Some families turn to alternative loans when the federal loans don't provide enough money or when they need more flexible repayment options. (For example, a parent might be willing to cosign a note for the student but may want the student to bear primary responsibility for repaying the loan.)

You have the right to decline any financial aid that you are offered. You have a number of rights and responsibilities pertaining to borrowing student loans. Click here for a list of important rights and responsibilities of which you should be aware.

Eligibility for alternative loans often depends on the student's credit score; therefore, a cosigner is usually required. Even if a cosigner is not required, the student can generally receive a more favorable rate with a cosigner. Alternative loans tend to cost more than the education loans offered by the federal government but are less expensive than credit card debt. You need to consider the cost, flexibility and customer service in choosing a alternative lender.

The lender you choose will require you to complete a Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification form. For a copy of the form that you may print, click here. (The lender may provide the form for you electronically. We recommend you use the version provided by the lender because you may be able to expedite it by electronically signing and submitting it.)

* Satisfactory Academic Progress not required
* Less than half-time enrollment allowed
* International students eligible for consideration
* Will process without a co-signer
* May be applied to a prior balance due
* Fixed rate loan available
+Private loan consolidation available
* Credit union membership required

Use the following dates for 2012-2013 Loan Periods on your application. Also, please remember to enter the requested loan amount.

Undergraduates and Graduate Sudents

Fall/Spring 08/20/12 - 05/14/13
Fall 08/20/12 - 12/12/12
Spring 01/14/13 - 05/14/13

Law Students

Fall/Winter/Spring 08/27/12 - 05/03/13
Fall 08/27/12 - 11/09/12
Winter 11/12/12 - 02/08/13
Spring 02/11/13 - 05/03/13

Baylor's lender list was established by an open Request for Information (RFI) process and scored by a University committee who reviewed submissions from lenders in 2012 on the basis of customer service to students and staff, borrower benefits and services, processing information, and service standards in the past academic year. Placement on the lender list is the result of our evaluation of the lender's customer service to you and to our office, borrower benefits offered, and commitment to default aversion. Some important factors for you to consider in choosing a lender include cost, flexibility, and customer service. Common customer service considerations include the availability of a fixed rate loan product, account information online, deferment options, and cosigner release options.

To comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), Baylor has adopted the federally mandated Code of Conduct for Education Loans to address specific legislative concerns relating to educational loan programs.