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When shopping around for a student loan, it's extremely important to receive as much information as possible. This is especially true for students and families who have never been through the student loan process before. It can seem intimidating to try and make the right choice without a lot of information. When first visiting TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winning Nelnet's site, it's easy to see that there is a lot of information available, and that it's organized easily so that individuals can read quickly through the process of obtaining student loans, find what help there is available, and more. The more you understand about the process and about what is available to you, the more empowered you are when making the decision about which student loan company to go with.

Features:
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Nelnet offers the latest features and tools for those considering utilizing them to manage and pay student loans. First and foremost, they have a secure site, meaning that when you enter your account and personal information into their databases, it is encrypted before being sent over the internet. This makes it virtually impossible for someone to utilize your information to steal your identity or hurt your credit. This is a very positive thing, especially when you're just starting out.

Calculators allow you to determine an estimate of what your monthly student loan payments might be, and you have the option of viewing your account online so you can keep track of what is owed and what is paid. This is very convenient, as most students and their parents lead extremely busy lives. Rather than waiting for a statement with a summary or having to contact a representative, those students can simply login to their accounts and access the information they need from the comfort of their own computer chairs. Nelnet is a Better Business Bureau accredited company, meaning that they've agreed to follow the strict guidelines of the Better Business Bureau when it comes to the customer service and support they offer.

There are a number of tips and advice available on the website, which are designed to help students become informed and make educated decisions regarding their futures. From preparing to apply for student loans to planning your career after college life, the website contains tips and advice that can be utilized throughout the student's schooling process and even after that. The level of information on Nelnet is absolutely beneficial to all students and parents who utilize the site.

The scholarship search allows students to find scholarships they may be eligible for, to help cut costs and receive financial breaks. There is also a test preparation help option, with practice tests available for a number of tests including SAT, GED, MCAT, ACT and many more. This is an added bonus that can really help increase the student's chances of passing their tests and moving on with their lives. The practice tests contain the same type of questions and information that will be on the real test, allowing students to prepare themselves over a period of time and increasing their chances of passing the tests. Nelnet is very competitive when it comes to the features they offer, and you'd be hard-pressed to find an online student loan company that offered more features.

Help and Support:
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Help and support from a student loan company is also very important. You're most likely going to have questions that need to be answered and concerns that need to be addressed – either before or after you've joined with the company. Nelnet has an FAQs section on their website, where they've placed the most common questions from their customers and the answers to those questions. It's very likely that your questions will all be answered by reading through that section. However, if they are not, Nelnet provides telephone and email support so that you can get in touch with a representative from the company.

In addition to all of this, the website is absolutely packed full of information that can be utilized to further understand the process and how a student loan works. In fact, most people who browse through the information and read through the different sections can find answers to their questions there. The information is organized very well so that students and parents can easily access certain topics and inform themselves on that topic. Nelnet seems to be very competitive in the help and support area, ensuring that their customers are well taken care of and that questions and concerns are dealt with quickly and to the best of their ability.

Loan Types:
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The types of loans available through Nelnet include undergraduate, graduate, private loans, loans for parents, loan consolidation and federal loan assistance. This is a very large umbrella, encompassing most students who are in need of financial support for their college educations. With options like Stafford Loans, Grad PLUS loans, Parent PLUS loans and more, most students and parents will find precisely what they need with Nelnet.

Payment Options:
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With Nelnet, students have the option of making their payments over the internet or by phone, saving them time and money. Payments are made through KwikPay. Students have the option of setting up their account to make a one-time payment or recurring payments, so that the money is taken as it's due and you don't have to worry about remembering the due date. This can help reduce the instances of late payments and late fees. There is also the option of making payments through your bank's online banking system. However, if you'd prefer the traditional method of sending your payment through the mail, that option is available as well. If you suddenly remember that the deadline is upon you and you haven't paid, you can make an overnight payment to quickly get the money in and avoid late fees.

With the KwikPay option, you're unable to determine how the payment is distributed between your active loans, so they will be distributed evenly. In addition, when you make a payment over the phone, there is a $6 fee. Payments are always applied to the interest first, then the principal amount. Nelnet seems to be very flexible in regards to payment and payment options, making them a competitive student loan company in this department. Loan payments are dependent, of course, upon several things – including a student's financial situation and what they've qualified for through the FAFSA, the student's personal credit score and more. These things all factor into the payments which will be made, especially if the student receives a private loan through Nelnet.

Summary:

Students and parents should look for several things when considering an online student loan company – from information that will help them make the best decisions to the kind of help and support they can expect from that company, it's important to shop around. In addition, the types of loans provided and the payment schedules, limitations, and rules are very important to understand in any online student loan company. Nelnet is easy to use for students and parents, and provides excellent features and tools which allow you to completely understand the process. Their customer support is excellent and all around, they provide a wonderful service for students who are trying to further their educations.

 
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Nelnet

Pros
Everything you need to know about student loans is in the site. They offer a wide variety of loans not available with other sites.

Cons
There is nothing negative to say about the site.

The Verdict

One of the top recommended sites to go with when it comes to student loans.