Posts by Jon O'Donnell

Jon is a writer and marketer for Nitro who is passionate about bringing transparency to the student loan process along with providing families with the information needed to make smart financial decisions. He also just recently refinanced his student loans allowing him to pay them off 5 years faster all while saving an additional $152/month. As he continues to pay them off himself, he strives to help others do the same. Jon also has a long history of connecting people with educational opportunities to help them improve their careers and their overall personal finances. In his free time you can find him reading travel blogs and researching destinations around the world in search of his next adventure.
Jon O'Donnell

What Do You Need To Fill Out the FAFSA? Gather This Info Before Oct. 1
FAFSA

When you’re ready to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you’ll need to have some very specific info on-hand. 

Here's how you can prepare. 

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7 Things Most College Students Forget to Budget For
College 101

You're prepared to pay for the big-ticket items, including tuition, room and board, and fees. But have you factored every expense into your college budget? 

As you're finalizing your college funding plan, make sure you've accounted for these seven items.

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What Is a Pell Grant? How to Get Your $6,345
Grants

A Pell Grant is an extremely valuable component of federal financial aid. Because it's a grant, you don't have to pay it back. Free money? Yes, please.

If you qualify, a Federal Pell Grant could add as much as $6,345 to your college coffers. 

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Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Student Loans: What’s the difference?
Federal Student Loans

Federal student loans, also known as Stafford Loans or Direct Loans, come in two forms: subsidized and unsubsidized.

Subsidized loans are offered to students with financial need. For these loans, the government will cover the interest while you're in school. Unsubsidized loans are offered to students without extreme financial need. If you get an unsubsidized loan, the loan interest will accrue while you're in school if you defer payments. Let's dig in to how each of these loans work. 

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Only 8% of Students Get Approved for Student Loans Without a Cosigner; Find Out Why
Private Student Loans

What’s the easiest way to get approved for a private student loan? Apply with a cosigner. 

Why? Because most college students don't have an adequate credit history to qualify on their own. In fact, 92% of private student loans are cosigned (according to figures from the MeasureOne Private Student Loan Report, Dec. 2019). 

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Should Parents Pay For College? Opposing Views from Parents
Private Student Loans

The prospect of paying for college can be overwhelming, even for the most well-prepared students. Tuition costs continue to rise, even though parental and post-graduate incomes haven’t followed the same trend. So who should pay for college? Viewpoints vary as to whether students or their parents should be responsible.

Let's take a look at some common viewpoints. 

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Best Banks for Private Student Loans in 2017. Get Your Rate.
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