PRIVATE LOAN OPTIONS
There are many types of loans and lenders, each with their own specific terms and conditions... so how do you know which one is right for you? The following list of Private Loan Options is your Duke-based resource designed to assist in the research process of determining which lender provides the best borrowing option for you and your unique financial circumstance.
The following tool is designed to help students, families, and their support systems better understand their borrowing options when considering loans through private lenders, state agencies, and alternative programs outside of the Department of Education.
Whether you're just starting to look at available loan programs or actively trying to compare terms and conditions between lenders, the list of Private Loan Options has been designed to simplify the research process and make it easier to find the borrowing option that will work best for your current financial needs. You can even use the filter setting enabled in the list to highlight specific features of the loan, such as:
- Repayment terms and timelines
- Credit & co-signer requirements
- Availability for less than half-time students
- Use towards past due balances
Need help in understanding a specific term or condition? Feel free to reach out to our office for assistance!
Private Loan Options
To assist with the process of identifying private educational loan options for financing your educational experience at Duke, the Office of Student Loans and Personal Finance has comprised a list of educational lenders to consider. The list of lenders are organized into two overarching categories:
- U.S. Citizen or Non-U.S. Citizen with U.S. Co-Signer
- Non-U.S. Citizen without U.S. Co-Signer
Within these two broad categories are supplementary criteria and other eligibility requirements for borrowing based on lender and loan type.
Separate borrowing considerations for students enrolled in programs through the Fuqua School of Business are highlighted as well.
US CITIZEN OR A NON-US CITIZEN WITH US CO-SIGNER
Loans for undergraduate students in Trinity, Pratt, Health Informatics, ABSN and Allied Health Certificate programs
Loans for Graduate & Professional students
Loans for students enrolled in the School of Medicine, Allied Health, or the Graduate Nursing program
Loans for student loan borrowers who are interested in consolidating or refinancing existing student loans
Loans for parents of undergraduate students
Loans for Law school graduates who are preparing for the Bar Exam
Loans for Medical school graduates who are working on their residency requirement
NON-US CITIZEN WITHOUT US CO-SIGNER
International Students
Loans for Graduate & Professional students enrolled in select academic programs who are not citizens of the US.
Note that the lenders included on the list have specific eligibility requirements and may only lend to students that meet certain criteria. Review each lender carefully to determine your eligibility in the respective programs.
Please use the link below to access the lender list on ELMSelect:
Before choosing a lender, there are several factors to consider that can directly impact your total borrowing experience, both while in school and throughout your time in repayment. As you compare borrowing options, consider the following:
- Originations Fees- Are there additional or upfront costs associated with borrowing?
- Interest Rates- What are the ranges of interest rates available? Is the interest rate fixed or variable?
- Borrowing Limits- Is there a cap on how much you can borrow each term and school year? What about an aggregate or lifetime limit through the lender?
- Repayment Terms- How long do you have to pay your loan back? Can you change your term at any point in repayment or only at the time of application?
As interest rates may fluctuate, influencing the pricing of a loan, it may be advantageous for borrowers to apply for student loans as soon as they can to possibly secure favorable interest rates as determined by the lender.
Duke University lending code of conduct
Code of Conduct
A. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
All employees involved in financial aid and student lending are subject to a rigorous conflict-of-interest policy.
B. REVENUE-SHARING ARRANGEMENT
Duke will not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender.
C. GIFTS
No officer or employee of the University who is employed in the Financial Aid Office of the University or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans.
D. CONSULTING ARRANGEMENTS
An officer or employee of the University who is employed in the Financial Aid Office of the University or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
E. CONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
No employee or other agent of a lending institution may staff the University financial aid offices at any time. The University shall ensure that no employee or other representative of a lending institution is ever identified to students or prospective students of the University or their parents as employee or agent of the University.
The foregoing prohibitions notwithstanding, if the university believes that it would benefit students, the University may allow representatives of lenders to conduct informational sessions, such as exit interview and presentations on loan payment and loan consolidation options, so long as: (a) student attendance is voluntary; (b) a University representative explains that other lenders may provide similar services; (c) the affiliation of the lender representative is disclosed at the start of the presentation; (d) the lender representative does not promote the products or services of any lender, and (e) the University takes reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.
In the event that the University permits a lender to conduct information sessions or exit interviews as set forth above, the University must retain control of any interview or presentation offered by lenders. Control may be evidenced by (a) a University employee attending such interview or presentation; or (b) the University recording or videotaping the interview or presentation.
F. DIRECTING BORROWERS TO PARTICULAR LENDERS
Duke will not, for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular lender; or refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
G. OFFERS OF FUNDS FOR PRIVATE LOANS
Duke will not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with respect to:
- a specified number of private loans;
- a specified loan volume of such loans; or
- a preferred lender arrangement for such loans; or
- private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan.
H. STAFFING ASSISTANCE
Duke will not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center or financial aid office staffing.
I. ADVISORY BOARD COMPENSATION
Any employee who is employed in the Financial Aid Office, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid of the University, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.
Definitions
A. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
A conflict of interest exists when an employee’s financial interests or other opportunities for personal benefit may compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, the independence of judgment with which the employee performs his/her responsibilities at Duke.
B. GIFT
A gift is any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
- The term includes a gift of services, transportation, lodging, or meals, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred;
- The terms does not include:
- Standard materials, activities, or programs on issues related to a loan, default aversion, default prevention, or financial literacy, such as a brochure, a workshop, or training.
- Training or informational material furnished to the University as an integral part of a training session that is designed to improve the service of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of educational loans to the University, if such training contributes to the professional development of the University’s employees.
- Favorable terms, conditions, and borrower benefits on an education loan provided to a student employed by the University or an employee who is the parent of a student if such terms, conditions, or benefits are comparable to those provided to all students of the University and are not provided because of the student’s or parent’s employment with the University.
- Entrance and exit counseling services provided to borrowers to meet the University ’s responsibilities for entrance and exit counseling under federal law, so long as the University’s employees are in control of the counseling, and such counseling does not promote the products or services of any specific lender.
- Philanthropic contributions to an institution from a lender, servicer, or guarantor of education loans that are unrelated to education loans or any contribution from any lender, guarantor, or servicer that is not made in exchange for any advantage related to education loans.
- State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds administered by or on behalf of a State.
C. OPPORTUNITY POOL LOAN
A private education loan made by a lender to a student attending the institution or the family member of such a student that involves a payment, directly or indirectly, by such institution of points, premiums, additional interest, or financial support to such lender for the purpose of such lender extending credit to the student or family.
D. REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENT
A revenue sharing arrangement is an arrangement between Duke and a lender under which:
- A lender providers or issues a FFEL Program loan or private education loan to students attending Duke or to the families of such students; and
- Duke recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender and in exchange, the lender pays a fee or provides other material benefits, including revenue or profit sharing to Duke.
E. STAFFING ASSISTANCE
Staffing Assistance is as defined in the federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 USCA §1631 et seq. Nothing in Duke’s Code of Conduct shall be construed as prohibiting Duke from requesting or accepting assistance from a lender related to:
- Professional development training for financial aid administrators;
- Providing educational counseling materials, financial literacy materials, or debt management materials borrowers, provided that such materials disclose to borrowers the identification of any lender that assisted in preparing or providing such materials; or
- Staffing services on a short-term, nonrecurring basis to assist Duke with financial aid-related functions during emergencies, including State-declared or Federally declared natural disasters, Federally declared national disasters, and other localized disasters and emergencies identified by the Secretary