Narrowing down Lenders

With the recent student loans scandals, one realizes that one cannot trust university financial aid offices for sound financial advice. So, I've been scouring the internet for various sources of Federal Stafford and Federal Grad PLUS loans. While these loans carry fixed rates of 6.8% and 8.5%, respectively, each lender is allowed to offer additional benefits for the borrower. These can include rebates and interest rate reductions. A big problem in comparing the various offerings, however, is that there is no standard way to compare them. For example, how is one to compare the benefit "0.6% interest rate reduction at disbursement" with "3% principal rebate after 180 days"? Here, student loans can be a black box because a standardized APR is not required.

I've determined that an immediate reduction, a.k.a. front loading, is a better benefit than interest rate reductions further down the road. That's because a) while I know the present, I can't predict the future, b) future interest rate reductions, a.k.a. back loading, have contingencies that I may or may not honor in the future, and c) I have the option of consolidating.

Based on my own criteria, I've narrowed it down to three companies for the GradPLUS, and two for the Staffords.

GradPLUS, base rate is 8.5% fixed, w/ 3% origination fee:
1. AAMC Medloans: Offers 0.6% interest rate reduction (IRR) at disbursement, an additional 0.75% IRR with on-time repayment, and 0.5% IRR at repayment with auto-debit. Interest is capitalized once, after continuous deferment. Rate reductions contingent upon on-time payment, benefits can be re-instated once after 24 on-time payments.
APR in school: 8.57%
APR in school+residency: 7.02%
APR after residency: 6.65% (best case)

2. EdAmerica: Offers 1.25% IRR at disbursement, an additional 0.5% IRR at repayment with auto-debit. Interest (I think, will need to double check) is capitalized once, after continuous deferment. Rate reductions contingent upon on-time payment, benefits can be re-instated once after 24 on-time payments.
APR in school: 7.33%
APR in school+residency: 6.56%
APR after residency: 6.75% (best case)

3. Graduate Leverage: Offers 1.3% IRR at disbursement, 3% origination fee rebate 120 days after disbursement. Interest is capitalized annually.
APR in school: 7.28%
APR in school+residency: 7.23%
APR after residency: 7.2% (best case)


Stafford Loans, base rate is 6.8% fixed:
1. AAMC Medloans: Offers 0.3% IRR at disbursement, and an additional 1.0% IRR at repayment with on-time payment and 0.75% IRR with auto-debit. Interest capitalizes once, after continuous deferment.
APR in school: 6.11%
APR in school+residency: 5.54%
APR after residency: 4.75% (best case)

2. Graduate Leverage: Offers 1.0% IRR at disbursement. Interest capitalizes annually.
APR in school: 5.80%
APR in school+residency: 5.80%
APR after residency: 5.80% (best case)