Loan Programs

Federal Direct Loan Program

Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student's education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) rather than a bank or other financial institution. For more information on Federal Direct Loans. Please do not submit a Parent PLUS application before July 1 for the following academic year.

Review the disclosure

When considering the amount of loan funds you wish to borrow, it is important to consider not only tuition and fees, but also additional budget items such as housing and food, transportation, and books and supplies.

Please note: A loan fee is not the same as its interest rate. The loan fee (for the 2023-24 academic year the fee is 4.228 percent) is deducted from the amount borrowed at the time of origination. The loan proceeds sent to Springfield College (the net amount) will be the loan amount requested less the fee. Actual offered loan amounts may be limited by the calculated cost of attendance, grade level, enrollment status, aggregate limits, Expected Family Contribution (EFC), or other eligibility criteria.

Actual loan amounts may vary slightly, due to rounding with the calculator. The calculator is intended to provide an estimate only. Additional information regarding the loans present in this calculator can be found at studentaid.gov.

(*Rounded to the nearest dollar. Actual amounts may vary slightly due to rounding.)

Compare Private Loans with Credible

Credible is the only student loan comparison tool that enables students and parents to compare unbiased, personalized and prequalified rates with no hidden fees and no impact to their credit. Credible is not a lender or a bank, we simply partner with the top student loan providers to offer a variety of competitive options . When considering a private student loan, it's important to compare rates, terms and repayment options across multiple lenders to ensure you get a loan that fits your financial situation. Credible is free to use and your information will remain secure. You can find out more about Credible and begin the process at credible.com/spfldcollege.

Other Loan Programs

Borrowers can apply for non-federal educational loans from the lender of their choice if additional loans are needed.

Please do not submit a non-federal loan application before July 1 for the following academic year.

Review recommended lenders

Our recommended lenders meet the basic criteria listed below.

• Federal loans are almost always better for the borrower than non-federal loans. Please explore the use of all federal aid, scholarship aid,  and institutional, state, and private grant aid before applying for a non-federal loan.
• A student or parent borrower may choose any lender even if not included on the list. We urge you to carefully compare benefits and responsibilities before choosing a lender. Many states have state agencies that provide educational loans at competitive rates and benefits. It's recommended that you research what is offered in your state.
• The lender list was developed based on information provided by lenders on terms and conditions favorable to the borrower. This includes competitive interest rates, payment or reduction of fees, high-quality loan servicing, sufficient minimum and maximum annual loan limits to cover average needs, and reasonable customer service call center hours and wait times, as reported by lenders.
• Some lenders offer loans to cover past due balances or offer loans to international students. Please research products offered by individual lenders if you are seeking a loan for one of these purposes. All loans for international students require a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen (or U.S. permanent resident for some loans).
• Lenders that have borrower reported issues that have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the College will be removed from the list.
• The list of lenders is offered in random order on ELM Select. A borrower can choose any lender and is not limited in any way to lenders on the list.