Am I eligible?

To be eligible for a Credit Union EdAccess Loan, you must join or be a member of one of the participating credit unions. If you're not a member, you will be matched with a credit union during the application process.

A borrower also needs to be:

• a U.S. citizen or permanent resident*
• enrolled at least half-time in an approved school
• meet minimum credit requirements

Read more about eligibility in our FAQ section.

*International students may apply with a creditworthy cosigner who is U.S. citizen

Importance of a Cosigner

More information for cosigners.

Smart way to Borrow

Here are a few tips to help you lower your education financing costs:

• Exhaust Federal Loans
  Make sure that you exhaust your federal loan programs before applying for a private student loan. Federal loans will have better terms and lower interest rates when compared to private loans. Your eligibility for federal aid will be determined by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
• Get Started Early
  Do not wait to start learning about the loan process. Start early! 10 to 12 weeks before the tuition bill is due is a good time to explore your options. This is enough time to educate yourself on the various options available to identify the one that best fits your needs.
• Reduce Interest Expense
  Borrowers should consider making the monthly interest payments while enrolled in school. This will decrease your interest expense over the life of the loan. Otherwise, the interest that accrues while in school is capitalized (or added) to the original principal balance of the loan once the loan enters repayment status, increasing the loan balance and the interest expense.
• Prudent Financial Planning
  Exercise prudent financial planning and only request the amount you will need for the current semester. You have the ability to request up to four loans per calendar year and we've made the process very simple.