Graduating from college? Make sure you've mastered your student loan basics

Whether the speaker at your college graduation is Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook (MIT) or actress Eva Longoria (Knox College), the event signals the end of your undergraduate career — and moves you that much closer to having to repay your student loans.

Most federal student loans come with at least a six-month grace period, a time during which you don't have to make monthly payments. That gives new graduates some breathing room — to find a job, rent or buy an apartment, or buy a car.

But many borrowers are uneducated about the type of loan they have, how long it will take to repay, what their monthly payment is likely to be and other important details, according to research from Prudential Financial. So they may be caught off guard when it comes time to begin repayment.

James Mahaney, vice president of strategic initiatives at Prudential, suggests taking simple steps, like creating a filing system for loan documents, to help keep on top of your obligations.

To help things go smoothly, make sure your student loan servicer — the company that sends you statements, collects payments and otherwise manages your loan — has your correct contact information. That means not only your street address, but also your cellphone number and e-mail address.

You are responsible for making sure your servicer knows how to reach you, even if you move, said Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Access and Success. If statements go to an old address, you may end up making late payments.

It's important to know if you have a federal loan (borrowed from the government) or a private one (borrowed from a bank or other lender). Federal loans typically have more consumer protections, including the option of flexible repayment plans if you have trouble affording your payments.

Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of college site Cappex.com, said that during the grace period, federal loan borrowers should choose a repayment plan, ideally with the highest monthly payment that they can afford. The standard, 10-year repayment plan is usually the shortest and least expensive overall. Longer-term repayment plans lower the monthly payment but cost more in interest over the life of the loan.

The Education Department offers a payment estimator tool on its website.

For some types of federal loans, interest accrues and is added to your balance at the end of the grace period. So it may be smart to make payments on those loans during the grace period, if you can. Interest doesn't accrue during the grace period on federal "subsidized" loans, which are based on financial need.

Also, Kantrowitz suggests having payments automatically debited from your bank account. You'll be less likely to be late with a bill, and you may qualify for a bit of a discount — 0.25 percent, or 0.50 percent — as an incentive.