Alternative Financing : Financial Aid : UMass Lowell

Stop! Apply for Financial Aid

Before considering private loan options, you should apply for federal, state and institutional financial aid, including federal student loans. Students considering educational private loans should apply only after they have applied for financial aid and received notification from the Financial Aid Office. UMass Lowell strongly encourages all students to apply for financial aid prior each year online at Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Tuition Pay

Tuition Pay is another financing option available to families. Tuition Pay Monthly Budget Plan is available through Academic Management Services (AMS). This service enables you to make payments in monthly installments for the full year's tuition and fees. This is not a loan program, and there are no finance or interest charges. There is, however, a non-refundable application fee. Brochures are available in the Student Financial Services Office or by contacting AMS directly at 1-800-635-0120. You may also apply online at Tuition Pay.

Alternative Loans

*Please Note: The University of Massachusetts Disclosure Statement Concerning Lenders for Private/Alternative Student Loans: 2011-2012

Every student/parent/guardian has the right to select their lender. The lenders listed at this site are independent entities. The University of Massachusetts (University, UMass) makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees, implied or otherwise, as to the lenders listed at this site or that the financing options presented at this site are the most attractive terms available to any particular student, or parent, or guardian of a student seeking financial aid. Also, information may not be updated or timely or may be subject to data entry errors or changes by the lender. Please read carefully final loan agreements or promissory notes and understand their payment terms and other obligations.

The University is not a lender and is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial planning or other related professional services. Any agreements entered into with the lenders whose products are included at this site will exist solely between the lender and the borrower, and UMass assumes no obligation or liability in connection with any such agreements.

The University recommends that borrowers consult with their own expert advisers before making educational financing decisions. Students and their parents/guardians have the right and ability to select the education loan provider of their choice, and are not required to use any of the lenders listed here. There will be no penalty for choosing a lender that is not included as a lender on this site.

The lenders listed on this website responded to a publicly solicited Request for Response for private/alternative student loans. This request document can be found on the Internet by searching for the document number UP11-DJ-0204. The University reviewed information regarding each lending institution’s background, loan program requirements, and customer service and program affiliations. The interest rate, fees, or loan cost offered by these lenders may not be the lowest available. In addition, a lender may change the rates, terms, fees, and other information from that which was presented in their original responses. The University will review the status of each lender at least annually and may add or drop lenders from this list.

The University reviewers from UMass campuses at Lowell, Dartmouth, and Boston have declared no personal affiliation, financial interest, benefit, or other personal ties related to these lenders in a signed affidavit maintained on file at the University.

Elm Select is a lender comparison tool. Through Elm Select, students and parents can research the terms and conditions of 10 different lenders and choose the loan that best fits their personal financial situation, educational goals and objectives. Please refer to Elm Select. However, if you wish to use another lender not listed here, you have the right to do so.

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Fixed Interest Rate Loans

Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan
- Federal Direct Plus Loan Information
- Application: Federal Direct Plus Pre-Application (pdf)
- Promissory Note: On-Line Master Promissory Note

Variable Interest Rate Loans

Each Lender has different enrollment criteria. Please be sure to indicate your status correctly in order to avoid delays or errors in lender choice.

Important Information Regarding the New Alternative Loan Process

Effective Feb. 14, 2010, the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires that before a private educational lender may consummate a private education loan for a student in attendance at an institution of higher education, the private education lender must obtain the completed and signed Self-Certification Form from the applicant.

Students may obtain a Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification Form from their lender or can download their own version of the Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification form (pdf). The Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification Form requires the estimated cost of attendance and estimated financial assistance for the period of enrollment covered by the loan. Students may find this information by logging into their iSiS Self Service account and clicking on the financial aid summary link. This form must be submitted to the lender, not the school.

Loan funds will not be released to the school until the Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification Form is complete and submitted to the lender.

The Financial Aid Office will not certify a Private Loan until the borrower’s file is 100 percent complete with the lender. Borrowers should verify with their lender that all required documents have been completed and received.

Below is additional information regarding our Suggested Lender Selection Criteria and our Code of Conduct:

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