College & Credit

Building a bright future while avoiding problems with debt and credit disasters.

If you want to go to college, it’s probably going to cost you. Even if you get a full ride, you still have things like living expenses and food to worry about. Unless you’re living at home, even just that will be an added financial burden on you and your family. So how do you go to college without going into serious debt?

The time students spend on campus is supposed to set them up for financial success. But there are also plenty of ways to fall into traps with debt that can ruin your credit and leave you on shaky financial ground when you’re just starting out.

If your college years or your children’s college years are causing problems with debt, we can help. Call Consolidated Credit today to ask for a free debt evaluation from a certified credit counselor. We can even include multiple parties in a debt management program if you cosigned a credit card for one of your children and now they’re in trouble. Call us at (844) 276-1544 or request a free Debt & Budget Analysis online.

Affording College

Continuing education is expensive. Whether you’re funding your children’s 4-year education at an out-of-state university or just going back to school yourself to advance your career, you’re going to face financial challenges along the way.

To help you avoid the crippling student loan debt facing millions of Americans, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to covering education costs and making college as affordable as possible.

Credit on campus

Student loans aren’t the only financial hurdle you’ll face when you get to school. In fact, the biggest risk to your credit score may be your own out-of-control spending habits when you’re first out on your own. From late night pizza runs to constant trips to the coffee house, it’s easy to overspend with credit on campus and get into trouble with debt.

To keep you from ruining your credit when you’re just starting out, we’ve put together the basics of what you need to know about using credit cards on campus.

Student loans and your credit

Taking out federal student loans doesn’t require good credit, but how you pay your loans back can have a big impact on your outlook. If you pay on time, it can help you build credit right out of school, but if you have problems you could wind up hurting your credit score.

Learn the ins and out of how student loan repayment affects your credit score and how to ensure that problems paying don’t drag down your numbers.

Student loan debt consolidation

Did you know Americans owe over $1 trillion in student loans? As of 2015, the average student now graduates with over $35,000 in student loan debt. Is it any wonder that 40 percent of people default on their student loan payments in the first five years?

If you’re struggling with student loan debt payments, we’ll show you what you can do to take control. There are five federal loan consolidation programs available that can help you get a handle on your payments so you can finally get the debt paid off. There are also forgiveness programs for public servants that can erase all or part of the remaining balances on your student loans without penalties. Learn more about student loan consolidation and forgiveness here.

Don’t let debt derail your future

College is full of debt traps, so don’t feel like you’re alone if higher education has left you stuck with higher debt. No matter what kind of issues you’re having, a certified credit counselor can help you identify a solution even if it’s just pointing you in the right direction.

Call Consolidated Credit today at (844) 276-1544 to request a free evaluation with a certified credit counselor or take the first step now with a request for a free Debt & Budget Analysis.