CU Student HELP Smart Option Student Loan® made by Sallie Mae®

The innovative CU Student HELP Smart Option Student Loan helps you save money, build your credit, and pay off your student loan faster. It's an ideal education funding solution if you still need funds after maximizing grants, scholarships, and federal loans. Be sure to exhaust all federal loans options before borrowing a private student loan.

With the CU Student HELP Smart Option Student Loan, you can borrow up to the full cost of your education, less other aid received.1 Designed to help you graduate with less student loan debt and help you pay it off faster, the Smart Option Student Loan requires making payments while in school and during the six-month separation period and has a shorter repayment period after graduation.

Loan Benefits
  • Pricing that rewards creditworthy borrowers.
  • Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may help you qualify and/or receive a lower interest rate.
  • You may request your cosigner be released after successful completion of your education and after 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments.2
  • Interest-only payments are required while in school and during the six-month separation period to avoid capitalization of interest and lower the cost of the loan.
  • Flexible repayment options—affordable fixed payments of $25 a month or make full interest payments to save even more.3
  • Smart RewardSM—earn 2% of your scheduled monthly payment as a reward in your Upromise account when you make payments on time.4
  • Earn a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction while enrolled to make monthly payments by automatic debit.5
Loan Features
  • Fast Online Application. Our easy-to-complete application takes about 20 minutes. It's that quick and easy.
  • 24/7 online account management.
  • No prepayment penalty.
  • You may be able to deduct the interest you pay on a qualified student loan.6
Take control of your future. Solidify your college dreams by applying now for the CU Student HELP Smart Option Loan! Call 877.458.8285 or click the Apply Now button.

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1 Borrow up to the cost of attendance (minimum $1,000) as certified by your school and confirmed by Sallie Mae, less other financial aid received. Sallie Mae reserves the right to approve a lower loan amount than what the school has certified.

2 To qualify for cosigner release, borrower must have successfully completed school, made 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments, meet age of majority requirements, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and meet the underwriting requirements when the release request is processed. Account must remain current until the request for cosigner release is processed.

3 The following typical loan example uses approximated numbers, is for informational purposes only and is an example of loan terms available through the Smart Option Student Loan: A Smart Option Student Loan made to a freshman borrower at a degree granting institution of $10,000 with two disbursements and a 10.05% APR [Interest rate of LIBOR + 10.375% (LIBOR of 0. 375% as of 12/27/2010) and no origination fee or disbursement fee]. APR may increase after consummation. Repayment consists of 51 fixed $25/month payments (in-school period of 45 months plus separation period of 6 months), followed by 119 principal and interest payments of $179.79 per month and one payment of $115.65 for total payments of $22,786 (finance charge of $12,786).

4 2% reward is available during initial in-school and separation period only. If borrower leaves school but returns later, the reward will not be available for any subsequent in-school period. Primary borrower must be of the age of majority in his or her state of residence (typically 18 years old) and must indicate current Upromise membership or enroll in Upromise at the time of loan application. To be eligible to receive the 2% reward, the borrower may not have had two consecutive scheduled payments past due on the loan for which the benefit is available. If the borrower has two consecutive scheduled payments past due, he or she will no longer be eligible for the reward on that loan. If all conditions are met, primary borrower will earn 2% of the scheduled payment amount in Upromise rewards into his or her Upromise account for each on time payment. The 2% reward is not earned on payment amounts in excess of the scheduled payment. Benefit is subject to the terms and conditions of the Upromise service (as may be amended from time-to-time), including without limitation, restrictions on conversion, transfer and redemption of rewards, reward denomination, including whether and under what circumstances the rewards have independent cash value, and terms relating to fees and/or the forfeiture of rewards. Benefit available on eligible loans first disbursed on or after June 1, 2010.

5 Benefit for enrolling in monthly recurring automatic debit payments is available for as long as monthly payment is successfully deducted from the designated bank account. Benefit is suspended during periods of forbearance and certain deferments.

6 Consult your financial advisor for more information or visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p070.pdf.

You must attend an eligible school and be enrolled in an eligible program. U.S. citizens enrolled in eligible study abroad programs or studying at medical schools outside the United States are also eligible. International students are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident) and appropriate U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service documentation.

You must meet current credit and other eligibility criteria.

Smart Option Loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank®.