Welcome!

Ventura Community College Office of Financial Aid welcomes you to our student loan comparison tool, SimpleTuition, for Stafford, PLUS, and private loans.

To best use this tool, review your costs, financial aid, and resources for the entire academic year and determine what amount you will need to borrow. On the comparison pages, be sure to review borrower benefits for which you may be eligible.

We encourage you to compare lenders and options side-by-side. This site will allow you to make these comparisons in an interactive format. Remember, you can choose any Stafford/PLUS lender that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan program and any lender for a private loan, even if they are not listed here.

Office of Financial Aid

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Phone: (805) 654-6369

Lender List Rationale

The Ventura Community College Office of Financial Aid works diligently to offer the best financial aid service and options possible. In its effort to provide outstanding loans, primary lenders are chosen to streamline the process for the students and staff. An annual review is conducted to ensure the primary lenders continue to be the best possible resource for the loans.

Listed below are several reasons why these lenders were chosen to be included on the list:

Borrower Service:

• Commitment to service at all levels (students, parents, and Financial Aid staff).
• Excellent customer service skills and dedicated staff.
• Customer service extends throughout the life of the loan. The borrower will be able to contact these lenders while at Ventura College and then also after graduating from the University or College.
• Willingness to listen and respond to any and all concerns in a timely manner.

Technology:

• Choosing primary lenders allows the financial aid processors to work with lenders that are supported by our system electronically. This allows for a quicker turnaround time to the student and parent.
• Cutting edge or the most up-to-date system for processing, certifying, and disbursing of the loans. Superior reconciliation and follow-up of the disbursement process.
• Debt Management offer–life skills that go beyond borrowing money for school.

Product:

• Competitive rates that take into account "savings" at the front and back end of the loan and offer overall best financial advantages.
• An array of products, i.e. simple private loans for Ventura College families.
• Long standing reputation: Sallie Mae's longevity in the industry numbers 35 years. USA Funds is the state appointed guarantee agency and has provided 20 years of outstanding service to Ventura Community College.

Choosing a lender is a very important process in the student loan cycle. Ventura College's Financial Aid Office offers guidance to students and families with hopes of giving them the best experience possible.

How to apply with a lender not on our lender list

Borrowers can choose any lender of their choice and the Financial Aid Office will certify a Stafford, PLUS, or Alternative Private Loan for another lender if you prefer. However, the process to certify a loan will be a manual process. 1.) Request a paper loan Application/Promissory Note and the School Certification Form from the lender you choose. 2.) Complete the Application/Promissory Note and the borrower information on the School Certification Form, including the requested loan amount. 3.) Submit both forms to the Ventura College Financial Aid Office at 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA 93003. Also, be sure the lender name, address, and phone number are included to enable the Financial Aid Office to mail the loan application to the lender upon completion of the school certification.

This process will take more time as we manually complete the school certification and the funds will be disbursed via paper check and the borrower will endorse the check in the Student Business Office. Students choosing to borrower from a lender who is not on our lender list must still complete a financial aid file and complete the loan entrance counseling requirements as designated by the financial aid office.