PA Forward Student Loans

Loan with Pennsylvania Students in Mind

Through the PA Forward Student Loan Program, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) offers private student loan options to enable Pennsylvania students to pursue their higher education dreams and to make managing their loans easier and more convenient.

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.).

Loan Types

Currently there are four loan types in the PA Forward Student Loan Program.
*See eligibility section for each loan type below

*Eligibility for Undergrad, Grad, or Parent Loans

The PA Forward Student Loan Program is designed specifically for students or parents/guardians of students who are enrolled or who plan to be enrolled at least half-time in a degree, certificate, or diploma granting program. For Parent loans, the student must be enrolled half-time. These loans are meant for:

• PA residents attending an approved school in or out of PA
• Students from an approved state (DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, VA, and WV) attending an approved PA school
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens of the U.S.
• Borrowers and/or co-signers who meet the minimum credit requirements

*Eligibility for Refinance Loans

The PA Forward Refinance Loan is a loan designed specifically for those who are in repayment and want assistance with managing their student debt. This loan is meant for:

• Any PA resident or resident of an approved state (DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, VA, and WV) who is the borrower for the student loans
• Borrowers who are currently in repayment
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens of the U.S.
• Borrowers and/or co-signers who meet the minimum credit requirements

Co-signer

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 your 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.