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Types of Loans

There are a variety of loan options available to assist you in financing your educational costs. These are some of the types available. Your financial aid office can assist you in determining your eligibility and help you navigate the process.

  • Federal loans where the federal government is the lender. Students are encouraged to consider this option first as federal loans typically offer benefits that are advantageous to students that are not available with other loan types.
  • Institutional loans including the Northwestern Loan, where Northwestern University is the lender.
  • Private loans where a private institution is the lender. These loans may require credit-worthiness, co-signers or require payments while in school.