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Student Loans

Whether you’re an undergraduate, career training or graduate student, get money for school from Sallie Mae® . Student loans from SFDEFCU in partnership with Sallie Mae® could help! 

Sallie Mae® student loans are designed for the needs of all types of students.  

– Competitive interest rates 

– Multiple repayment options 

– No origination fees; no prepayment penalty1 

 Smart Option Student Loan® for undergraduate and career training students.

 Plus, the graduate loan suite is designed to meet the needs of students in specific fields of study.  

Find out which loan is right for you 

Borrow responsibly 

We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan. 

 These loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank. Syracuse Fire Department Employees Federal Credit Union is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of loan customers.  

Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000.  Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.  Click here for additional eligibility information about each product.  

1 Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note—first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.  

SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.  

©2023 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

Pay For College Responsibly

Use the 1-2-3 approach to help your student pay for college. These steps can help you make more informed, responsible financial decisions for a big investment in your future.

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FAFSA Changes Are Here!

Completing and submitting the FAFSA just got easier, but you will want to know about changes too so you’re prepared! With helpful dates for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years!

View Printable Guide

Decoding Your Financial Aid Offers

6 tips you should know before making the big decision. The acronyms you need to know, types of financial aid, reading the fine print, and more!

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Stay On Track

View a two year plan to stay on track during Junior and Senior year! Whether you need to take the PSAT or get letters of recommendation – this guide covers all you’ll need!

View Printable Guide

Student Loan Checklist

Get organized as you get ready to leave for school! Collect all of your files and keep track of them with our checklist so everything stays in one place and you save time!

View Printable Checklist

Repaying Your Student Loans

As you begin to repay your loans, these strategies can help make the process simpler. From automatic payments to scam information, this document has it all!

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