Student Loans
Fund Your Education Without Compromising Your Future
Higher education is one of life's most important investments—but it shouldn't mean sacrificing financial stability. Through our partnership with Sallie Mae, you can access competitive fixed or variable rates, zero origination fees, and repayment flexibility designed to fit every stage of your academic journey.
Undergraduate & Career Training
Smart Option Student Loan® for Your First Degree
Undergraduates and career-training students often need help filling the gap left by scholarships, grants, and federal aid. With Sallie Mae's Smart Option Student Loan®, you can borrow as little as $1,000 for tuition, books, housing, or other qualified expenses. Choose between fixed or variable rates and select a repayment style—deferred, fixed, or interest-only—that matches your budget during school.
Build your future without feeling buried in debt.
Graduate & Professional Programs
Specialized Loans for Advanced Degrees
Graduate programs demand unique financial solutions. Whether you're pursuing an MBA, law degree, medical training, or another advanced path, DFCU and Sallie Mae offer tailored loans to cover the full cost of attendance. These programs recognize the higher costs and longer timelines of advanced degrees, providing repayment terms and features that support long-term career goals.
Health Professions
Financing Healthcare's Future Leaders
Medical, dental, nursing, and allied health students face heavy upfront expenses long before their earning potential is realized. Sallie Mae's specialized health profession loans account for this reality with competitive rates, flexible grace periods that align with residency timelines, and funding for everything from tuition to clinical fees.
Focus on serving patients, not worrying about payments.
Responsible Borrowing
Smart Financing Starts With Free Money First
Private student loans should be a last step, not the first. We encourage every member to start with federal student loans, grants, and scholarships—sources that often carry lower rates or don't require repayment at all. Then, use private loans only to cover the remaining gap, borrowing just what you need while considering your future monthly payments and expected earnings.
Flexible Repayment
Payment Options That Adapt to Your Life
Your financial circumstances today won't be the same after graduation, so your repayment plan shouldn't lock you in. Sallie Mae loans allow you to defer payments while in school, choose fixed or interest-only options to stay ahead, and benefit from a six-month grace period before full payments begin. With on-time history, cosigner release is possible after 24 months—helping you stand on your own credit record.
Your Education Deserves Thoughtful Financing
Through DFCU and Sallie Mae, you'll find more than just another student loan—you'll find a financing partner that respects both your academic dreams and your financial future. With no origination fees, no prepayment penalties, and options for every degree level, you can move forward with confidence.*
Become a Member Today
Become a Member Today
Church members and immediate family members can join the credit union.
*Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note—first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.
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