If you are planning to finance your studies in the USA through a secured education loan, the bank may ask you to pledge an asset as collateral. The type of collateral accepted depends on the bank, loan amount, property value, and the lender's internal policies. Banks commonly consider assets such as residential or commercial property and fixed deposits, while some lenders may accept other tangible or liquid securities. Understanding these options can help you determine whether a secured loan is suitable for your study-abroad plans. What Is Collateral in an Education Loan? Collateral is an asset pledged to a lender as security against a loan. It reduces the lender's risk and may help students qualify for higher loan amounts or different loan terms. The asset is not transferred to the bank permanently. However, the lender creates a charge or lien over it until the education loan is repaid according to the agreed terms. For example, SBI's Global Ed-Vantage scheme states that...
The tenure of a Study Abroad USA Education Loan generally ranges from 5 to 15 years , although the exact repayment period depends on the lender, loan product, course, university, loan amount, and applicant’s financial profile. An education loan with US co-signer may provide access to multiple tenure options because the co-signer’s creditworthiness helps reduce the lender’s repayment risk. What Does Education Loan Tenure Mean? Education loan tenure is the period provided to repay the principal amount and applicable interest. For example, if you choose a 10-year tenure, your regular principal-and-interest payments will usually be spread across 120 months. However, the repayment tenure may not include: The period during which you are studying The post-graduation grace period Any approved deferment or forbearance period Therefore, the total time from loan disbursement to final repayment can be longer than the stated loan tenure. Typical USA Education Loan Tenure Most private stude...