After you have exhausted scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities and maxxed out federal student loans, your school’s financial aid office will provide you with a summary. The summary will show the overall cost of attendance minus the aid you’ve already accepted. You may find that there is a gap left in funding your education.

Two common options to fill this gap are family college savings (if available), or private student loans. If you decide to go with private student loans, Sparrow is the right place to begin your search.

In general, our lending partners’ maximum loan amount is based on your school’s certified cost of attendance (COA) minus the amount of financial assistance you’ve already received (i.e. federal assistance, scholarships, etc.) We encourage you to reach out to your financial aid office to get more information on your school’s certified cost of attendance.