Statistics show that on average, two out of every three student in the U.S alone has applied for a student loan. Are students really as hard-up as this figure suggests? The answer is yes. Money is tight when one is a student. There are too many fees to pay for and very little cash to stretch. Unbeknownst to many students, however, the first recourse for student loans should be those that fall under federal programs. Because these are government-regulated, they offer better interest rates and payment terms than private, non-federal loans. There are three federal student loans a student may qualify for: the Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and the Grad PLUS Loans. This section is all about student loans and all the topics that fall under its umbrella.