While searching for MBA loans, you can expect some serious lender benefits. Some of these benefits include:
Before moving forward and filling out a loan application with one of our lenders, you may want to make sure you have completed all of these free options prior to applying for a private student loan. A few programs that you should look into would be:
If you have exhausted all of the above options, you can select one of the lenders above to work with or head over to our student loans page.
Yes, some MBA programs (including prestigious ones) do give merit-based scholarships. Master of Business Administration students are also eligible to apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA. Federal student aid is a good option because it can give you access to both subsidized and unsubsidized loans as either a full-time or part-time (half-time) student.
The cost of an MBA program often goes far beyond tuition. Boarding, books, and of course travel can all eat up your budget fast. An Earnest private student loan covers up to 100% of your total certified cost of attendance, including these additional expenses.
Before applying for private student loans, it’s best to look at other sources of financial aid first such as the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. It’s recommended that you use a 4-step approach to get the funds you need:
To learn more about federal student loan programs, visit the U.S. Department of Education. You can also fill out a free application for federal student aid or FAFSA® here.
The best private student loans should give you a low-interest rate that will complement your federal financial aid. Keep in mind that you will accumulate interest percentage points on both federal student loans and private student loans over time.
Benefits
Federal student loans offer borrowers certain protections that private student loans may not, such as income-based repayment or student loan forgiveness. Private student loans offer different loan terms and may offer a lower interest rate. This is important because a high-interest rate means you could pay more over the life of the loan.
Income-based repayment or loan forgiveness programs are benefits of federal student loans, but a private lender may also offer you other perks, such as flexible payment terms, a lower interest rate, and deferred repayment options.
Borrowing limits
Federal student loans have borrowing limits (similar to limits on credit cards). If the cost of attendance exceeds the federal loan amount, that means you will need to cover the leftover cost. Graduate students may apply for no-cap Direct PLUS loans from the government, but undergraduate students do not have this option.
Cost of attendance
Many students choose to apply for a loan with a private lender to cover their leftover costs. Earnest Private Student Loans, in addition to covering the entire cost of attendance, also have rates that are based on the credit profile of you and/or any cosigner you have. This may mean higher or lower rates than those offered by federal loans, depending on the credit profile.
Grace periods and origination fees
A private student loan may offer a longer deferment period or grace period than a federal student loan. Some private lenders, don’t charge an origination fee while some federal student loans do.
AutoPay benefits
With a private student loan company like Earnest, you get a 0.25% APR reduction when you agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by automatic electronic payment.
Before looking for loans with private financial institutions, such as online lenders, credit unions, or banks, explore all of your student loan options with the federal government.
Federal loans have different limits. They depend on the type of student loan, what year of school the student is applying for, as well as whether the student is considered a dependent (relying on their parents/guardian for financial support) or independent. Once your school receives the loan amount from the government, it will send it to you in a disbursement (essentially a payment to your bank account or check).
A student is considered independent if he or she meets any one of the criteria below:
Below are the borrowing limits for different students:
Dependent undergraduate students
Independent undergraduate students
Graduate students (unsubsidized loans only)
Direct PLUS loans are another type of federal loan available to graduate students only. The grad plus loans do not have the same restrictions—but they have higher rates than regular federal student loans. When applying for graduate student loans, remember to explore your options with federal loans before applying for private student loans.
Private student loan limits can vary depending on the cost of attendance of the school. A private student loan may cover up to 100% of the cost of attendance. Before applying for a private student loan, remember to apply for federal aid. You can start the application process for a federal loan on the FAFSA® website or check your rate for a private student loan.