If your earnings and grants don’t cover the full cost of tuition, student loans can help you make up the difference.
Government Loans
Generally, we encourage students to explore federal and state loans before considering private loans. Not only do these have a standard interest rate regardless of your credit history, but federal student loans are also required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options and loan forgiveness benefits.
If you want to learn more about the different types of federal student loans, please visit StudentAid.gov.
Private Loans
Private loans are available through a variety of lending institutions. The interest and repayment terms will vary depending on who you borrow from, so it’s always a good idea to research and compare different offers before borrowing.
Here is some helpful information you should keep in mind when shopping for private student loans:
- If the student has no credit or a poor credit score, they might need a qualified co-borrower to be approved.
- Generally, private loans require that you are a U.S. citizen a U.S. national, or a permanent resident. International students can be eligible with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident.
- Most private loans are in the student’s name. However, some private lenders also offer parent loans where the parent or relative is the primary borrower.
- When researching private loans, you will want to take into account their interest rate, repayment terms, the date that repayment goes into effect, and the loan amount.
- It is recommended that you don’t borrow more than you need.
A list of lenders previously used by WCU students can be found online at elmselect.
West Coast University does not make any recommendations regarding private loan lenders. Students may borrow from any lender. Be sure to research and review each lender’s terms and conditions before making a final decision.
