If you have a variety of different student loans, you may want to start thinking about your consolidation options. There are various companies that offer consolidation options that will allow you to take all of your college loans and consolidate them into one monthly payment. This is a great option because it is much easier to keep up with one payment and it can also save you a great deal of money on interest rates as well. When you consolidate your student loans, you want to make sure that you get a great deal, so consider the following tips before you make any final decisions.

Tip #1 - Compare Lenders - One of the first things that you should do when you are considering a consolidation loan is to compare a variety of different lenders. While the first lender you consider may seem to have great rates and options, you need to keep looking around to make sure that you find the best deal possible. Consolidation loans are highly competitive and there are many companies out there that will want to help you, so make sure that you compare various companies and their rates before you make your final decision on a lender.

Tip #2 - Check Out Discounts - Another thing that you should consider when you are looking for a consolidation loan is the discounts that are offered by a company. Many companies offer discounts if you opt for automatic withdrawal from your bank account. Other companies offer discounts if you pay all your payments on time for a certain amount of time. Make sure that you find the options that will best save you money.

Tip #3 - Avoiding Extending Your Loan - What many students fail to realize when they are consolidating their loans is that some companies are offering loans that will last for 20 years instead of the 10 years that their initial loan was to last. Going with a loan over 20 years will end up costing you a great deal more in interest rates. You are usually better off to stick with 10 year loans if you want to save money in the long run. Be sure that you check out the terms and the length of the loan before you make a decision.

Tip #4 - Read the Fine Print - Before you sign your name on the dotted line, make sure that you have read all the fine print and the terms regarding your student loan. Many times there are consolidation loans that will look good, with companies offering great rates and special discounts, but many times there can be a catch that you are not aware of.

When you are consolidating your student loans, you want to make sure that you get the best deal possible so you can save money. If you keep these tips in mind, you will be able to pick out the best consolidation loan for you.