A private alternative loan is a non-federal loan obtained from a lender, such as a bank or credit union. These types of loans have variable interest rates, require a credit check, may require a credit-worthy co-signer if you have no credit history or have had credit problems in the past and do not provide the benefits of federal student loans. Students are advised to exhaust all possible Federal Student Aid options (including grants, loans and work-study) before pursuing a private alternative loan. If you have not filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you should do so at www.fafsa.gov and list our school code, 003470, so that we can determine your eligibility for Federal Student Aid. Whether you are borrowing a federal student loan or private alternative loan, you should never borrow more than you really need to cover direct costs (money paid to the school) or indirect costs (money spent on living expenses) associated with your attendance each school year.
Larger financial institutions offer private loan programs to further assist students who are unable to obtain sufficient Federal Student Aid in order to attend college. The following factors should be considered when selecting a lender for a private alternative loan:
• Good borrower benefits
• Good customer service
• Personal prior business dealings with a lender for other consumer loans
• Complaints, or lack thereof, to the State Attorney Generals Office or the Better Business Bureau
• If important to you, life of loan servicing (loan not sold to another lender or servicer)
Students are advised to compare their options and have a thorough understanding of private loan programs before applying. On February 14, 2010, "The Private Student Loan and Transparency Act" went into effect which requires that lenders obtain disclosure information and self-certification from borrowers prior to disbursement. As a result, you should plan on 2 to 4 weeks of processing time in order for you, the borrower, to comply with these new requirements. Keep in mind that these requirements are not mandated by the School of Mines, but by federal law.
The following list is provided for your information only and shows the lenders our students have used over the past 3 academic years (2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012). This list is in alphabetical order and does not reflect any preference of one lender over another, nor is it an endorsement of any of the lenders/loan programs listed. You are encouraged to contact lenders and compare programs before selecting an alternative loan lender/program whether they appear on this list or not. If available, the lender's Truth In Lending Act (TILA) disclosure is provided below. If it is not listed, you will receive this information from the lender as part of the application process.
Alaska Supplemental Education Loan, an alternative loan program for Alaska residents.
Baxter Credit Union Student Choice Loans, an alternative loan program for Baxter Credit Union members only.
Chase Student Loans: Per a notice received on March 9, 2012, Chase Student Loans has requested that their name be removed from our active listing of private loan lenders; therefore, no link is provided to their loan products and this notice will be removed from our web site on or shortly after July 1, 2012. Effective July 1, 2012, they will only offer private student loans to existing Chase customers with a Chase checking/savings account, loan, mortgage, or credit card. If you wish to pursue a Chase Student Loan, you will need to obtain information through your Chase account access.
Dakota Education Alternative Loan (DEAL), a loan program for students from Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin or Wyoming.
Discover Certified Private Loans
EdAccess Private Student Loan (Credit Union Student Loans)
Minnesota SELF Loan Program, an alternative loan program for Minnesota residents.
NASA Federal Credit Union Student Choice, an alternative loan program for NASA Federal Credit Union members only.
Partnership Advance Education Loan, a loan program for Iowa residents.
Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan
Star One Credit Union Student Choice Loan, an alternative loan program for Star One Credit Union members only.
Union Federal Private Student Loan
