legal Practice Student Loan Forgiveness.

Military Service Loan Forgiveness:

Active Duty Health Professionals Loan Repayment
Air Force College Loan Repayment
Army Student Loan Repayment
National Guard Student Loan Repayment Program.

Volunteer with certain organizations:

SponsorChange.Org
Zerobound
AmeriCorps
Peace Corps
Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA).

Some of these may not be viable options for an MBA grad seeking a corporate job. Still, if you’re looking at a career in public service or a non-profit organization, loan forgiveness programs can significantly ease your financial burden.

A look at different federal student loan programs

We will now look at some federal student loan programs you can use to fund your MBA. You will need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for every loan program. The application is available online at fafsa.ed.gov and you don’t have to pay anything to file the form.

Federal Direct Student Loan Program

An Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (named after U.S Senator Robert Stafford for his work on higher education) is available to graduate students via the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. The loan is available to all graduate students regardless of financial circumstances. The interest rate is calculated annually using the rate on the 10-year Treasury note as of June 1. Interest accrues from the day the loan is paid out to your B-school. Your repayment starts once the loan has been disbursed, but you can choose to defer interest and principal until after you’ve graduated. The rate for the 2015-2016 academic year for graduate students is 5.84%.

Federal Perkins Loan

This is a subsidized student loan with a low interest rates given to students with ‘exceptional financial need.’ It considers such factors as students’ income and assets, parents’ income and assets, household size, and several family members (parents excluded) attending postsecondary institutions. From this data, the Department of Education determines how much you can contribute towards your education using the below formula:

A percentage of net income + A percentage of net assets

Graduates are eligible for a loan amount of up to $8,000 a year and up to $60,000 for the full course of graduate schooling. Perkins Loans come with a grace period of nine months. You start repayment in the tenth month after graduating or becoming a half-time student. Forbearance or deferment are two options to consider if you struggle to pay back the loan. The rate on Perkins loans is fixed at 5%.

Federal Grad PLUS Loan

You can take out a Federal Grad PLUS unsubsidized loan to make up the rest of the funds needed for your MBA program. For instance, if the cost of an online MBA at a business school is $30,000, you can borrow up to the $20,500 limit in a Stafford Federal Direct Student Loan Program and cover the rest with a Grad PLUS loan. Unlike other federal loan programs, you must pass a credit check. If there is a bankruptcy on your record or an account in collections, your loan may be denied. Grad PLUS loans come with the same loan forbearance and deferment options as a Stafford Loan. For the 2015-2016 academic year, the rate for graduate students is 6.84%.

Federal Consolidation Loan

As its name implies, you can use a Federal Consolidation Loan to consolidate various government loans that you have taken throughout your college career into one loan with a single monthly payment. It helps in streamlining the payment process and reduces your monthly payment over a longer repayment term. However, the total interest you pay over the life of the loan will increase.

A quick FAFSA tutorial

If you have to fill in the FAFSA but not sure where to start or what the process entails, here’s a quick tutorial you will be sure to find useful.

Go to fafsa.gov.
If you will be attending college between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, choose the correct FAFSA to fill in (2015-2016 FAFSA available on Jan 1, 2015). You do not fill out the FAFSA only once; it needs to be completed for each school year, as your financial circumstances may change.
Next, fill in your birth information. Make sure you input your personal information exactly how it appears in your official documents.
Enter all your financial information completely. You will need the income tax records for the year preceding the academic year you are applying. If you or your parents have not yet filed your 2014 taxes, you can use your 2013 tax return to estimate the amount. Upon filing your taxes, you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your tax information into the FAFSA.
Select up to 10 schools you want to apply to, and the U.S Department of Education will send the required information to the schools to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.
Sign the document with your PIN (if you don’t have one, you’ll need to get one).
That’s it! You’re done. Click on this to understand what happens next.

State student loans

State loans offered by state agencies may have their own names and terms. They work much like private student loans, requiring a credit check and a credit-worthy cosigner. Some state student loans may offer the same interest rate to borrowers without considering credit scores; others may match better credit with lower rates. Some loans may require borrowers to make at least interest payments while they are in school. State student loans impose a higher loan limit for graduate students than undergraduate borrowers.

Crowdfunding

The online phenomenon of peer-to-peer lending – known as crowdfunding – has evolved from catering mainly to start-ups to assist individuals with college education funds. It is surely a creative way of raising money, but is it for everyone? The pros and cons of crowdfunding and what it takes to be successful can help you decide whether it is a good option.

Advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding

A reputed crowdfunding platform allows you to reach out to investors, company CEOs, and even professors from top-tier universities. They consider fund seekers’ academic achievements and solid long-term goals in deciding whether they want to back them up financially.

Crowdfunding allows you to make a real connection with members of the public across the world with like-minded interests or with the financial means to help students like you specifically.

You can use crowdfunding to close the gap between how much you can afford to pay from your pocket, how much you’ve received in loans (federal, state, or private), and how much more you need to pay costs in full.

The main drawback of this fundraising exercise is that it is rather unreliable – there is no way of predicting if you will get the financial support you seek. This is in stark contrast to a loan, scholarship, or grant where you can estimate – based on the qualification criteria – whether or not you’re likely to be approved. Even before you start soliciting people for funds, you need to build interest in your project. It calls for an investment of time, resources, and even skill to generate interest in you as well as your MBA aspirations.

Crowdfunding success stories

Students are increasingly turning to crowdfund to cover some – even if just a little portion – of their college costs. Crowdfunding success stories are not hard to come by but seldom do they involve large cash contributions. Take crowdfunding project ‘Get Amber to Harvard’ on GoFundMe.com, which left 27-year old Atlanta native Amber Boyd $3,179 richer. Boyd has an active online presence; she owns a website with a blog and an online store that sells various products, from hand-made wallets to vegan cake mixes. Boyd also had a lot of help from her friends, who included links to her social media accounts campaign.

MBA student from Marylhurst University Simon Tam has raised a whopping $250,000 across a range of crowdfunding projects involving charitable causes as well as purchases for his music band. Simon Tam is a self-anointed marketing rock star (as his LinkedIn profile indicates) and a 7 time TED speaker with his own Wikipedia page and over 29,000 Twitter followers.

Keep these points in mind:
The takeaway from the success stories narrated above is that you need to be an active blogger and have a decent number of friends and followers on social media to spread the news about your funding campaign. Whether you are appealing to your blog/social media pages or a crowdfunding website, it helps a great deal if you have already formed trusted connections and relationships with like-minded people.

Crowd-lending sites like CommonBond and Zero Bound offer students loans with specific eligibility criteria, loan and repayment terms, and borrower protection. Institutional investors back CommonBond, individual investors, and alumni networks who offer lower rates than private lenders, which according to its co-founder, add up to a little more than $17,000 in interest savings over the loan period. If you borrow from ZeroBound, on the other hand, there is no need to repay the loan. But, to get sponsorship, you’re required to do at least 30 hours of community service or contribute the same time to a non-profit organization. Consider these factors and the kind of borrower protection, deferment, and forbearance terms offered by the sites.

If you’re raising money to pay for tuition and receiving donations, you will need to report it to the federal government. It does not matter for small amounts, but when the donations and school’s financial aid package together exceed the online MBA program’s total cost, schools must suitably modify the student’s financial aid package. Usually, colleges reduce student loans in the package first before looking at grants and scholarships.

Top 10 crowdfunding sites

Here’s a list of ten well-recognized crowdfunding sites for individuals:

Gofundme.com
Kickstarter
FundRazr
StartSomeGood
Indiegogo
RocketHub
GoGetFunding
Crowdfunder
FundAnything
Rally.org

Family Loans

If the bank of mom and dad cannot help, the bank of a wealthy and willing relative can ease some or all of your cost burden. It can initially feel a bit awkward, but don’t let hesitancy, shyness, or a ‘what will he/she think’ doubt get in the way. If your entrepreneur uncle or millionaire grandma cannot help you, you can just move on to exploring other options.

Pros and cons of getting a loan from a relative

A relative who is willing to lend you money is very likely not to charge any interest, or even if he/she does, the interest rate will be much lesser than what you can get from a private lender. Moreover, it will be a fixed rate not tied to any index. Your relative will also be more willing to lend flexible terms concerning the loan term and repayment schedule. In fact, your relative may ask you to structure your own repayment plan. You also do not have to prove your credit-worthiness or worry about any background check!

The biggest disadvantage of borrowing money from a relative is that a late or delayed payment can cause some friction between the two of you. A lack of detail and legal documentation in a personal loan can also cause confusion and a difference in expectations between you and your relative. It is also possible that a personal loan may affect your relative’s tax liability or even be categorized as a gift and not a loan.

Four things to do when borrowing money from family

Being pragmatic about the whole thing can save you embarrassment and keep misunderstandings at bay. Here are five things to keep in mind when having a loan assistance conversation with your relative:

Be honest and clear about your expectations. Explain your needs and financial situation frankly to your relative. It will build trust and help you get the dollar amount you need.
Have a business attorney draw up a promissory note outlining interest rates and payment terms. Documenting terms and conditions can keep you and your relative on the same page and protect your personal relationship.
The loan documentation should include a repayment schedule (including interest) to ensure that all IRS guidelines for private lending are met.
Plan out how you intend to repay the loan and discuss it with your relative. A front-of-mind awareness of your loan obligation can be that driving force that helps you excel at college and get a high-paying job.

Going to a Bank or Financial Institution

Borrowing from a bank or private lender should only be an option after you have exhausted your federal loan options. You can also request your university to review your financial aid package to make it more affordable to you. Even an extra one or two thousand dollars – a pittance for a major university – can make life easier for you. Treat private loans as a backup option as opposed to a preferred funding solution. Here’s a snapshot of how private loans work.

All banks and private lenders make higher education loans available to graduate students.
Interest rates can be fixed or variable. If a low variable rate looks attractive, think twice because it can double or even triple a couple of years down the line and increase total loan costs. A fixed-rate is a safer choice.

Credit checks and private loans go hand in hand. As many aspiring MBAs lack a lengthy credit history, a cosigner almost always comes into the picture.

The variable interest rates on private student loans are tied to an index such as the prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) index. A good student loan rate is anywhere between LIBOR + 2.0% or PRIME + 0.50% without any hidden costs. Depending on your credit history and your cosigner’s credit-worthiness, you can expect to pay an interest rate between 3% and 12% unless you or your cosigner have a fantastic credit history, budget for an interest rate on the higher end of the scale.

While federal student loans have a fixed upper limit, a private loan can be as large as you want it to be. You do not want to take on a big six-figure loan or the maximum that the lender is willing to lend you. Borrow only the balance of what you really need after you have maxed out federal options, scholarships, and/or employee reimbursement. This balance should not be a large amount.

Lenders have their own terms and conditions on private student loans. Some may send you bills soon after taking out the loan, while others may wait until you complete your master’s degree. Keep in mind that even if they delay billing, interest is still being added to the total debt.

Unlike federal loans, where you receive guaranteed forbearance and deferment, private lenders make no such assurances. When you find yourself in a tough financial spot, you will need to request your lender for a deferment, which he may or may not grant. Even in a worst-case scenario, filing for bankruptcy won’t help unless you can prove ‘undue hardship.’

What to Look Out for When Getting a Private Loan

The last thing you want is to be saddled by large interest rate payments and rigid payment terms imposed by a lender. Even if a private loan is your last resort or the only one, keep the following points in mind:

1. Compare loans online

Compare the interest rate and features of student loans from different lenders online. Use an online calculator to determine interest payments and how much you will pay over the loan course.

An approximate daily interest = Unpaid principal x interest rate/number of days in a year.

Here are some online tools you can use to find affordable student loans and popular lenders:

http://www.finaid.org/
https://www.estudentloan.com/
Certified Private Loans.com
http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/college-planning/loan-calculator.aspx

Also review the reputation and track record of the lender with your local consumer protection agency or state Attorney General.

2. Consider all the features of the loan

Check for loan features like repayment options (example: income-based repayment) as well as deferment, forbearance, forgiveness, and death or disability discharges. Remember that your loan’s overall cost will depend on whether you started paying it off in school and the time you took to repay it. Most importantly, borrow how much you need, not how much you can (or the maximum).

3. Watch out for capitalization

On many student loans, the interest accumulated during your school years (accrued interest) and whatever is delayed (unpaid interest) is added to your loan’s outstanding principal balance. This is known as capitalization, and it can increase the amount you owe to the lender. You must make interest payments to reduce capitalized interest.

4. Don’t assume that you will get the lowest advertised rate

Lenders usually advertise a range of lowest rates (say 3%) to highest (say 12%). The lowest rate is available only to borrowers with stellar credit. So unless you have an amazing credit score, you will likely not get such a low rate. If the loan comes with a variable rate, then your future monthly payments will increase with a rise in interest rates.

5. Have an attorney look at your loan documents

Know who you are doing business with. Read the fine print in your loan documents to identify if the lender had added a term/condition/clause that wasn’t immediately apparent when you discussed the loan. Take help from family members, an attorney, or an accountant to understand everything you need to know about the loan.

How to Get a Good Bank Rate

A bank or private lender may offer you a low-interest rate based on several factors. These include:

A good credit score: A high score gets you not only a quick approval but also a low-interest rate. A minimum score of 650 is required to get a loan, and the better your score, the greater your chances of landing an attractive interest rate.
A credit-worthy cosigner: If you do not have an established credit score, you will need a loan cosigner. To get a good rate, it helps if the cosigner has a credit score of more than 680, a low debt-to-income ratio on his or her credit report, and a couple of years of established credit history.
Appeal to the lender: Sometimes it is not you but your B-school of choice that can deter lenders from approving a loan or offering a low rate. Some lenders are wary of B-schools with a high loan default rate, particularly for-profit schools and low graduation rates. Keep this attitude in mind if you seek interest rate discounts.
Apply to a bunch of loans: When you have a variety of interest rates at your disposal, it makes sense to apply to different banks and lenders. Credit unions generally offer better rates than commercial banks, so consider a few top ones even if you’re not a member of the credit unions in question.

Paying Off Your MBA Loan

According to a news report, recent graduates have a $1.3 trillion mountain of student loan debt. One of the biggest responsibilities you will need to take on when studying is paying off your student loan after receiving your degree. We have put together some tips that can help you keep your debt under control. We have also listed federal loan forgiveness programs that can help you pay up to 100% of your education debt.

Six Ways to Address Repayment Challenges

Whether or not you keep your job or have trouble staying current with your payment, these tips can help you stay in control of your student loan debt.

1.Be aware of the nitty-gritty of your loan

Keep track of your loan balance and repayment status for each of your student loans. These details are crucial in determining your options for loan repayment and forgiveness. If you have taken out a federal loan, visit www.nslds.ed.gov to check all the loan details. For private loans, refer to the original paperwork or a recent billing statement.

2. Look at your student loan like a mortgage

If you can afford to make larger interest payments early on during the loan term, it will lower your loan’s overall cost, and you’ll be able to repay it in a few years. If you can’t make a larger monthly payment, send in a check every two weeks.

3. Keep in touch with your lender

Intimate the lender about any change in your personal information, such as your email address or phone number. Read the paper and electronic mails sent by your lender regarding your student loans. The idea behind staying in touch with your lender is that the lending company will be the first entity you will need to plead to if you struggle to make timely payments. Lenders are obligated to work with borrowers to solve their problems. It’s a win-win for both, so make sure you fulfill your part of the relationship.

4. Choose the right repayment options

Besides deferment and forbearance, federal loans offer you flexible repayment options as ‘pay as you earn’ and income-based repayment. Private lenders may not offer such options, but they may allow you to make interest-only payments for a period of time. Carefully consider your repayment options and discuss them with your lender to control your debt.

5. Focus on paying off the most expensive loans first

As you would do with credit card debt, first pay off student loans with the highest interest rate. If you’ve taken out private and federal loans, start with the more expensive private loans.

6. Maintain financial discipline

Taking it easy and letting debt accumulate can risk default and hurt your credit score. You can default on a federal loan after nine months of non-payment. Default kicks in more quickly for private loans, which can also be risky for the individual who co-signed your loan. Keep a tab on your spending, make sacrifices if you have to, and treat repayment with seriousness to avoid financial headwinds in the future.

Loan Forgiveness

If you are funding your online MBA through one or more federal loans, various programs can forgive some or all of your debt. Here is a look at some state and federal loan forgiveness programs.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is the biggest federal government program that discharges any remaining debt after ten years of full-time employment in a public service job. To qualify for the program, you need to be employed in a 501(c)3 non-profit or private company providing public services. You can get the full list at the Federal Student Aid website.

To participate in this program, your federal loans must be issued through the Direct Loan Program. As mentioned above, PSLF benefits are activated after making 120 qualifying payments on your student loan. So, after enrolling in the PSLF, start making payments on an income-driven repayment plan as soon as you can. Next, you’ll need to file a Certification of Employment to show that your employer qualifies for the program. If you start making qualifying payments after July 1, 2017, you can claim your benefits in August 2027.

State level student loan forgiveness

Some (but not all) states provide an annual amount in loan forgiveness for high-demand jobs that benefit the community. Occupations in education, health services, veterinary services, legal services, and social work are covered under such programs.

Military forgiveness

The Navy, Army, Air Force, and National Guard offer student loan forgiveness options for servicemen and servicewomen who have student loans. Additional programs are offered for former service personnel entering the health services field. Please see chapter 5 on ‘Low-Cost Funding Options’ for links to loan forgiveness programs.

Perkins loan cancellations

You can have your Perkins loans canceled if you’re employed in a public service field such as health services, active duty in the military, public safety, and education, among others. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for the federal Perkins loan cancellation and discharge summary chart.

Income-based repayment forgiveness

If you are on an income-based repayment plan, you can have the remaining balance on your student loan forgiven after 20 or 25 years, provided you’ve made timely payments. The balance amount remaining will be forgiven but also treated as taxable income.

Once your loan is discharged, any adverse credit resulting from a default may be dropped off. If you defaulted on the loan, your default status is removed. In most cases, borrowers cannot appeal the decision to approve or reject loan discharge. The only exceptions are when you receive a discharge for false certification or forged signature; you can have the denial reviewed by the U.S Department of Education. Here are the conditions for eligibility:

Your school wrongly certified your loan eligibility.

Your school signed your name on the promissory note or application without authorization from you. Or your school signed your authorization for electronic fund transfer without your knowledge.

Your loan was falsely certified after you suffered identity theft.

The school certified your eligibility, but you were disqualified from working in an occupation for which you trained owing to a physical or mental condition, criminal record, or your age.

Refinancing Your Student Loan

There is no federal refinancing that you can use to lower the relatively higher interest rates on Grad PLUS loans. However, some private lenders refinance federal student loans at lower rates. The question is, should you refinance or not? Consider the following points to make an informed decision:

How much money can you save by refinancing?

Do you want to forfeit the benefits and protection (if you are laid off) offered by an income-based repayment plan?
What kind of repayment terms can you expect on the refinanced student loan? Refinancing will change your loan terms. Unless you can get better terms from a private lender, it may not make much sense to refinance.

If you have graduated recently, started considering a job change, underemployed, and stick with your federal loans for the flexible repayment options they provide. If you have a comfortable and financially secure job, and you are looking to get rid of student loan debt as soon as possible, you can explore refinancing further.

Consolidating Your Student Loans

When you consolidate your loans, you basically take out a new loan to pay off several smaller loans. A consolidation loan combines multiple loans into one fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment. Consolidation often lowers monthly payments but increases the overall interest costs over the loan’s life by extending repayment. Consider it if you want to make smaller monthly payments and focus on only one loan.

Several federal student loans can be consolidated. Consider your original loan benefits, such as loan cancellation options, interest rate discounts, and principal rebates that you may lose by consolidating it. If your loan is in default, consolidation can get you back into current repayment. Think twice before consolidating your federal loans into a private consolidation loan. You will lose all the borrower rights and protection offered by the federal loan programs when you consolidate with a private lender.

If your credit score is better now that you first applied for private student loans, consolidation can fetch you a lower interest rate. Look exhaustively for low or fixed interest rates, and make sure you understand the fine print before signing on the dotted line.

Special Chapter on Funding for Veterans

Veteran applicants to B-schools have real-world experience dealing with stressful situations and bring their unique perspectives to class projects and student-professor interactions. In recent years, B-schools have increased efforts to attract veterans. If you have served in the nation’s armed forces, then you are eligible for financial benefits that can make an online MBA more affordable.

Post-9/11 G.I Bill

If you are a US veteran who has served on active duty at least 90 aggregate days after September 10, 2001, or served at least 30 continuous days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and received a discharge for disability, you are eligible the post-9/11 G.I Bill. After you have separated from service, you have 15 years to use the benefits of this bill.

You do not have to use up your GI Bill all at once. You can take some time off and re-apply to use the bill at a future date. You can use the bill’s benefits to complete your associate degree, take up your bachelor’s degree, and then acquire your online MBA degree.

The bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits. There are three different types of benefits:

The post-9/11 G.I Bill pays according to different factors. The main ones are the number of months served on active duty and the number of credits you’re pursuing. You may be eligible for the full costs of tuition and fees. Tuition and fees are paid directly to your B-school.
A stipend of up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies paid directly to you.
Monthly housing allowance (not applicable for an online MBA program), paid directly to you.

So far, the bill has paid out more than $30 billion in financial aid to veterans. Visit the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs website to see the current payment rates under the bill.

Sometimes, a for-profit private B-school’s tuition and fee costs may exceed the amounts provided under the Post-9/11 G.I Bill. In this case, a component of the bill – known as the Yellow Ribbon Program – can make additional funds available for your MBA program. You are eligible for benefits under this program if you have served an aggregate of 36 months in active duty after September 10, 2001. You were honorably discharged from active duty due to disability, and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.

Degree-granting institutions must voluntarily participate by entering into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with Veteran Affairs and determine the tuition and fees they are willing to contribute. First, check if the B-schools you’ve earmarked are participants in this program.

Special Chapter on Funding for International Students

If you are an international student looking to pursue an online MBA program from an American university, you will have to think about how much the degree will cost you. You must start looking at financing options well in advance and keep track of all payment due dates. Here is a look at some financing solutions you can explore.

Financing Options

Universities reserve a major portion of their financial assistance for citizens. The only way to understand the kind of assistance provided to international students is to talk to the university’s office. It is important to have this conversation early on to refine your potential B-schools list according to your financial circumstances.

Federal aid

International students are not eligible for federal student loans, but the government offers limited financial assistance to eligible students from certain countries. For more information, contact the Agency for International Development, the U.S Department of State, and your embassy.

A bank loan in your country

Private loans are a popular option for international students. Shop around and do your homework before zeroing in on a private loan. Some of the questions you want to ask the lender are:

What is the best-fixed rate I can get?
What is the lowest interest rate and fee combination you offer?
How high can the rate go on variable interest rates?
Is there an early repayment penalty?

Credit unions

The only way for an international student to take out a private loan with a U.S bank is to have a relative who’s a credit-worthy U.S citizen cosign the loan. To make it easier for international students, leading schools – including Duke Fuqua and Wharton – have partnered with credit unions to offer loans to MBA students without requiring a cosigner. The Fuqua School has tied up with Coastal Federal Credit Union to offer international students up to 90 percent of their attendance costs at an interest rate of 8.25%.

MBA scholarships

Some business schools offer scholarships to international students. These include such financial awards as Kenan-Flagler’s Merit Fellowships for international students and domestic students and awards targeted only at international students, such as Wharton’s Emerging Economic Fellowships.

Other sources

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is a good resource for news and information on international MBA students’ financial aid. The website provides resources and links to other student websites for more information.

FinAid is a comprehensive resource of financial aid information for international students. Besides a wealth of information, it also provides tools and advice to students who want to fund their online MBA.

MBA Scholarships

Scholarships, there are hundreds of them, and a considerable number are geared specifically for MBA majors. By focusing on just Scholarships for MBA programs, you can increase your chances of getting assistance while pursuing your education.

Finding specific scholarships for MBA programs, however, can be tricky and time-consuming, but we’ve done a lot of the hard work for you by tracking down a few of the most popular MBA scholarships.

Search By State

Even MBA applicants should explore degree programs offered in their home states, as some universities offer lower tuition rates for in-state students. Use our state pages to learn more about top accredited programs offered close to home or your preferred state across the country.

Explore Different Concentrations

MBA concentrations offer students a chance to specialize in an area of business that interests them. With so many options available, it can be difficult to decide which concentration is right for you. This guide will help you explore the different concentrations available and make a decision that’s right for you.