An alternative student loan (also referred to as a private student loan) is not a federal loan, but one through a private bank or other lending institution. Generally, alternative loans have interest rates, repayment terms, and deferment options that are less favorable than those of the Direct, Parent PLUS and Graduate/Professional PLUS Loan programs. We encourage all students and parents to first consider and apply for federal student loans before applying for private loans.
Selecting a private/alternative education loan can be a daunting task. The link below will provide information to help you make an informed decision. In addition to being informative, this link will provide a list of just some of the lenders who offer alternative/private loans. We suggest you research the loans and the lender to find the best interest rate and terms of your loan. While you may choose any lender, our goal is to do the research for you, simplify the process, and propose lenders with the best products, technology and benefits available.
Bellarmine University uses a comprehensive process for developing its lender list. A Request for Information is sent to all interested lenders, and information received back is used to evaluate the best options for students. Lenders are evaluated on a number of factors including options for less than half-time students, non-degree seeking students, international students, students not making satisfactory academic progress, prior semester balances, no origination fees, and back-end benefits offered to borrowers. After the data is collected, a committee meets to review the information and selects the preferred lenders. Choice of lender is never denied nor is the processing of a loan from a lender outside of our lender list delayed.
The information contained on this link is accurate as of the date it was collected. Because these loans are private loans, lenders can change the terms and conditions of these loans without notifying Bellarmine University. We suggest, therefore, that you verify this information with any lender on this site prior to applying for a loan with that company. We strongly encourage you to review each of the lender’s information to determine which benefits and terms are best for you. Take into consideration repayment terms, interest rates, and deferment options before choosing an alternative loan. Some lenders may require a co-signer for credit reasons.
Please be aware that when viewing the alternative lender web pages below that you will be leaving the Bellarmine website. If you have questions or wish to have a loan processed through another lender, please contact Financial Aid Counselor, Alie Willer.
Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification