An NAU student may apply for a loan through a private lender to meet educational expenses. Private educations loans are available only to enrolled students and are designed to fill the gap between other financial assistance received and the annual Cost of Attendance.

Northern Arizona University does not have a preferred lender list. Look for interest rates and repayment plans that meet your needs, and keep in mind that many of these loans don’t offer flexible repayment plans or consolidation options.  With some lenders, adding a qualified co-signer can help you receive a better interest rate.

We encourage you to borrow federal student loans first before considering a private alternative loan. Visit Federal Student Aid to learn more about the difference between federal and private loans.

The amount that you or your cosigner can borrow depends on individual financial circumstances. Other variables include NAU’s cost of attendance, financial aid resources, and loan limits imposed by the lender. Your alternative loan and other financial aid cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance.