From the first disbursement of the loan
There are two main types of Stafford Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Subsidized Stafford Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need, and the government pays the interest while the borrower is in school. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to both undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of financial need, and the borrower is responsible for paying all interest.
First try and get a Pell grant which you do not have to payoff, then u can get a subsidized or an unsubsidized loan from Direct Loan if youre in the USA. Depending on whether it is an unsubsidized loan it really doesnt matter.. If you must pay interest on the loans while in college then get it over time but if there is no interest while attending cumulative credits then it is your choice...
A sub, or subsidized, loan is when the school pays for the interest while you're attending school as a full time student. It's somewhat of a "no interest" loan, until you stop attending school. The unsub (unsubsidized) collects interest through your school year, and after, and is closer to your typical loan.
Interests rates for both Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans as of July 1, 2006, are not at a fixed rate of 6.8%; Parent PLUS loans are also now fixed at 8.5% not matter if you use Direct Lending or FEELP. Hope this helps. For loans borrowed as of this day, Sept. 6, 2004, the interest rate is "variable". It is determined once a year in June and can go up and down. Find out what the interest rate on the 91-day T-bill sold for the prior June 30th and add 1.7%. That will be your new interest rate for the year beginning July 1.
Direct Stafford loans are low-interest loans that are available to students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges, community colleges, technical schools and trade schools. There are subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans. Subsidized Stafford loans require that the student demonstrate financial need. Unsubsidized loans are avail bale to any student. Applying for a Stafford loan can be done for free on the FAFSA website. The school itself will determine the monetary amount of the loan.
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans do not require credit checks. Students who are eligible to file a FAFSA and who attend a participating college or university at least half-time in a degree or certificate program qualify.
Yes, you must fill out a FAFSA if you would like to receive a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must also fill it out if your parents would like to receive a PLUS loan for your education. A FAFSA is not required if you would like to receive a private loan from a bank. Private loans may have a higher interest rate. They will do a credit check and they may require you to have a co-signer.
Direct loan unsubsidized
A Direct Consolidation Loan has a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. The fixed rate is based on the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of 1% and cannot exceed 8.25%.
Read the link, it's really interesting: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7325286_federal-direct-unsubsidized-loan_.html
I would go with ING Direct CD.