TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
91³Ô¹Ï꿉۪s Preferred Lender ListÂ
When Private Student Loans May Be Needed
Private student loans can help cover education expenses when federal financial aid, scholarships, and other resources do not fully meet your needs. They are typically used to bridge the gap between the cost of your education and the funding you have already secured.
Consider Federal Aid First
91³Ô¹ÏÍø is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal student aid in all our degree programs. So, before applying for a private student loan, you’ll want to explore all available federal financial aid options. Federal aid—including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans—often provides more flexible repayment options and borrower protections.
Completing the (FAFSA) is the first step in determining your eligibility for these programs.
Understanding Private Student Loans
Private student loans are offered by banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. These loans typically require a credit check and may require a cosigner, depending on your credit history.
Interest rates, repayment terms, and eligibility requirements vary by lender. It’s important to carefully compare your options and review loan terms before selecting a lender.
91³Ô¹ÏÍø provides a preferred lender list, developed through a review of lenders’ administrative capacity, repayment options, and student support resources, to help students begin their research. You are not required to use any specific lender listed and may choose any lender that best meets your needs.
- Covers Up to 100% of School-Certified Costs: Ascent loans can pay for tuition, housing, meals, textbooks, and more, up to the full cost of attendance.
- No Fees—Ever: There are no application, disbursement, prepayment, or late fees, so students keep more of what they borrow.
- Up to 40 Flexible Repayment Options: Ascent offers several repayment choices with loan terms ranging from 5 to 20 years.
- Cosigned and Non-Cosigned Options: Open to DACA & International Students: Ascent serves a wide range of students at more than 2,300 eligible schools nationwide, with cosigner release available after just 12 consecutive months of on-time payments.
- Cash-Back Rewards and Career Support: Eligible graduates can receive a 1% cash-back graduation reward, and all borrowers gain access to AscentUP, a career coaching, resume review, and financial literacy program.
- Multi‑Year Approval—One Application. Multiple Years: A unique solution that provides eligible students with loan approval for multiple academic years upfront without reapplying, providing proof of income, or undergoing another hard credit check.
- Cosigner Advantages with a Path to Release: Applying with a qualified cosigner may help you secure a lower rate, and you may be able to release the cosigner immediately upon graduation if eligibility requirements are met.
- Zero Fees, Flexible Repayment Options and Past Due Balance Support: No origination, application, or disbursement fees, plus flexible repayment options—including in school deferment, interest only payments, or immediate repayment - and support options for managing past-due balances.
- Interest Rate Discounts: Borrowers may qualify for a 0.25% autopay discount and an additional 0.25% loyalty discount with a qualifying Citizens account.
- Trusted Lender with Nearly 50 Years of Experience: Citizens has supported students and families for more than four decades with private education financing.
- A Simple and Clear Application Process: It takes only three minutes to apply and get an instant credit decision.
- °ä´Ç³¾±è°ù±ð³ó±ð²Ô²õ¾±±¹±ðÌý³§³Ü¾±³Ù±ðÌý´Ç´ÚÌý³¢´Ç²¹²ÔÌý±Ê°ù´Ç»å³Ü³¦³Ù²õ: Including Undergraduate, Graduate, MBA, Health Professions, and Graduate STEM.
- °ä´Ç³¾±è±ð³Ù¾±³Ù¾±±¹±ðÌý±õ²Ô³Ù±ð°ù±ð²õ³ÙÌý¸é²¹³Ù±ð²õÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý±·´ÇÌý´¡±è±è±ô¾±³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²ÔÌý´Ç°ùÌý°¿°ù¾±²µ¾±²Ô²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²ÔÌý¹ó±ð±ð²õ.
- Covers up to 100% of Your School-Certified Cost of Attendance.
- °ä³ó´Ç¾±³¦±ðÌý´Ç´ÚÌý¸é±ð±è²¹²â³¾±ð²Ô³ÙÌý°¿±è³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ: Full principal and interest, interest only, flat pay ($25 per month in school), fully deferred (no payment in school).
- No Fees—hidden or not… None!
- 100% Rate Match guarantee.
- Automatic Nine-Month Grace Period across all products.
- Undergrad, Grad and Professional Students Covered with no income required.
- Yearly Skip-a-Payment; autopay and loyalty discounts.
- No origination or application fee.
- ³§²¹³Ù¾±²õ´Ú²¹³¦³Ù´Ç°ù²âÌý´¡³¦²¹»å±ð³¾¾±³¦Ìý±Ê°ù´Ç²µ°ù±ð²õ²õÌý±õ²õÌý±·´Ç³ÙÌý¸é±ð±ç³Ü¾±°ù±ð»å, borrowers can be enrolled less than half-time, and there is no penalty for early payment.
- Students Can Apply Once for the money needed to pay for a full year of school.
- Students Can Pay While in School or Defer Payments until graduation—whatever fits their financial and professional goals. Each option is available with a fixed or variable interest rate.
- Check Interest Rate in three minutes with no impact to credit.
- No Loan Fees.
- Cosigner Release Option after 12 on-time payments.
- Complimentary Access to SoFi Financial Advisors.
- Four Repayment Terms and options available.
*91³Ô¹ÏÍø reviews the preferred lender list on a regular cadence and may update the list as needed to serve the best interests of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø students. Lenders were selected based on competitive interest rates and fees, quality of borrower servicing, flexible repayment options, and additional borrower benefits. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø does not receive any revenue, financial benefit, or other consideration from any lender on this list in connection with its inclusion. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø's Financial Aid Office adheres to the Code of Conduct required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators' (NASFAA) Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals. Estimating your repayment in advance can help you make informed decisions—most private lenders provide calculators to guide you. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø encourages students to explore other alternative loan options beyond this list and will certify educational loan requests from any lender of their choice. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø will not delay certification or otherwise disadvantage any student who selects a lender not on this list.
*The product highlights presented for each lender have been provided by the lender and have not been independently verified by Western Governors University; students and families should contact the lender directly or visit the lender’s website for complete terms, conditions, and current rates. Western Governors University makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided by the lenders on this listed. The information presented above is subject to change without notice. The information on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a loan offer or solicitation.
Need More Help with Financial Aid?
Learn more about the details of filling out your FAFSA form or set up an appointment today.