Financial Aid       

West Chester University

25 University Avenue, Suite #030
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: (610) 436-2627
Fax: (610) 436-2574


Choosing a Lender and WCU's Preferred Stafford Loan and PLUS Lenders

Stafford loan--check "yes to box #31 of the Free application for Federal Student Aid

PLUS--go to www.aessuccess.org to apply.

For the 2009-10 academic year and summer, 2010, West Chester University, like many other institutions of higher education, utilizes a preferred lender list for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). We believe they serve to assist families in the challenging task of choosing banks or lenders that best meet their education loan needs.

The list of preferred lenders below was carefully chosen after a 4-month process of research, evaluation and determination. The WCU Financial Aid Office sent Requests for Information (RFIs) to our top 50 lenders (by volume) in December of 2008.

The West Chester University RFI, modeled with guidance from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) monograph on choosing preferred lenders, focused on the following major criteria:

 A. Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFELP)

          1. competitive loan pricing

          2. borrower benefits

          3. lowest possible fees

          4. a successful track-record with loan servicing

          5. excellent and innovative customer service, where customer

              satisfaction is the company’s top priority

          6. timely disbursement of funds

          7. straight-forward and customer-friendly on-line borrower account

              information

          8. lender stability and on-going commitment to borrowers

 

Results

Of the 50 RFIs sent to lenders, 10 were returned to the University. A committee, comprised of an Assistant Financial Aid Director and two loan coordinators, analyzed each lender’s products, both for FFELP and alternative loan programs.

Each lender’s web site was visited and scrutinized for student loan content and how loans are marketed. Comparison charts and worksheets were developed to facilitate the analysis. 

Once the committee made its findings, the committee chair presented the results to the Financial Aid Director, Associate Director and Assistant Directors for discussion and questions. Final determinations were made at that time and lenders were notified of the results.

Although our preferred lender lists have been determined, it must be noted that continued analysis and daily review has been ongoing due to the following:

1. Changes in federal legislation governing the loan programs

2. Lenders no longer participating in either federal loan programs

 

Students and parents are free to choose any lender and or guarantor they wish to use for education loans. Based on our research, we feel the following lenders best benefit our students and families at West Chester University:

Stafford and PLUS Lending Institutions
Chase