Additional Financing Options

In addition to federal student loans, there are alternative loans and financing options to consider. 

SUNY Cortland Monthly Payment Plan

The SUNY Cortland Student Accounts Office offers the option of paying your fall and spring semester bills in 4 equal monthly payments. Learn more about the Monthly Payment Plan. 

Federal PLUS Loans

Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans are available to parents of dependent, undergraduate students. Graduate students are eligible to apply for the Graduate PLUS Loan. 

Eligibility is not based on financial need but an additional application and credit check is required. Borrowers with adverse credit history may still be eligible by meeting additional requirements. Graduate students or parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus financial aid received. We encourage you to borrow only what you need for the academic year. 

The current interest rate is fixed at 8.05% with a 4.228% origination fee. 

Parent PLUS Loan application: To apply, the parent must go online to the Direct PLUS loan application for parents and log in with the parent FSA ID. For more information about Federal Direct PLUS loans, visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

Graduate PLUS Loan application: To apply, the student must go online to the Direct PLUS Loan application for graduate students and log in with the student FSA ID. For more information about the Federal Direct PLUS loan, please visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

Private Alternative Loans 

Private and alternative loans are privately-funded loans available to students and parents. We strongly recommend that students utilize federal loan eligibility before applying for private loans.

For a list of lenders based on historical lending with our students, ELM Select (opens in a new window) offers a helpful comparison tool. SUNY Cortland does not endorse or recommend any particular lender or loan product. Students and parents have the ability to select the loan lender of their choice - if you wish to use a lender not provided on this list, it is your right to do so. 

Students and parents may borrow up to the yearly cost of attendance minus other financial aid received. We encourage you to only borrow what you need for the academic year. 

Apply directly with the lender of your choice.