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 Arizona
- Federal Student Loans in Arizona
- Private Student Loans in Arizona
- Recap 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
- Rates (APR): 4.44% – 15.99%
- Loan Amounts: $1,000 – 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
- Repayment 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 discount
- Fees: Late payment fee of 5% of the unpaid amount or $25, whichever is less
- Cosigner release: After 24 on-time payments
- In-school repayment: Full principal & interest, interest-only, flat $25, or deferred payment
- Grace period: 6 months, but can apply for up to 6 more months
Earnest
- Rates (APR): 4.43% – 16.20%
- Loan Amounts: $1,000 – 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
- Repayment 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 discount
- Fees: None
- Cosigner release: Not available unless you refinance with the company
- In-school repayment: Principal & interest, interest-only, fixed $25, or deferred payment
- Grace period: 9 months
Ascent
- Rates (APR): 9.46% – 15.88%
- Loan Amounts: $2,001 – $200,000
- Repayment 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 discount
- Fees: None
- Cosigner release: After 12 on-time payments
- In-school repayment: Interest-only, $25 flat, or deferred payment
- Grace period: 9 months
Recap of Arizona Student Loans
| Lender/Loan | Loan Type | Rates (APR) |
| Direct Subsidized | Federal | 2.75% |
| Direct Unsubsidized | Federal | 2.75% or 4.30% |
| Parent PLUS | Federal | 5.30% |
| Grad PLUS | Federal | 5.30% |
| College Ave | Private | 1.24% – 12.99% |
| Earnest | Private | 1.24% – 12.78% |
| Ascent | Private | 2.72% – 14.50% |
To compare more options, check out our picks for the best private student loans or learn more about state student loans.