Student Loans Done Right.
Your federal aid is set. The gap remains. Get up to $100K in private education loans toward tuition that federal aid does not cover.
No Origination Fees
All Credit Profiles
Transparent Terms
Call the founder line directly at (213) 818-7729
Submitting the form is not a loan application and does not affect your credit score. All loan applications are subject to credit review and underwriting approval.
Built to Fill the Gap
Private education loans toward tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
2.69%
Starting APR
Our lowest available rate, for the most qualified borrowers with strong credit profiles.
$100K
Maximum Loan
Up to $100,000 per year toward tuition and required institutional fees, subject to credit approval.
0%
Origination Fees
No origination charges on qualified education loans.
Advertised rates are the lowest rates currently available and are not guaranteed. Not all applicants qualify. Your actual APR depends on your credit profile, school and program, loan amount, repayment term, and whether you apply with a co-signer, and may be higher than the rate shown. Rates are subject to change. All loan applications are subject to credit review and underwriting approval. Your specific rate, fees, and terms are disclosed in your loan documents before you accept a loan.
See Your Real Funding Gap
Account for all your funding sources to see your funding gap.
Borrow free money first.
Before taking any private loan, apply for grants, scholarships, and awards you do not have to repay. Then complete the FAFSA to access federal aid, which may offer income-driven repayment, deferment, and forgiveness options that private loans do not. Use a private education loan only for the gap that remains, and borrow no more than you need.
Your Costs
Tuition, fees, room, board, books
Your Resources
Pell grants, student loans, work-study
Cost of Attendance
$25,000
Total Funding You Have
$8,000
Your Funding Gap
$17,000
You have a $17,000 gap for this year. LoanAmerica® arranges private education loans toward the tuition portion of that gap.
Your funding gap above reflects your full cost of attendance. Loans arranged through LoanAmerica® apply to tuition and required institutional fees only, not books, equipment, or living expenses. This calculator is for estimation purposes only and is not an offer of credit, a pre-qualification, or a commitment to lend.
This content does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. For information about existing federal student loans, contact your servicer or visit studentaid.gov.
For Students and Families
Start Your Funding Request
Tell us your school, program, and how much you need. We'll confirm your eligibility and walk you through next steps.
Financial aid officers: visit our schools page to start a partnership conversation.
This content does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. For information about existing federal student loans, contact your servicer or visit studentaid.gov.
Borrow Smart
How to Pay for School in the Right Order
A private loan should be the last dollar you borrow, not the first. Here is the order financial aid professionals recommend.
- Step 1
Apply for money you never repay
Grants, scholarships, and awards are free money. You do not repay them and they do not accrue interest. Apply for every grant and scholarship you may qualify for, including awards from your school, your state, your employer, professional associations, and local community organizations. Many scholarships go unclaimed each year because too few students apply. Keep applying every year you are enrolled, not just as an incoming student.
- Step 2
File the FAFSA, even if you think you will not qualify
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the gateway to federal grants, work-study, and federal student loans. It is free to submit. Many students assume their family earns too much to qualify and skip it, which can forfeit aid they were entitled to. Some states and schools also use the FAFSA to award their own aid, so filing it can unlock money beyond federal programs. File as early as you can, because some aid is awarded first come, first served.
- Step 3
Use federal loans before private loans
Federal student loans carry protections that private education loans generally do not, including income-driven repayment plans, deferment and forbearance options, and eligibility for forgiveness programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Federal subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you are enrolled at least half time. Exhaust the federal loans you are offered before considering any private loan.
- Step 4
Use a private loan only for the gap that remains
A private education loan is meant to cover the difference between your total cost of attendance and everything else you have secured. Borrow only that amount, not the maximum you are approved for. Every additional dollar you borrow accrues interest and increases what you repay after graduation.
Questions to Answer Before You Borrow
- How much should I borrow in total?
- A widely used guideline is to keep your total education debt at or below what you realistically expect to earn in your first year of work in your field. Research typical starting salaries for your specific program and location before you borrow, not after.
- What should I compare between lenders?
- Compare the annual percentage rate rather than the interest rate alone, because APR reflects fees as well as interest. Check whether the rate is fixed or variable, the length of the repayment term, whether payments are required while you are enrolled, any origination or late fees, and whether a co-signer can be released later.
- What is the difference between a fixed and a variable rate?
- A fixed rate stays the same for the life of the loan, so your payment is predictable. A variable rate can rise or fall over time with market benchmarks, which means your payment can increase. A variable rate may start lower but carries the risk of costing more over the full term.
- Does a co-signer help?
- Applying with a creditworthy co-signer can improve the rate and terms you are offered, particularly if you have limited credit history. A co-signer is legally responsible for repaying the loan if you do not, so both people should understand that obligation before signing.
- What should I do before I sign anything?
- Read the promissory note and the disclosure statement in full. Confirm the total amount you will repay over the life of the loan, not just the monthly payment. Ask when repayment begins, what happens if you leave school, and what hardship options exist. Never sign a loan you do not fully understand.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not individualized financial advice or a recommendation to take any specific loan. Federal student aid programs and their terms are set by the U.S. Department of Education and may change. For official information on federal aid, visit studentaid.gov. Consider speaking with your school's financial aid office about your situation.
Perspectives
Signed articles from LoanAmerica leadership
Paying for College
The Smartest Question Isn't “Where Should I Go to College?” It's “How Do I Pay for It Without Paying for It Twice?”
The school you choose and the debt you take on are not two separate decisions. They are the same one, and most families give the second about ninety seconds.
Dr. Maurice Salter
Federal Policy
Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loan Caps Are Creating Funding Gaps for Students and Leaving Borrowers Over 50 With $450 Billion in Debt
Dr. Maurice Salter
Endowments and Governance
The Illiquidity Illusion
Dr. Maurice Salter
Borrower Protection
Stay Ahead of the Curve
Dr. Maurice Salter and William Harrison
For Schools
More students funded. More seats filled.
Partner with the team that has been doing this since 1997.