Be debt savvy before you borrow

Congratulations! You are on your way toward a better future by investing a higher education. Smart borrowing will save you money and ensure you are financially prepared to take the next step.

Debt savvy ways to pay for college

Sallie Mae's 1-2-3 approach to paying for college: Cut through all the information and see the most cost-effective way to pay for school.

Borrow only what you can afford: Calculate your debt-to-income ratio. (That's what lenders do.)

Keep your debt level low: Most students are on limited budgets. Here are some ways to be debt savvy about your daily finances.

Using private loans to pay for school: After maximizing all free money and fully exploring federal loans, private student loans are another way to cover college costs.

It's never to late to start saving for school. Find out what 8 million members already know: Join Upromise and let your everyday spending help pay for school.

Free money

Use College Answer's free Scholarship Search: Our database has 2.8 million scholarships worth over $16 billion.

Getting lots of advice?

Don't fall for these common financial aid myths.


© 1995–2008 Sallie Mae, Inc. All rights reserved. Our trademarks | Terms of use | Protecting your privacy | Avoid online fraud

SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.