By Dave Davis

Are you hoping to someday go to college? Many people in your situation find themselves afraid because of poor credit history. Don't be afraid. There are actually quite a few options for individuals that have bad credit. Getting a college education might be a lot easier than you think.

Two of the options you have available are Stafford loans and Perkins loans. There are also various grants that are available even if you have bad credit. Pell grants are one such option. Your credit history isn't considered during the Pell grant approval process.

Out of all of the loans that the government offers, Stafford loans are the most commonly used. They are available based on the need of the applicant, as determined by the school they are attending.

The subsidized version of the Stafford loan is only available to individuals that have financial need. These loans are great because the federal government takes care of the interest on the loan while you're still in school and also for the first six month after you finish school.

The unsubsidized version of the Stafford loan is available to even individuals that don't have financial need. Since the government doesn't pay for the interest on the loan while you're in school, these loans can be significantly more expensive.

Perkins loans are also available for students that have bad credit. Perkins loans are harder to qualify for in that you must have more financial need than those who can qualify for Stafford loans. You can qualify for Perkins loans even if you have a bad credit history.

If you have financial need, you may be able to qualify for Pell grants, even if your credit is bad. Credit history isn't considered for the grant approval process. These grants may be large or small. The amount you can get is determined by how much need you have.

Since Pell grants are a reward from the federal government, they don't need to be paid back. Not everyone can qualify for them, but those that can should definitely get them, even before they take out loans. Credit history is not considered for the grant approval process.

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