If the financial aid offer letter from your school falls short of covering your college expenses, you can file a financial aid appeal, also called a special circumstance appeal.
How to Appeal Financial Aid
A financial aid appeal offers you an opportunity to ask your school for more financial assistance. But just walking into your advisor’s office and asking for more money won’t cut it. There is an appeal process to follow, and this is an opportunity for you to advocate for yourself and help make college more affordable.
- Start with outlining your "why" - You need to explain why additional funds should go to you. For example, you received a better financial aid offer from another school. Or you could have experienced major changes in your family’s financial situation. After all, you completed the FAFSA with financial information from two years ago. In that time, a lot could have changed. The Financial Aid Office may not always be the department to handle these decisions but start with them. If necessary, they will refer you to the department that can assist you with things like merit or athletic-based aid.
- Although there can be a variety of reasons why you need additional financial assistance, these are some common reasons:
- Loss of a job, like permanent layoffs/reductions in force, or temporary layoffs like furloughs and standby
- You believe there was a mistake processing your FAFSA
- Loss of a family member
- Unexpected medical expenses
- Change in a housing status, or you’ve become homeless
- Other family members have decided to enroll in college
This list is not all inclusive and there can be many other reasons why you are facing financial difficulties. The best advice we can give you is to speak up and ask for additional assistance if you are struggling.
- Prepare a letter or submit an application on your school’s website – You will need to submit an appeal letter or special circumstances application online. Continue reading for more specific direction on next steps, including what you should include in your appeal.
How to Ask for More Financial Aid
It’s best to check out your school’s financial aid website to see if they offer any guidance for their financial aid appeal process. Do they recommend you submit the appeal by email? Through your portal? Or are you required to have a discussion with your financial aid advisor? Learn exactly which way your school wants you to communicate with them to save time and frustration.
While most students appeal their financial aid at the start of a term or prior, you should also know that a financial aid appeal can happen at any time, even in the middle of the academic year.
The decision of a financial aid appeal is in the hands of your school. Here are our recommendations:
- Begin the process as soon as possible. As soon as you determine you need additional financial assistance, start your conversations with your school. Don’t wait until the last minute. The closer you get to your term start date, the busier your financial aid office will be.
- Research. Do you know someone who successfully appealed their financial aid package? Ask them how they did it. Did they draft an email or letter? Ask for a copy. Look online to see if anyone has had success with appealing financial aid at your school. Even if you can’t find examples specific to your school, it’ll give you an idea of how to approach the conversation.
- Be involved. It’s okay if your parents want to help, but you’re the student enrolled in school. If your parents want to help, let them know you’ll take the lead and would appreciate any guidance they have to offer. Some schools won’t speak to parents if the student is not present.
- Be prepared! Complete any necessary forms and have documentation to demonstrate the changes in your financial situation. If you’re meeting in person, it may be easier to have physical copies of tax returns, pay stubs, etc., rather than trying to pull them up on your phone. If you’re having conversations by phone, ask your advisor for the best place to email the documents.
- Be patient with your school. If you are on hold, or your advisor is running late with appointments, don’t get frustrated. Many times, your school officials are doing the best they can and are trying to help as many students as possible.
Financial Aid Appeal Letter
Your school’s appeal process will determine how you need to submit your letter. You may need to mail it to a specific person, submit it through a portal, or send it to a specific email address. If you don’t know where to send it, you want to start by reaching out to your financial aid office or directly to your assigned advisor.
How to Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter
You can always try to find an online template or modify letters you know worked for others. But if you need to start from scratch, here’s the approach you should take.
- Keep it formal. You should put clear effort into this request, especially since you’re asking your school to consider giving you additional money when other students may also be submitting requests.
- Clearly explain your situation. Why should your financial aid office consider your request for additional funds? Explain why you think additional funds should go to you and why you would be an asset on their campus.
- Provide information about any special circumstances. Be honest here, is there something going on and you need additional help? Although it may be difficult to discuss problems, your financial aid office can only help you if they understand what is going on.
- Include appropriate documentation. You want to support your request with additional proof of your circumstances if it’s appropriate to do so.
- Ask for a specific amount. It may be helpful for the financial aid office to understand how much you really need. Fulfilling a request for an additional $1,000 is a lot different than $10,000. You could also suggest alternative types of assistance. For example, could you qualify for a reduce cost meal plan, or would your school be willing to charge you in-state versus out-of-state tuition?
- Thank your financial aid office for their time. This is a formal request, and discretion to offer additional assistance will be up to your school. It doesn’t hurt to be polite.
Financial Aid Appeal Letter Sample
Time to go online. A quick online search can help you find many examples people used to ask for additional financial aid funds. But don’t forget to check your school’s website. Many schools have an online application form or provide details of what to include in an appeal letter. If you encounter a school form that doesn’t exactly meet your needs, that’s not a reason to give up. Set up some time with your Financial Aid Office to discuss your situation and determine the best way to submit a special circumstances appeal request.
Some examples include:
How Often Do Financial Aid Appeals Get Approved?
Financial aid appeals are approved or denied at the discretion of your school. Your chances of approval will depend on many factors, like whether or not the school is able to offer more federal aid. Or what type of financial resources your school has to offer to students.
When it comes down to it, it’s always best to ask. Even if your school is unable to offer additional funds, they may have recommendations to help you. There could be emergency grants, food or housing assistance.
What If My Financial Aid Appeal is Rejected?
If your appeal is rejected, it may feel a bit overwhelming. But there are a few more things you could do.
- Make some adjustments to your enrollment status. Give yourself some time. If you can go half-time, you may be able to work to help cover your college tuition, as well as other life expenses you may have. If you need even more time, ask your school if you can defer enrollment for a year. Take some time to earn some money or handle any personal issues you are dealing with.
- Look at other sources of financial aid.
- Ask your school if they have a tuition payment plan. This could help you cover your tuition bill over a few months, instead of paying a lump sum.
- If you haven’t already, start looking at scholarship opportunities. They may not help you this year, but they could help relieve some financial stress for future terms.
- Look at private student loan opportunities. Private student loans can be used to help you pay for college related costs. If you are unable to apply on your own, you can always apply with a creditworthy cosigner.
Compare Featured Lenders
- Competitive APRs starting at 3.47%1
- Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum) 2
- Multiple repayment options including: full principal and interest, interest-only, deferred, and flat payment
- Flexible payment terms ranging from 5, 8, 10, and 15 years3
- No origination, application and processing fees, no fees for early repayment
- Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision
- Applying with a cosigner can increase your chances of getting approved and could result in a lower interest rate
College Ave's student loan products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
1All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
2As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
3This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Information advertised valid as of 12/02/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
- Choose the #1 Private Student Loan Lender in the Nation. Sallie Mae is trusted by more families than any other private student loan lender.
- Variable Rates: 4.92% APR - 15.08% APR. Fixed Rates: 3.49% APR - 15.49% APR. Lowest rates shown include 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount with auto debit payments.1
- Applying online is easy - you could receive a credit result in about 10 minutes.2
- Multiple repayment options from in-school payments to deferred.1 No origination fee or prepayment penalty2
- Last year, students were 4x more likely to be approved with a cosigner3 and it may help you get a better rate.
- Borrow up to 100% of school-certified expenses, whether you're online or on campus4
Borrow Responsibly
We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.
Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend school in the U.S., apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident), and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID. Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.
1Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.
2Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note-first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.
3Based on a comparison of the percentage of students who were approved with a cosigner to the percentage of students who were approved without a cosigner from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.
4For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time.
Information advertised valid as of 11/25/2024.
SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. CHECK SALLIEMAE.COM FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.
Sallie Mae Loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Edvisors is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Sallie Mae loan customers.
© 2024 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
- Get a rate quote in about 2 minutes with no impact to your credit score.2
- Applying with a qualified cosigner could improve your chances of approval and could even get you a lower rate.3
- After applying, you may qualify for Multi-Year Approval.4 This means you wouldn’t have to reapply next year. If eligible, prior to each academic year, simply log in to your account and request funds with no application and no hit to your credit score!
- Choose from flexible repayment options that best fit your current situation.
- No origination, application, or disbursement fees.
- No penalty for paying more than the minimum payment or paying your loan off early.
- A Citizens Student Loan™ could cover 100% school-certified costs.
1 RATE DISCLOSURES
Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates are based on the 30-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of Dec 01, 2024, the 30-day average SOFR index is 4.7%. Variable interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the SOFR index, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable interest rate is the greater of 21.00% or the prime rate plus 9.00%.
Fixed Rate Disclosure: Fixed rate ranges are based on applicable terms, level of degree, and presence of a co-signer.
Lowest Rate Disclosure: Lowest rates are only available for the most creditworthy applicants, require a 5-year repayment term, interest-only repayment, and include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty Discount and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.
Loyalty Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: any checking account, savings account, money market account, certificate of deposit, automobile loan, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, mortgage, credit card account, or other student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan.
Automatic Payment Discount: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. Discount is not available when payments are not due, such as during forbearance. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account three or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount.
2Get My Rate: Selecting “Get My Rate” only requires a "soft credit pull" which does not affect your credit score. Submitting a full application will result in an inquiry on your credit report.
3Co-signer Release: Borrowers may apply for co-signer release after making 36 consecutive on-time payments of principal and interest. For the purpose of the application for co-signer release, on-time payments are defined as payments received within 15 days of the due date. Interest only payments do not qualify. The borrower must meet certain credit and eligibility guidelines when applying for the co-signer release. Borrowers must complete an application for release and provide income verification documents as part of the review. Borrowers who use deferment or forbearance will need to make 36 consecutive on-time payments after reentering repayment to qualify for release. The borrower applying for co-signer release must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If an application for co-signer release is denied, the borrower may not reapply for co-signer release until at least one year from the date the application for co-signer release was received. Terms and conditions apply. Borrowers whose loans were funded prior to reaching the age of majority may not be eligible for co-signer release. Note: co-signer release is not available on the Student Loan for Parents or Education Refinance Loan for Parents.
4Multi-Year Approval: Funds available for future use are subject to a soft credit inquiry at time of your next request to verify continued eligibility. After we make the initial Loan to you, you must continue to meet eligibility criteria to obtain additional funds under the Multi-Year Approval feature. Terms and conditions are outlined in the promissory note. Multi-Year Approval borrowers have a 99% approval rate on future requests for additional funds. The additional funds approval rate is based on the percentage of approved Multi-Year borrowers from Citizens between October 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023. The approval rate represents only borrowers who had previously accepted the Multi-Year Approval offer.
Please Note: International students are not eligible for Multi-Year Approval.
Information advertised valid as of 12/19/24. Rates and offer subject to change. All accounts, loans and services subject to individual approval.
© 2024 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizens is a brand name of Citizens Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- All online, all easy.
- SoFi covers 100% of school-certified costs.
- No fees. Period.
- Repay your way with flexible repayment options (find the monthly student loan payment and rate that fits your budget).
- Applying with a cosigner may increase your chances of approval and getting a better rate.
- Over 1 million students have chosen SoFi.
SoFi Private Student Loan
Undergraduate, Graduate, MBA, Law, Health Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 3.54% APR to 15.99% APR with 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 5.54% APR to 15.99% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates are capped at 17.95%. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 11/20/24 and are subject to change at any time. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term and type of repayment option you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer (if applicable) and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Check out our eligibility criteria at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/. For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
Parent
Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 5.74% APR to 16.85% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 6.07% APR – 16.85% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates are capped at 17.95%. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 11/20/24 and are subject to change at any time. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term and type of repayment option you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer (if applicable) and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Check out our eligibility criteria at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/. For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 8/5/24 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
- Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
- Flexible repayment options you can choose from
- No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
- Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4
- Will cover up to 100% of the school's certified cost of attendance
- 9-month grace period (3 months more than most lenders)2
- Apply over the phone with the Client Happiness Team
- Call 866-492-1222, Monday through Friday, 5 A.M. - 5 P.M. PST
- Mention us when you call in to start your application
This information is for graduate and undergraduate students attending participating degree-granting schools. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents if the school is located outside of the United States. Non-U.S. citizen borrowers who reside in the U.S. are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident) and are required to provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify identity. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.
Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 3.72% APR to 16.74% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.24% APR to 17.10% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.
1You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay.
2Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.
3Earnest does not charge fees for origination, late payments, or prepayments. Florida Stamp Tax: For Florida
residents, Florida documentary stamp tax is required by law, calculated as $0.35 for each $100 (or portion thereof) of the principal loan amount, the amount of which is provided in the Final Disclosure. Lender will add the stamp tax to the principal loan amount. The full amount will be paid directly to the Florida Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 78-8016373916-1.4Earnest clients may skip one payment every 12 months. Your first request to skip a payment can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Please be aware that a skipped payment does count toward the forbearance limits. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.
The information provided on this page is updated as of 12/11/2024. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice.
Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107
Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 535 Mission St., Suite 1663 San Francisco, CA 94105, NMLS #1204917, with support from Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) (NMLS# 1442770). One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.
© 2024 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER.
- Simple application process
- See your rate in minutes without affecting your credit score2
- Auto debit savings3
- Flexible repayment plans and multiple loan terms available
- No application fees and no origination fees
- Easy cosigning options
Nelnet Bank (Member FDIC)
Lowest rates shown already include an auto debit discount.
1 Fixed interest rates range from 3.69% APR (with auto debit discount) to 9.82% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. The fixed interest rate will remain the same for the life of the loan. Variable interest rates range from 5.83% APR (with auto debit discount) to 10.16% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Variable rates for Nelnet Bank Student Loans are calculated using either (a) the One-Month SOFR; (b) the 30-day Average SOFR; or (c) the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and/or The Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table on the twenty-fifth day (or the next business day) of the immediately preceding calendar month. The variable rate may reprice and change on the first day of each month if the SOFR index changes. This may result in higher monthly payments. The current One-Month SOFR index is 4.70% as of December 1, 2024. The lowest interest rate for each loan type requires automatically withdrawn (“auto debit”) payments. The lowest rate is available only to the most creditworthy applicants. Not all borrowers will receive the lowest rate. The interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) may be higher depending upon (1) the credit history of the borrower and, if applicable, the cosigner, (2) the repayment option and loan term selected, and (3) the loan type selected. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate qualified for within the stated range.
2 Credit Score: Checking your rate results in a soft credit pull, which will not affect your credit score. If you continue with your application, Nelnet Bank will request your permission to obtain your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies. This is a hard credit pull and may affect your credit score.
3 Auto Debit: Interest rate reduction of .25% for automatically withdrawn payments from any designated bank account (“auto debit discount”). Auto debit discount applies when full payments (including both principal and interest), interest only and fixed pay are automatically drafted from a bank account. The auto debit discount will continue to apply during periods of approved forbearance or deferment if the auto debit discount was in effect at the time of receiving the forbearance or deferment. Auto debit discount will remain on the account unless (1) the automatic deduction of payments is canceled or (2) there are three consecutive automatic deductions returned for insufficient funds at any time during the term of the loan.
Student Loan Eligibility: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien with a valid U.S. Social Security number. All applicants must be the legal age to enter into binding contracts in their state of residence or territory. Non-residents can apply with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien with a valid U.S. Social Security number. Student must be enrolled at least half-time at a Title IV program at an eligible school. You must not have defaulted on any student loan. Approval subject to credit review. Other credit criteria may apply.
Undergraduate Loan Amounts*:
Minimum loan amount: $1,000
Maximum loan amount: $125,000Graduate Loan Amounts*:
Minimum loan amount: $1,000
Maximum Loan amount:- Graduate or doctorate degree: $175,000
- MBA or graduate law degree: $175,000
- Graduate health professions degree: $500,000
*Maximum loan amounts are subject to limits on total student loan debt
This referral partner is not the creditor of Nelnet Bank loans and may receive compensation from Nelnet Bank for the referral of Nelnet Bank loan customers.
Before taking out a private student loan, make sure to take advantage of any federal student loans, grants, or scholarships you have access to. Federal student loans often include benefits and lower interest rates, so be sure to consider all of your options before applying for a private student loan.
- AFFORDABLE fixed rates starting at 3.69% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
- 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
- NON-COSIGNED option may be available for eligible undergraduate juniors and seniors.
- PAY AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL – Customize your loan with flexible repayment options – start payments after graduation.
- FORGET FEES – No application, origination or disbursement fees. No late fees and no prepayment penalty if you choose to pay your loan off early.
- COVER UP TO 100% of your tuition and eligible living expenses.
* Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent's Terms and Conditions please visit: AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 12/1/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans and 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions. The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. The AscentUP platform is only available to eligible Ascent borrowers and subject to terms and conditions.
The minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.
- No application fees, origination fees, or late payments
- Prequalify in minutes
- Lone terms available from 5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years
- Reduce your rate by up to 0.50% for building a good payment history
- Early cosigner release
Before applying for a private student loan, DR Bank and Monogram recommend exhausting all financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans.
The AbeSM student loan is made by DR Bank, Member FDIC (“Lender”). All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to Lender’s underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. LENDER AND MONOGRAM LLC EACH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates): Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates) depend upon (1) the student’s and cosigner’s (if applicable) credit histories, (2) the repayment option and repayment term selected, (3) the expected number of years in deferment, (4) the requested loan amount and (5) other information provided on the online loan application. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate applicable to your loan. Rates and terms are effective as of 12/01/2024. The variable interest rate for each calendar month is calculated by adding the 30-Day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, or a replacement index if the SOFR index is no longer available, plus a fixed margin assigned to each loan. The SOFR index is published on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The current SOFR index is 4.750% as of 12/01/2024. The variable interest rate will change if the SOFR index changes or if a new index is chosen or if you automatically qualify for In-School Default Protection (see footnote below for details). The applicable index or margin for variable rate loans may change over time and result in a different APR than shown. The fixed rate assigned to a loan will never change except as required by law or if you request and qualify for the on-time payment discount or auto pay discount, or automatically qualify for In-School Default Protection (see footnote below for details).
APRs displayed as a range: APRs assume a $10,000 loan with one disbursement. The high APRs assume a 5-year term with the Interest-Only Repayment option, a 37 month deferment period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment. The low APRs assume a 7-year term, and the Immediate Repayment option with payments beginning 30-60 days after the disbursement via auto pay. See auto pay footnote for details.
Loan Terms: The 15- and 20- year terms are only available for loan amounts of $5,000 or more. Making interest only payments during deferment will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. Payment examples (all assume a 14-month deferment period, a six-month grace period before entering repayment, no auto pay discount, and the Interest Only Repayment option): 5 year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 5-year repayment term (60 months) and a 9.60% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $210.51. 7- year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 7-year repayment term (84 months) and a 8.82% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $159.98. 10-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 10-year repayment term (120 months) and a 8.57% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $124.36. 15-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with, a 15-year repayment term (180 months) and a 8.48% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $98.36 20-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with, a 20-year repayment term (240 months) and a 8.62% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $87.54.
Grad Reward: The principal reduction is based on the total dollar amount of all disbursements made, excluding any amounts that are reduced, canceled, or returned. To receive this principal reduction, it must be requested from the Servicer, the student borrower must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and proof of such graduation must be provided to the Servicer. This reward is available once during the life of the loan, regardless of whether the student receives more than one degree.
Autopay Discount: Earn a 0.25% interest rate reduction for making automatic payments from a bank account (“auto pay discount”) by completing the direct debit form provided by the Servicer. The auto pay discount is in addition to other discounts. The auto pay discount will be applied after the Servicer validates your bank account information. Automatic payments and the associated discount will be temporarily discontinued (1) if you elect to stop automatic deduction of payments and (2) during periods when you are not required to make payments. The discount will be permanently discontinued in the event three automatic deductions are returned by the financial institution for any reason.
On-Time Payment Discount: The 0.05% interest rate reduction will automatically be applied for every 6 consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest made during the repayment term within 10 calendar days after their due date up to a maximum interest rate discount of 0.25%. During any period of deferment or forbearance the interest rate will increase by any previously received On-time Payment Benefit reduction(s). The interest rate will return to the reduced interest rate following such period. Use of a deferment or forbearance will reset the number of consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest made to zero. A late payment will disqualify the loan from receiving any additional interest rate reductions for on-time payments.
Cosigner Release: A cosigner may be released from the loan upon request to the Servicer, provided that the student borrower has met certain credit and other criteria, and 12 consecutive monthly principal and interest payments or lump sum payments equal to 12 monthly principal and interest payments have been received by the Servicer during any 12-month period. While a loan is in a reduced repayment plan or while a request for a reduced payment plan is pending, borrowers are not eligible to apply for cosigner release.
In-School Default Protection: Borrowers with Interest Only loans that reach at least 120 days delinquent during an in-school deferment period will automatically have their repayment option transitioned from the Interest Only repayment option to the Full Deferment repayment option. Under these circumstances, the interest rate on the loan will automatically increase to match the interest rate associated with the corresponding Full Deferment loan. For an Interest Only loan, the interest rate will increase by one percentage point (1.00%). Credit reporting prior to the transition of a loan to the Full Deferment repayment option will remain on your record. Any unpaid accrued interest at the end of an in-school deferment period may be capitalized in accordance with the Credit Agreement.
Loan Amounts: The minimum loan amount is $1,000, except for (a) student applicants who are permanent residents of Iowa in which case the minimum loan amount is $1,001, (b) student applicants or cosigners who are permanent residents of Massachusetts in which case the minimum loan amount is $6,001 and (c) student applicants or cosigners who are permanent residents of New Hampshire in which case the minimum loan amount is $10,001. The maximum loan amount to cover in-school expenses for each academic year is determined by the school’s cost of attendance, minus other financial aid, such as federal student loans, scholarships, or grants, up to $99,999. The loan amount must be certified by the school. The loan amount cannot cause the aggregate maximum student loan debt (which includes federal and private student loans) to exceed $225,000 per applicant (on cosigned applications, separate calculations are performed for the student and cosigner).
Monthly Payment During School: This is the estimated monthly payment that will be made during the time you remain enrolled at your school certifies, subject to the initial deferment period maximum of 66 months from the first disbursement date. Immediate Repayment: Starting 30-60 days after your first disbursement date the first monthly payment of principal and interest will be due. The monthly payments of principal and interest will be generally stable for twelve months and will be recalculated once each year and reset annually on the anniversary of your most recent repayment start date so as to pay the loan in full over the remaining repayment period. Full Deferment: Principal and interest payments will be deferred from your first disbursement date through your initial deferment period end date. Starting 30-60 days after the initial deferment period, the first monthly payments of principal and interest will be due unless you qualify for and request an additional type of deferment. Interest Only Repayment: Principal payments will be deferred from your first disbursement date through your initial deferment period end date. Starting 30-60 days after your first disbursement date you will pay interest-only monthly payments that are equal to the accrued interest on the outstanding principal balance throughout the initial deferment period.
Monthly Payment After Graduation:
Immediate Repayment: This is the estimated combined monthly principal and interest payment amount following the final disbursement of your loan The monthly payment amount shown in the estimate will increase or decrease if the interest rate increases or decreases and will be computed based on the interest rate applicable at the time repayment begins. Your monthly payment amount may also be recalculated (a) after any deferment or forbearance period, (b) after you ask the servicer to change the monthly payment due date or (c) if the minimum monthly payment is not enough to cover the interest accrued during that month.
Full Deferment, and Interest Only Repayment during school: The Estimated Monthly Payment after Graduation is the combined principal and interest payment amount following the initial deferment period. The first year of principal and interest repayment generally has the same monthly payment each month. After the first year of principal and interest payments, monthly payment amounts are recalculated once each year and reset annually on the anniversary of your most recent repayment start date so as to pay the loan in full over the remaining repayment period. The monthly payment amount shown in the estimate will increase or decrease if the interest rate increases or decreases and will be computed based on the interest rate applicable at the time repayment begins. For all repayment options, the minimum monthly payments of your loan’s combined principal and interest will be at least $50. Past Due Balances: Applications may be accepted up to the earlier of (a) eighteen calendar months after the Applicant’s academic period end date or (b) eighteen calendar months after the Applicant’s graduation date. Abe is a service mark of Monogram LLC.
Monogram LLC is not an affiliate of DR Bank.
Monogram LLC (NMLS #2542102)
- Prequalification: Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score
- Online Application Process: Submit online application in minutes
- Flexible Repayment Options: ELFI offers immediate, interest only, partial payment, and fully deferred repayment options
- No Fees: No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties
- Low Rates: Fixed rates from 3.69% to 14.22% and variable rates from 5.00% - 14.22%*
- Award winning Customer Service: Individually paired Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process
*ELFI is a nationwide student loan provider offered by Tennessee based SouthEast Bank. ELFI is designed to assist students financially with receiving their education. Subject to credit approval. See Terms & Conditions. Interest rates current as of 10-01-2024. Variable interest rates may increase after closing but will never exceed 18.00%. Interest rates may also differ from the rates shown above. The term of your loan, financial history, and other factors, including your cosigner’s (if any) financial history can affect the interest rate. For example, a 10-year loan with a fixed rate of 7% would have 120 payments of $11.61 per $1,000 borrowed. Rates are subject to change.
Learn More About Federal Student Aid
Student Parent Financial Information