Find Private Student Loans

Lender List Rationale

The lenders listed on the site have proven through many years of service to our students and to Whitman College, their commitment to helping students fund their college education. These lenders work well with our students and with the College to resolve issues as they arise, and strive to provide the best possible service before, during and after disbursement of the loan.

There has been much said in the news lately about abuses in the student loan business, but we can assure you that the majority of lenders and financial aid professionals (including those here at Whitman College) are all looking out for your best interests. We feel that it is important that you, the student, have an investment in your future, and you can do that through responsible borrowing. We do not want you to borrow in excess of what you will need to meet your educational costs, but do not feel that it is a bad thing to have a reasonable debt load when you graduate from Whitman.

The average loan debt for our students is just over $15,000, less than what most students borrow for a state institution. We feel that this is a realistic amount, and the fact that our current default rate for both Federal Stafford and private student loans is less than 1/2 of 1%, bears that out.

Welcome to the Whitman College private loan comparison website

Whitman has partnered with SimpleTuition to assist our students compare the many different loan products currently available and ultimately select the private loan that best suits their needs. Many families consider taking a private loan when the student has already taken the maximum federal Stafford and Perkins Loans, but still need more help covering education expenses. We hope you find this information useful and that you are able to find a loan product that's right for you.

While private loan interest rates are relatively low for the time being, we want to emphasize that rates are variable and uncapped. For that reason, we recommend that students take advantage of all federal loan opportunities before considering private loans. If you're unsure about whether you've applied for federal loans, contact the Whitman Office of Financial Aid Services staff.

You may select any of the lenders listed on the website, or choose one of your own. The lenders listed on the site have proven their commitment to helping students fund their college education through many years of service to our students and to Whitman College. We have also found that these lenders work well with our students and College staff to resolve issues as they arise, and they strive to provide the best possible service before, during and after disbursement of the loan.

We are here to help you with questions or concerns you may have about loan processing or financial aid in general. Please feel free to contact us directly at 509-527-5178 or finaid@whitman.edu.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Ponti
Director of Financial Aid Services