Financial Assistance
Private Loans
Though rare, there are international student loans available to individuals who meet certain criteria. Many loans require a cosigner. A variety of organizations and institutions provide private loans to international students. Many provide assistance that is targeted to students from specific regions or countries and who meet certain criteria.
It's important to become familiar with the most common provisions of international student loans, and the language used to describe them. For example, International student loans require a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Green card holder) as a co-signer. The loans are credit-based, meaning the co-signer must have good credit history, good employment history (or other income history if the co-signer does not work), and must have lived in the United States for the past two years. Not every prospective student can find a family member, friend or other U.S. citizen or permanent resident to co-sign for them. But for those that do, they can access private student loans on the same basis as U.S. students.
Below is a list of private loan agencies that offer loan options to international students. Please contact them to determine the terms and conditions. This list is for informational purposes. NSU does not endorse these organizations.
Access Group
1-800-282-1550
www.accessgroup.org
CitiAssist
1-800-967-2400
www.citiassist.com
IEFC International Student Loan
888-296-IEFC
www.iefc.com
Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund
202-458-6208
www.oas.org/rowe
Nellie Mae
1-800-335-1900
www.nelliemae.com
Sallie Mae
1-800-984-0190
www.salliemae.com
Teri Loans
1-800-255-8374
www.teriloans.com
Wells Fargo
1-800-658-3567
www.wellsfargo.com/student/