• Financial Aid

  • Office of Financial Aid 

    MS-C1915
    Hamline University 
    1536 Hewitt Avenue     
    Saint Paul, MN 55104          

    651-523-3000
    800-888-2182     

    Fax: 651-523-2585 

    finaid@hamline.edu 

  • Alternative Loans

    Alternative loans are non-federal loans with lender approval based on your satisfactory credit history. Some alternative loans require a credit-worthy cosigner or allow you to use a cosigner in order to receive a lower interest rate. 

    Alternative loans help bridge the gap between the cost of attendance and the amount of federal loan eligibility. Typically federal student loans are less expensive and offer better terms than alternative education loans, so be sure to exhaust your eligibility for federal student loans before considering an alternative education loan. The interest rate and fees on an alternative loan may vary depending on the student’s and/or cosigner’s credit. The interest rate is typically variable and may change as often as monthly. Some lenders offer a fixed interest rate.

    How to Choose a Lender

    If you would like to borrow an alternative loan, you will need to apply with a lender. Please view our Q & A document below for information about alternative loans in general. When you are ready to find a lender, the links below provide information for lenders that we have determined offer a variety of loan products, a competitive total cost of borrowing, favorable borrower benefits, borrowing options for non-traditional students and easy processing capabilities, including electronic funds transfer. Please make sure you are using the link that corresponds to your student type, as the information is specific for those programs. This list does not constitute an endorsement of any lender by Hamline University and you are welcome to borrow from any lender you choose, even if that lender is not on the list. The information on the lender list is updated by the lender periodically as terms may change. Due to recent changes in federal legislation, please allow a minimum of 3–4 weeks for the alternative loan application process. 

    Alternative Loan Questions and Answers

    Alternative Loan Lender List for Undergraduate, Post baccalaureate, and Teaching Licensure Students
    Alternative Loan Lender List for Master and Doctorate Students
    Alternative Loan Lender List for Law Students

    How to Apply For An Alternative Loan 

    1. Log in to the appropriate FAST Choice site to view the Alternative Lender list.  Undergraduate, Post baccalaureate, and Teaching Licensure students log in to FAST Choice Undergrad, Post bacc, Teaching Licensure.  Master and Doctorate students login to FAST Choice Master and Doctorate.  Law students log in to FAST Choice Law.
        
    2. Choose the lender that you would like to borrow from and click the Apply Now button to the right of the lender. You will be directed to the lender web site to complete the loan application.

  • ENROLLMENT STATUS - UNDERGRADUATE AND POST BACCALAUREATE 

    Half-time*: At least 6 credits per semester.

    Full-time: At least 12 credits per semester.

    State Grant: At least 15 credits per semester for full award.

    *Half-time status is a requirement for all federal and some alternative student loans.

  • ENROLLMENT STATUS - TEACHING LICENSURE 

    Half-time*: At least 4 credits per semester.

    Full-time: At least 8 credits per semester.

    *Half-time status is a requirement for all federal and some alternative student loans. 

  • ENROLLMENT STATUS - MASTER AND DOCTORATE 

    Half-time*: At least 4 credits per semester.

    Full-time: At least 8 credits per semester.

     *Half-time status is a requirement for all federal and some alternative student loans.

  • ENROLLMENT STATUS - LAW 

    Half-time*: At least 6 credits per semester. 

    Full-time: At least 12 credits per semester.

    Summer half-time*: At least 3 credits.

    Summer full-time: At least 6 credits.

    *Half-time status is a requirement for all federal and some alternative student loans.

    The Hamline School of Law requires an "Underload Status Request" for all students taking less than 8 credits per semester during the fall and spring.