You may have seen the news about her. If not, you missed the headlines about Phyllis Turner, a 94-year-old great-great-grandmother from Australia who just graduated with her master's degree in medical science. If this sweet, cane-toting granny can handle the rigors of a graduate education, it becomes a little harder to come up with an excuse for why you can't.

Is the cost of a graduate degree holding you back? Let NextStudent pave your financial way with a Grad PLUS loan. Designed to help graduate and professional degree-seeking students meet their educational needs, Grad PLUS loans from NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, allow you to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, less other financial aid received. Your cost of attendance isn't just tuition; it also includes any program fees, educational materials, and a reasonable allowance for transportation and living expenses.

Fixed Interest Rates and In-School Deferment Benefits

The Federal PLUS Loan Program, which used to only be available to parents of undergraduates, was expanded last year to offer additional financing options to graduate and professional students. Eligible students who still have educational expenses to meet can qualify for Federal Grad PLUS Loans even if they've already received other forms of financial aid, such as grants or Federal Stafford Student Loans.

If you're a student enrolled at least half-time in a graduate or professional degree program who meets the credit and eligibility requirements for a Grad PLUS Loan from NextStudent, you can take advantage of several borrower benefits:

• Fixed interest rate of 8.5%
• No prepayment penalties
• In-school deferment, which lets you choose to defer making payments until you've finished school or dropped below half-time enrollment.
• Forbearance and hardship deferment periods, so if you're having trouble making your monthly payment, you can request to temporarily postpone making payments without affecting your credit rating.
• Consolidation benefits, so that once you've left school or dropped below half-time status, you can consolidate your Grad PLUS loan(s), either alone or along with any other eligible federal student loans, and take advantage of all the features of federal student loan consolidation.
• Co-signers allowed, so if you don't meet the credit requirements for a Grad PLUS loan, you can apply with an eligible co-signer.
• Mid-year application, so you can apply for a Grad PLUS loan even if the school year's already started. Contact your financial aid office for the exact final deadline.

Big Rewards With a Grad PLUS Loan From NextStudent

If you're thinking of pursuing your goal of going to graduate school, of if you're trying to finish up your professional degree, a Federal Grad PLUS Loan could give you the financial help you need. And with a Grad PLUS loan from NextStudent, you're eligible for our rate reduction rewards.

• Get an immediate 0.25% rate reduction as soon as you sign up to have your student loan payments automatically deducted from your savings or checking account. Lower your rate and never have to worry about late payments or lost mail.

• We'll knock another 1% off your rate after your first 36 on-time payments. And we'll lock in this 1% rate reduction for the life of the student loan, even if you miss a payment later on down the road.

• OR make 48 consecutive on-time payments and lower your rate by 2%.

With a graduate degree in hand, you could see a big return on your investment. A survey conducted in 2004 showed that people with advanced degrees earned, on average, almost $27,000 more a year than those with bachelor's degrees.

So what are you waiting for? Join Turner and other knowledge-hungry minds in learning more about your professional area of interest and following a path you're passionate about. And let us give you the financials means to pay for all your graduate school expenses so you can focus on learning and working your way toward that income-boosting degree.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we are dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation at NextStudent.com

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