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Keystone Student Loans

Unlock a New Way to Pay for College

Through the Keystone Student Loan Program, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) offers private education loan options to enable students in NY, NJ, DE, MD, OH, VA and WV to pursue their higher education dreams and to make managing their loans easier and more convenient.

The Keystone Student Loan Program has the following benefits:

No application or origination fees
Low, fixed interest rates
Multiple repayment options
Potential interest rate rewards
No prepayment penalty

For undergraduate, graduate, and parent loans, you can even borrow up to 100% of the certified cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, books, etc.).

Eligibility for Undergraduate, Graduate, or Parent Loans

The Keystone Student Loan Program is designed for students and parents/guardians of students enrolled/who plan to be enrolled in a degree, certificate, or diploma granting program. For parent loans, student must be enrolled at least half-time. These loans are meant for:

NY, NJ, DE, MD, OH, VA and WV residents attending an approved school in or out of state (with the exception of PA)
All borrowers must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States
Students regardless of enrollment status, including those enrolled less than half-time

Co-signer

The Keystone Student Loan Program does not require you to have a co-signer unless you have not met the age of majority based on the law of your state of residence or you do not meet the minimum credit requirements; however, you may benefit from a creditworthy co-signer.

Having a co-signer may increase your chances that the loan will be approved and, perhaps, may get you a better interest rate.

Loan Types

Currently there are THREE LOAN TYPES in the Keystone Student Loan Program.

Undergraduate Loan

A loan designed specifically for students seeking an undergraduate degree, certificate, or diploma.

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Graduate Loan

A loan designed specifically for students seeking an advanced degree such as masters, doctoral, law, health profession, or others.

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Parent Loan

A loan designed specifically for parents or guardians of dependent undergraduate students.

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Looking to refinance your existing student loans?

PHEAA offers the PA Forward Refinance Loan to residents of PA, NJ, NY, DE, MD, OH, VA, and WV. There are benefits to refinancing with PA Forward, such as:

Lower monthly payments*
Get a lower interest rate**
One bill, one lender
No prepayment penalty
Fixed interest rate
Different repayment terms to fit your personal situation***

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*Your payment could increase depending on the selected repayment term.
**Interest rate depends on credit score and other factors.
***You could pay more interest over the life of the loan with a longer loan term.

Plan Ahead and Be a Smart Borrower

The world of student aid can sometimes be difficult to navigate; however, it doesn’t have to be. We have gathered information that will make it easier for you to understand.

EducationPlanner.org - This career and college planning website provides practical and easy-to-understand advice to help prepare students for the important decisions they will face in the future. LEARN MORE
MySmartBorrowing.org - Using this interactive tool, you can create up to four different scenarios to see how your career and college choices may affect how much you pay for college and if you are at risk for overborrowing. LEARN MORE
YouCanDealWithIt.com - This website provides practical and easy-to-understand advice on how to deal with common financial situations facing today's college students and recent graduates. LEARN MORE

NOTE: If you visit one of the above sites, please remember to come back to this site if you decide to apply for a Keystone Student Loan.