Student Loans

List of Recommended Stafford Loan Lenders

Southwestern chooses recommended lenders based on high levels of customer service and borrower benefits. The list below represents lenders that currently meet those prerequisites. We update this list yearly and are always adding new lenders.

If you choose a lender from the list below, your loan application will be sent electronically to Southwestern's Financial Aid Office. You may, however, choose any lender who certifies Stafford, PLUS and/or Alternative loans, and we will work with them to get your funding set as soon as possible.

Lenders no longer participating in certain loan programs:

Washington Mutual (Stafford, PLUS & Private)
NextStudent (Stafford)
Goal Financial (Stafford, PLUS & Private)
Student Loan Xpress (Stafford, PLUS & Private)
Citibank - (Stafford, PLUS & Private)
Bank of America - (Private)
TERI - (Private)
KeyBank (Stafford & PLUS)
Wells Fargo (Stafford & PLUS)
Wachovia (Private)

How do I choose a lender?

In most cases, a consumer makes choices based on differences between products. For example, who offers the best product at the lowest cost? Whose product works better or looks better or tastes better?

However, it can be difficult to choose a Federal Stafford Loan lender using this method, because all of the lenders are required by law to follow the same rules and regulations. The interest rate is the same, the deferments are the same.

Therefore, the only way to distinguish between Federal Stafford Loan lenders is to compare the customer service offered by each lender. Which lender will be helpful to you and responsive to your questions and concerns?

Southwestern has identified lenders who have consistently offered excellent customer service to Southwestern borrowers throughout the years. These are the “recommended lenders” listed above. You are not required to use one of these lenders.

Be aware that not all Federal Stafford Loan lenders participate in the electronic guarantee process. If you choose a lender who doesn't, be aware that processing of your loan may be delayed.