Preferred Lenders for Private Student Loans
OHSU provides a preferred lender list to help students navigate the private lending process and compare loan options.
On this page you’ll find:
What you need to know before you borrow
Before you explore OHSU’s preferred lender list, review the following:
- You do not need to use a lender from this list. OHSU provides this list for informational purposes based on market research. You may choose any lender. OHSU processes loan certification in the order it receives each request.
- OHSU staff follow a strict code of conduct. This code applies to all employees and affiliated organizations, including the OHSU Foundation and the OHSU Alumni Association. Review the code of conduct for full details.
- The preferred lender list does not represent an endorsement. OHSU does not endorse any lender, and inclusion on the list does not mean OHSU recommends that lender.
- You will not face penalties based on your lender choice. OHSU will not delay certification, refuse certification or treat you differently based on the lender you select.
- Compare all loan options carefully. Before you commit to any loan, review interest rates, repayment options and borrower rights. Carefully review the Truth in Lending disclosures for each lender for the most current rate information, as rates can change over time. If you have questions, contact lenders directly and ask questions until you fully understand the terms.
- You may request a self-certification form from the Financial Aid Office. Your lender uses the self-certification form to determine your maximum loan amount.
Consider federal loans first
You should consider Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans before you explore private loans.
Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans include features such as:
- Fixed, low interest rates
- No credit check or limited credit requirements for most borrowers
- Income-driven repayment plans that adjust monthly payments based on income
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other federal forgiveness programs
- Deferment and forbearance options if you cannot make payments
- Loan discharge options in cases of permanent disability or death
For more information on Federal Direct Student Loans, log in to StudentAid.gov.
Lender requirements
Under the Truth in Lending Act, private education loan lenders must:
- Provide three separate loan disclosures to borrowers: one at application, one at approval, and one before disbursement
- Apply a waiting period of three to seven business days between final disclosure and disbursement
- Receive a signed self-certification form from the student before disbursing funds
- Provide borrowers with information about these requirements
If you have questions, contact the Financial Aid office.
Preferred private loan lenders
These lenders were selected by OHSU because of their favorable interest rates, access to capital and other features that support the unique needs of our students.
- MEFA
- Citizens Bank
- Sallie Mae
- NelNet
- College Avenue - D.M.D. only
Compare lending options
Compare lenders by degree level for undergraduate, medical graduate, M.D. and D.M.D. programs. Use the charts to compare lenders, including rates, loan limits, repayment terms and grace periods.
Note: Reported interest rates for private lenders were current as of March 17, 2026. Review each lender’s Truth in Lending disclosure for current market rates.
Contact Financial Aid
- Call us: 503-494-7800, ext. 5 or 800-775-5460, ext. 1
- Fax us: 503-494-4629
- Email us: finaid@ohsu.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Undergraduate lender details
Download the undergraduate comparison chart to view lender details side by side.
Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 6.39% fixed Annual loan limit 1st year -$3,500; 2nd year - $4,500; 3rd and 4th year - $5,500 Aggregate loan limit $23,000 Repayment terms 10-15 years Grace period 6 months Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 6.39% fixed Annual loan limit (dependent students) 1st year - up to $5,500; 2nd year - up to $6,500; 3rd and 4th year - up to $7,500 Annual loan limit (independent students) 1st year - up to $9,500; 2nd year - up to $10,500; 3rd and 4th year - up to $12,500 Aggregate loan limit (dependent students) $31,000 (max includes subsidized loans) Aggregate loan limit (independent students) $57,500 (max includes subsidized loans) Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months Federal Direct Parent Plus Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 8.94% fixed Annual loan limit (Legacy) Up to cost of attendance Annual loan limit (OB3) $20,000 per year Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit (OB3) $65,000 per student Repayment terms 10-25 years Grace period 6 months MEFA
Feature Details Interest rate 3.29%-8.89% fixed or 7.24%-8.89% variable Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 10-15 years Grace period 6 months Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.38% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance for in-school loans Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 5-15 years in-school lending. 5-20 years consolidation loan. Grace period 6 months with possible 6-month extensions. Natural disaster and military deployment options available. Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-16.37% variable or 3.14%-18.55% fixed Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 10-15 years Grace period 6 months Feature Details Interest rate 3.47%-9.99% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit $250,000 Repayment terms 5-15 years Grace period Up to 60 months deferment available for qualified internship, residency or fellowship. Must be certified upon enrollment and re-certified every 12 months. -
Medical graduate lender details
Download the medical graduate comparison chart to view lender details side by side.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 7.94% fixed Annual loan limit – MPH (Legacy) up to $37,147 Annual loan limit – MPH (OB3) up to $20,500 Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) $138,500 Aggregate loan limit (OB3) $100,000 Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months Federal Direct GRAD Plus Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 8.94% fixed Annual loan limit (Legacy) Up to the cost of attendance Annual loan limit (OB3) Eliminated Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) No maximum Aggregate loan limit (OB3) Eliminated Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months MEFA
Feature Details Interest rate 3.29%-8.89% fixed or 7.24%-8.89% variable Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 15-20 years Grace period 6 months Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.38% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance for in-school loans Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 5-15 years in-school lending. 5-20 years consolidation loan. Grace period 6 months with possible 6-month extensions. Natural disaster and military deployment options available. Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.38% variable or 2.89%-14.99% fixed Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 10-15 years Grace period 6 months Feature Details Interest rate 5.81%-9.58% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit $500,000 Repayment terms 5-15 years Grace period Up to 60 months deferment available for internship, residency or fellowship. Must be certified upon enrollment and re-certified every 12 months. -
M.D. lender details
Download the M.D. comparison chart to view lender details side by side.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 7.94% fixed Annual loan limit – MPH (Legacy) Up to $47,147 Annual loan limit – MPH (OB3) Up to $50,000 Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) $138,500 Aggregate loan limit (OB3) $200,000 Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months Federal Direct GRAD Plus Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 8.94% fixed Annual loan limit (Legacy) Up to the cost of attendance Annual loan limit (OB3) Eliminated Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) No maximum Aggregate loan limit (OB3) Eliminated Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months MEFA
Feature Details Interest rate 3.29%-8.89% fixed or 7.24%-8.89% variable Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 10 -20 years after residency Grace period 36 months with option for annual extensions Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.38% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance for in-school loans Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 5-15 years in-school lending. 5-20 years consolidation loan. Grace period 48 months residency deferment. 6 months with possible 6-month extensions. Natural disaster and military deployment options available. Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.34% variable or 2.89%-14.97% fixed Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms Up to 20 years Grace period 48 months Feature Details Interest rate 5.81%-9.58% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit $500,000 Repayment terms 5-15 years Grace period Up to 60 months deferment available for internship, residency or fellowship. Must be certified upon enrollment and re-certified every 12 months. -
D.M.D. lender details
Download the D.M.D. comparison chart to view lender details side by side.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 7.94% fixed Annual loan limit – MPH (Legacy) Up to $47,147 Annual loan limit – MPH (OB3) Up to $50,000 Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) $138,500 Aggregate loan limit (OB3) $200,000 Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months Federal Direct GRAD Plus Loans
Feature Details Interest rate 8.94% fixed Annual loan limit (Legacy) Up to the cost of attendance Annual loan limit (OB3) Eliminated Aggregate loan limit (Legacy) No maximum Aggregate loan limit (OB3) Eliminated Repayment terms 10-25 Years Grace period 6 months MEFA
Feature Details Interest rate 3.29%-8.89% fixed or 7.24%-8.89% variable Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 15-20 years Grace period 12 months with option for annual extensions Citizens Bank
Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.38% Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance for in-school loans Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms 5-15 years in-school lending. 5-20 years consolidation loan Grace period 6 months with possible 6-month extensions. Natural disaster and military deployment options available Feature Details Interest rate 3.75%-13.35% variable or 2.89%-14.98% fixed Annual loan limit Up to cost of attendance Aggregate loan limit No aggregate maximum Repayment terms Up to 20 years Grace period 12 months Feature Details Interest rate 3.89%-15.99% variable or 2.84%-15.99% fixed Annual loan limit $200,000 Aggregate loan limit $500,000 Repayment terms 5-20 years Grace period 6 months with optional 6-month extension
Lender selection process
OHSU evaluated lenders through a structured, multi-step process to ensure fairness and to meet its required duty of care and duty of loyalty to students.
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Methodology
To keep the process fair and unbiased, the Preferred Lender List Committee took the following steps:
- Selected representatives from student services, academic affairs and instruction to participate
- Identified four student groups to evaluate lenders for: undergraduates, medical graduates, D.M.D.s and M.D.s
- Reviewed the current lending market and identified 12 criteria important to students, including interest rates, required FICO scores and loan maximums
- Developed a scoring rubric, weighting strategy and evaluation process before soliciting applications
- Sent a Request for Information to 14 lenders from a range of institution types
- Redacted and anonymized all RFI responses before scoring to ensure unbiased evaluation
- Scored the redacted applications and applied a weighted average to each response
- Selected the top four lenders in each category for this year's preferred lender list
- The committee will reevaluate the list for the 2027-28 aid year