Consolidate federal Stafford loans at today's interest rates and you might lower your monthly payments, but you may also be extening the total years of repayment too. Become informed first. Stafford loan consolidation online application - This is a Federal based consolidation loan : see: loanconsolidation.ed.gov

What is Federal student loan consolidation?
Federal student loan consolidation is run by the United States government. Consolidation loans can help those with debt from PLUS loans, Federal Perkins Loans, or Stafford Loans. Consolidation loans are not universally beneficial to everyone, so it is important to evaluate your current debt before deciding to take on a consolidation loan.
 
Federal consolidation loans are beneficial because they have fixed interest rates. The loan term for a consolidation loan will be longer than that of the original loans, but the monthly payment will be considerably less. You interest rate will be determined by the weighted average of the loans that are being consolidated.
 
Federal Loan Consolidation was created in 1996. Those taking advantage of a consolidation loan can choose between loan terms from 10 to 30 years. As of 1998 the interest rates have been calculated as a weighted mean that is rounded to the nearest .125 percent, which has a maximum cap of 8.25%. As of 2008, due to the decline in markets, consolidation programs such as the Sallie Mae, Next Student, and Nelnet have been suspended.
 
Determining if Federal Student Loan Consolidation is right for you can be an integral step in getting out of debt. If you happen to have a Stafford, PLUS, or Perkins loan and would benefit from lower monthly repayments then this may be exactly what you’re looking for. It is important to use consolidation loans wisely as a lower payment means that you will be making payments for a longer period of time.

Consolidate Student Loans Home - Federal Stafford - Private - Lenders