Student Loans
Continue Your Education with the PA Forward Student Loan Program
Through the PA Forward Student Loan Program, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) offers private education loan options to enable Pennsylvania students to pursue their higher education dreams and to make managing their loans easier and more convenient.
Loan with Pennsylvania Students in Mind
PA Forward Student Loan Program
The PA Forward Student Loan Program has the following benefits:
- No application or origination fees
- Low fixed interest rates
- Multiple repayment options
- Potential interest rate rewards
- No prepayment penalty
For undergrad, grad, and parent loans, you can even borrow up to 100% of the certified cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, books, etc.).
PA Forward was designed for PA residents attending an approved school in or out of state, and residents of approved states (PA Forward approved states include: DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, VA, and WV) attending a PA school regardless of enrollment status, including those enrolled less than half-time.*
All borrowers must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
For parent loans, the dependent undergraduate student must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree, certificate, or diploma-granting program. Parents or guardians must meet the minimum credit qualifications.
To be eligible for a refinance loan, borrowers must currently be in repayment.
*Loans taken for less than half-time academic period may borrow up to $5,000 – this does not apply to the medical or health professional loans.
The PA Forward Student Loan Program does not require you to have a co-signer unless you have not met the age of majority based on the law of your state of residence or you do not meet the minimum credit requirements. However, you may benefit from a creditworthy co-signer. Having a co-signer may increase your chances that the loan will be approved and, perhaps, may get you a better interest rate.
Student Loan Types
Currently there are six loan types in the PA Forward Student Loan Program.
Undergraduate Loan
For students in a degree, certificate, or diploma-granting program.
Graduate Loan
For students seeking an advanced degree such as a masters, law, MBA, Ph.D., or others.
Medical Loan
For students seeking a medical, dental, osteopathic, podiatry, or veterinary degree.
Health Professional Loan
For students seeking a doctor of chiropractic, doctor of optometry, nurse practitioner, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or other graduate health professional degree.
Parent Loan
For parents or guardians of dependent undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in a degree, certificate, or diploma-granting program.
Refinance Loan
For those currently in repayment who want assistance with managing their student debt. Get payment estimates too!
Plan Ahead & Be a Smart Borrower
The world of student aid can sometimes be difficult to navigate. However, it doesn’t have to be. We have gathered information that will make it easier for you to understand.
EducationPlanner.org
This career and college planning website provides practical and easy-to-understand advice to help prepare students for the important decisions they will face in the future.
MySmartBorrowing.org
Using this interactive tool you can create up to 4 different scenarios to see how your career and college choices may affect how much you pay for college and if you are at risk for overborrowing.
YouCanDealWithIt.com
This website provides practical and easy-to-understand advice on how to deal with common financial situations facing today’s college students and recent graduates.
If you visit one of the above sites, please remember to come back to this site if you decide to apply for a PA Forward Student Loan.
Community State Bank’s commitment to helping us succeed has been evident throughout our partnership. We have been with them since the start in 2016 and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future. Thank you, Community State Bank, for your support and dedication to the success of our business.
Ryan and Torrey Hildebrand
Business Account Customer
