Before you sign for your education loan, consider our advice for cutting your costs of borrowing for college and for minimizing the amount of college debt you incur.

Learn about the types of loans you may take out and how to apply for a loan.

Understand why you should use private student loans only as a last resort.

If you are unable to find a lender willing to make a federal education loan for college to you, USA Funds may be able to help.

If an education loan is part of your financial-aid package, you can download a loan application.

If you already have applied for a loan, you can check the status of your loan request.

If you're not familiar with education-loan terms, check out our glossary of loan terms.

Find more information about the NSLDS Student Access Web site and tips for accessing information about your federal student loans and Pell Grants.