Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Student Loans Arizona Student Loans Updated Jun 28, 2023   |   4-min read Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Expertise: Student loans, personal loans, home loans, insurance, credit cards Jeff Gitlen, CEPF®, is the director of content operations at LendEDU. He graduated from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Learn more about Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Students in Arizona have various funding options for attending college, including scholarships, grants, and student loans. Your starting point should always be with free student aid, such as scholarships and grants, to ensure you minimize the total cost of your education. Once you have considered all free forms of aid, Arizona student loans can help close the gap. On this page: Getting Student Loans for College in ArizonaFederal Student Loans in ArizonaPrivate Student Loans in ArizonaRecap of Arizona Student Loans Getting Student Loans for College in Arizona When you’re preparing to apply for financial aid in Arizona, the first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine not only eligibility for both federal and state aid, but also to determine your Expected Family Contribution. When a student completes the FAFSA, a formula is used to determine how much the student or their family can pay out of pocket. Then, the college subtracts the Expected Family Contribution from the annual cost of attendance, which includes tuition, books, supplies, and living expenses. Then, financial need is determined. Federal Student Loans in Arizona The federal government offers student loans in Arizona through the Department of Education. These loans come with benefits that are not typically available with private lenders. Some benefits include: Low rates. Interest rates are fixed and will be the same for every borrower who takes out the same loan, disbursed within the same set period.Several repayment options. Borrowers facing hardship can enter into deferment or forbearance if they need to pause payments. Income-driven repayment plans are also available to make repayment more affordable.Loan forgiveness. If you work for an eligible employer and participate in an income-driven repayment plan for long enough, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. Types of Federal Loans Here are some federal student loans available in Arizona: Direct Subsidized Loans: These loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The government pays the interest on the loan while you’re in school at least half-time, for the first six months after you leave school, and during a period of deferment.Direct Unsubsidized Loans: These loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students with or without financial need. Borrowers are responsible for paying the interest on this loan at all times.PLUS loans: There are two types of PLUS loans. The parent PLUS loan and the Grad PLUS loan. The parent PLUS loan is for parents of dependent undergraduate students. The Grad PLUS loan is for graduate or professional students. Private Student Loans in Arizona If federal student loans don’t cover all of your college expenses due to the borrowing limits that are in place, private lenders can help fill the gap. Private lenders typically rely on your credit to determine eligibility. If you don’t have an established credit history, a creditworthy cosigner can help improve your application. Here are private lenders offering student loans in Arizona. College Ave View Rates Rates (APR): 4.44% – 15.99%Loan Amounts: $1,000 – 100% of the school-certified cost of attendanceRepayment Terms: 5, 8, 10, or 15 years College Ave is our top-rated lender and offers student loans to undergraduates, graduates, and parents. If approved, you can choose the loan term that best fits your repayment needs. Variables rates: 1.49% – 11.98%Fixed rates: 4.39% – 12.99%Rate reduction: 0.25% automatic payment discountFees: Late payment fee of 5% of the unpaid amount or $25, whichever is lessCosigner release: After 24 on-time paymentsIn-school repayment: Full principal & interest, interest-only, flat $25, or deferred paymentGrace period: 6 months, but can apply for up to 6 more months Earnest View Rates Rates (APR): 4.43% – 16.20%Loan Amounts: $1,000 – 100% of the school-certified cost of attendanceRepayment Terms: 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years Earnest offers student loans to undergraduate and graduate students. Borrowers can check their eligibility in 2 minutes, with no commitment or effect on their credit. Once repayment starts, borrowers have the ability to skip one payment once per year. Variables rates: 2.74% – 11.44%Fixed rates: 4.39% – 12.78%Rate reduction: 0.25% automatic payment discountFees: NoneCosigner release: Not available unless you refinance with the companyIn-school repayment: Principal & interest, interest-only, fixed $25, or deferred paymentGrace period: 9 months Ascent View Rates Rates (APR): 9.46% – 15.88%Loan Amounts: $2,001 – $200,000Repayment Terms: 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years The information above is for the Ascent Non-Cosigned Credit-Based and Future Income-Based Loans. Ascent offers cosigned and non-cosigned student loans for undergraduates and graduates. If you are unable to add a cosigner to your loan and don’t have an established credit history, a non-cosigned loan through Ascent can be a good option. You can check your prequalified rates without affecting your credit score. Once you graduate, you can earn a 1% cash back reward. Variable rates: 3.17% – 13.92%Fixed rates: 3.98% – 14.92%Rate reduction: 0.25% automatic payment discountFees: NoneCosigner release: After 12 on-time paymentsIn-school repayment: Interest-only, $25 flat, or deferred paymentGrace period: 9 months Recap of Arizona Student Loans Lender/LoanLoan TypeRates (APR)Direct SubsidizedFederal2.75%Direct UnsubsidizedFederal2.75% or 4.30%Parent PLUSFederal5.30%Grad PLUSFederal5.30%College AvePrivate1.24% – 12.99%EarnestPrivate1.24% – 12.78%AscentPrivate2.72% – 14.50% To compare more options, check out our picks for the best private student loans or learn more about state student loans.