In coordination with the UC Office of the President, we have compiled a comprehensive Preferred Lender list (PLL) with fixed rate options, variable rate options, and interest payment (while in school) options. The selection process considered the needs of our students in the categories of pricing, service, and technology.
- Student must be enrolled in at least half-time (6 units) each semester
- Student may only borrow up to the Cost of Attendance minus any other aid (e.g. Gift Aid, Third Party Contract, etc.)
- Most international students applying for a Private Loan will require a creditworthy U.S. co-signer to be considered
- UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business school code: 001312-75
Step 1 – Apply for a Private Loan using the Haas School of Business Preferred Lender List or from another reputable lender of choice. Remember to use the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business school code: 001312-75
Step 2 – The Haas Financial Aid Office completes the Private Loan Certification for the student
Step 3 – The lender will notify the student to complete all required final disclosures upon approval
Step 4 – The scheduled approved loan will be disbursed directly to the University at the beginning of the semester
Please submit separate loan applications for loan periods that fall within different academic years. Summer is considered a separate loan period and must be requested separately from the academic year loan periods.
- 2026-2027 Academic Year Loan Periods
- Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 loan (August 26, 2026, to May 14, 2027)
- Fall 2026 loan (August 26, 2026, to December 18, 2026)
- Spring 2027 loan (January 19, 2027, to May 14, 2027)
- Summer 2027 loan (May 24, 2027, to August 13, 2027)
If you do not plan to accept the federal and/or institutional loans included in your financial aid offer and would like to request certification for a higher private loan amount, please notify our office as soon as your lender approves your private loan application so we can ensure that we are certifying the correct amount you wish to borrow. Early notification allows us time to review your request and complete any additional steps needed to certify the increased amount. If we are not notified before your loan is certified, we may not be able to increase the certified loan amount. Depending on the lender’s policies at the time of your request, you may be required to submit a new private loan application to request the additional funding.
- Private Loans will be disbursed in two payments, 50% each semester
- Loan disbursement will be credited towards student’s CalCentral tuition and fees
- Any financial aid in excess of tuition and fees will be refunded to the student in the form of Direct Deposit or by paper check. All students are recommended to sign up for Direct Deposit to prevent disbursement delays
Students are expected to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for continued participation in the private loan programs. A student will be placed on academic probation when the G.P.A. falls below the minimum requirement and may become ineligible for future scheduled private loan disbursements.
This information was adapted from the UCOP language developed for SB 1289. Students considering student loans need to be aware of differences between federal student loans and private student loans.
- Federal student loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options including, but not limited to, income-based and income-contingent repayment plans, as well as loan forgiveness benefits that private lenders are not required to provide.
- Federal Direct Loans are available to most students regardless of income. Other qualification criteria do apply.
- Federal Direct Loans have fees taken before disbursement. The net amount disbursed will be less than what you will owe.
- Private student loan lenders can offer variable interest rates that can increase or decrease over time, depending on market conditions. Some now offer fixed rate options.
- Private student loan interest rates may depend on the borrower’s and/or co-signers’ credit rating. Rates on Federal Loan cannot be adjusted based on the strength of the borrower’s and/or co-signers’ credit rating.
- Private student loans have a range of interest rates and fees and students should determine the interest rate and any fees before accepting the loan. Students should contact the lender the Haas Financial Aid Office with any questions about a private student loan.
The Department of Education (ED) encourages all eligible students to consider Federal Loans first. Conversely, no matter what entity lends the funds, students should review the terms in detail.
The Haas Financial Aid Office does not receive, and will not accept, inducements from lenders in exchange for inclusion in the Preferred Lender List, nor does the Haas School of Business share in the profits from student loans. For additional details, please read The University of California Code of Conduct in regards to the preferred lender arrangements within the Interim PLL is the required Truth-in-Lending Agreement (TILA) Disclosure of each lender.
IMPORTANT: Please contact the Haas Financial Aid Office immediately if you become aware of financial aid exceeding the Cost of Attendance. A loan return may need to be initiated if a student anticipates GSI Fee Remissions, Third Party Contract, and/or any additional Gift Aid that exceeds the Cost of Attendance.