 TITLE: How to Avoid Student Loans CONTENT: Consider Federal Loans if You Still Need Money\n----------------------------------------------\nWhether or not you expect to apply for student loans, it's a good idea to fill out the FAFSA every year. In addition to providing opportunities via grants and work-study programs, it also makes you eligible for federal student loans if you need them.\nUnlike private student loans, federal student loans don't require a credit check in most cases. They also provide access to loan forgiveness programs and income-driven repayment plans, neither of which is accessible to private student loan borrowers.\nAnd if you exhibit financial need, you may qualify for subsidized loans, where the federal government pays interest on your student loans while you're in school or deferment later on.\nWhile it's not ideal to borrow money to get through school, it may be necessary if you've exhausted all of your other options. On the plus side, federal student loans offer low interest rates and important perks—and can help you afford a college education by filling the funding gap. END