Financial Aid and Scholarships
Source: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/loans/private Parent: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/loans/undergraduate/ParentPLUS
Private Loans
About private loans
Federal student loans are available to most students regardless of income and provide a range of repayment options including income-based repayment plans and loan forgiveness benefits, which other education loans are not required to provide.
Private education loans are an option for financing your education and are provided to students or parents from a commercial, state-affiliated, or institutional lender used to pay for up to the annual cost of attendance, less any financial aid received. Private loans have varying interest rates, fees, and repayment options and usually require the applicant to be creditworthy or have a creditworthy co-signer. Repayment generally begins immediately.
Federal, state, and university policy recommends that student borrowers maximize federal loans before the private loan request is processed. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, or California Dream Act Application, the CADAA, to determine student loan eligibility.
StudentAid.gov provides a federal and private loan comparison. Here are some things to consider:
- Private loan eligibility requirements vary from lender to lender
- Private loan lenders can offer variable interest rates that can increase or decrease over time, depending on market conditions
- Students may also be required to meet citizenship requirements or provide a co-signer who meets citizenship requirements
- The interest rate on a private loan may depend on the borrower’s and/or co-signer’s credit rating
- Other eligibility requirements may apply, depending on the lender
- Review the interest rate and processing fees before borrowing
UC Davis is not involved in the private loan credit decision. All credit decision questions should be directed to the loan lender. Financial aid eligibility applies to all certifications of loan amounts.
School Certification Process
Financial aid staff will receive a certification request. Certifications will be reviewed for the 2026-27 academic year starting mid-July 2026. If you are using your University or Federal loans to meet your estimated Cost of Attendance, take action before this date in order for your loans to be applied to your fall charges due on September 15, 2026.
- Staff will approve or deny private loan certification. Maximum eligibility is determined as follows:
- Cost of Attendance: estimated financial aid (offered and accepted) will equal private loan eligibility
- Private loan estimate posted on MyAwards and split among all registered terms
- Lender approval is subject to the minimum and maximum award criteria
- The lender sends funds to the UC Davis Campus Cashiering.
- Student Accounting applies loan funds to MyBill after financial aid staff reduces the placeholder
Loan periods for private loans
Summer 2026
| Aid Period | Loan Period |
|---|---|
| Summer Session I 2026 only | 06/01/26 - 08/01/26 |
| Summer Session II 2026 only | 07/01/26 - 09/11/26 |
| Summer Sessions I and II 2026 - or - Special Session 2026 | 06/01/26 - 09/11/26 |
Academic Year 2026-27
| Aid Period | Loan Period |
|---|---|
| Full Academic Year 2026-27 | 09/01/26 - 06/10/27 |
| Fall 2026 only | 09/01/26 - 12/11/26 |
| Winter 2027 only | 12/01/26 - 03/19/27 |
| Spring 2027 only | 03/01/27 - 06/10/27 |
| Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 | 09/01/26 - 03/19/27 |
| Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 | 09/01/26 - 06/10/27 |
| Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 | 12/01/26 - 06/10/27 |
Private lender list
To start your search, the UC Office of the President has put together a list of recommended lenders. Please be aware that you are not required to use any of the lenders on the list; they are simply provided for your convenience.
Per the Higher Education Opportunity Act guidelines, our office adheres to the University of California Code of Conduct in regard to lender arrangements.
If you have specific questions related to your credit history, contact the private loan lenders at the numbers provided on the website listed below, managed by ELMSelect: