THE STUDENT ACCESS LOAN (SAL) PROGRAM
Georgia Student Finance Authority offers the Student Access Loan (SAL) Program for eligible students attending an eligible postsecondary institution in Georgia. The SAL is a 1% fixed rate loan, designed to assist undergraduate and technical college students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs.
Student Access Loan (SAL) Program Information Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have first applied for and exhausted all other student financial aid options including federal and state student loans, scholarship, and grant programs and Veterans Educational Benefits.
- Interest rate structure for loans received on or after July 1, 2014:
- Fixed rate of 1% while in school and out of school as long as the loan remains in good standing.
- A monthly Keep In Touch (KIT) Payment of $10.00 is required approximately 60 days after the first disbursement is received. The monthly KIT Payment is required while in school and while in grace period.
- Repayment is a maximum of fifteen (15) years with a minimum payment of $50.00 for loans received on or after July 1, 2015.
- The minimum annual loan amount is $500.
- The maximum term loan amount is $4,000.
- The maximum loan limit is $8,000 per year and up to a maximum of $36,000 over a college lifetime.
- Origination Fee: A non-refundable fee of 5% of the loan amount, but not more than $50.00, is deducted from the first disbursement of the loan.
The program is also designed to provide service cancellation opportunities to USG or private postsecondary institutions students who work in select public service sectors or STEM fields.
Important Things to Know
- The first selection of applications will be current HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship recipients in a random selection based on funds available. Any following selections of applications will be a random selection of the remaining applications based on funds available.
- Selection does not guarantee approval and applicants may or may not be selected each application year.
- SAL is an annual process which includes application, selection, certification, approval and disbursement.
- Applications are only collected in pre-designated application cycle periods. Be aware of the deadlines.
- If you apply for this loan, you understand that this is a private education loan that must be repaid and cannot be combined or consolidated with federal loans.
- Borrow smart! When applying for a loan, request only the amount of funds needed for your educational costs and that you can repay.
- Your eligible postsecondary institution may decline the loan or certify for a reduced amount based on financial aid status.
- All documentation must be completed with GSFC before a disbursement can be received. That includes the Master Promissory Note and Applicant Self-Certification.
- Funds are disbursed to the student based on when the school receives the funds from GSFC.
Loan disbursements are sent directly to the student’s chosen eligible postsecondary institution and are not transferable.
For more information and to apply go to GAfutures.org.
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