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Two Sallie Mae Financing Options for Flight Training
Financing flight training is not one-size-fits-all. Through Sallie Mae®, FLT Academy students and their families may choose between two financing options based on who will borrow the funds and assume responsibility for repayment.
The Airline Career Loan places the loan in the student’s name, with the option to apply alongside a creditworthy cosigner. The Parent Loan allows a parent, guardian, family member, or other eligible adult to borrow on the student’s behalf.
Sallie Mae® Airline Career Loan
Sallie Mae® Parent Loan
Student financing designed for professional pilot training
The Sallie Mae Airline Career Loan is designed for students enrolled in qualifying professional pilot programs who intend to pursue careers as commercial pilots.
The student applies as the primary borrower. Because private education loans are credit-based, many students choose to apply with a creditworthy cosigner, which may improve their likelihood of approval or help them qualify for more favorable terms. The student and cosigner are both responsible for repayment, and the loan may appear on both credit reports.
Key features may include:
- Financing for up to 100% of eligible, school-certified training costs
- Coverage for flight and ground training, certification and licensing fees, and certain required equipment
- Fixed and variable interest rate options
- No origination fee or prepayment penalty
- A 15-year repayment term
- A 12-month grace period before principal and interest payments begin
- Interest-only, fixed-payment, and deferred in-school repayment options
- A 0.25 percentage-point interest rate reduction for eligible borrowers enrolled in automatic payments
Payments may still be required during training or the grace period depending on the repayment option selected.
An option that keeps the loan in the supporting adult’s name
The Sallie Mae Parent Loan allows a parent, guardian, family member, or other creditworthy adult to help finance a student’s training while keeping responsibility for the loan in the adult borrower’s hands. The supporting adult applies for, manages, and repays the loan.
Unlike cosigning the student’s Airline Career Loan, the Parent Loan is reported on the adult borrower’s credit report and does not appear on the student’s credit report. The student is not responsible for repaying the Parent Loan.
Key features may include:
- Financing for up to 100% of eligible, school-certified costs
- Fixed and variable interest rate options
- No upfront loan fees
- Interest-only payments while the student is enrolled or immediate principal and interest repayment
- A 0.25 percentage-point interest rate reduction for eligible borrowers enrolled in automatic payments
- The ability to prequalify before submitting a complete application
The Parent Loan may be especially helpful for families who want to support a student’s aviation career while limiting the amount of debt placed directly in the student’s name.
Which Option May Be Right for You?
Consider the Airline Career Loan when:
- The student wants to be the primary borrower
- A parent or other adult is comfortable serving as a cosigner
- The student wants the opportunity to build credit through responsible repayment
- The family prefers the Airline Career Loan’s repayment structure and 12-month grace period
Consider the Parent Loan when:
- A parent or other adult wants to assume full responsibility for the loan
- The family wants to keep the financing off the student’s credit report
- The supporting adult prefers to manage the loan and its repayment directly
- The family wants to limit the student’s personal borrowing
Some families may also choose to use a combination of financing sources. The best option will depend on each borrower’s credit profile, financial goals, preferred repayment structure, and comfort with long-term repayment responsibility.
Before You Apply
Sallie Mae loans are subject to credit approval, identity verification, acceptance and execution of required loan documents, and certification by FLT Academy. Prequalification is not a firm offer of credit and does not guarantee approval. Available interest rates, repayment terms, and approved loan amounts will depend on the applicant’s qualifications and the school-certified cost of training.
Students and families should carefully review the anticipated monthly payments and total cost of borrowing before accepting a private education loan. Product features, rates, eligibility requirements, and benefits are determined by Sallie Mae and are subject to change.
sallie mae frequently asked questions
What are current Sallie Mae interest rates?
Sallie Mae loans follow a traditional approval process, and interest rates are not one-size-fits-all. Your rate and loan terms are determined based on several credit profile factors such as your FICO score, length of credit history, existing liabilities (debt-to-income ratio), income, and whether you apply with a qualified cosigner.
Because of these variables, two students enrolling in the same training program may be offered different interest rates or repayment structures. Sallie Mae also typically offers both fixed and variable rate options, which can impact your long-term cost of borrowing depending on market conditions and your individual approval.
Additionally, Sallie Mae may provide features such as interest-only or deferred payment options during training, but eligibility for these benefits is determined during the application and underwriting process.
Interest rates and loan terms can change over time, so the most accurate and up-to-date information is always available directly through Sallie Mae. We recommend reviewing their website or speaking with a Sallie Mae loan specialist to understand current rate ranges, repayment options, and what you may personally qualify for.
What training can be financed through Sallie Mae?
Sallie Mae provides financing for career-oriented flight training that leads toward FAA certificates and ratings as part of a structured professional pathway. At FLT Academy, this includes programs such as Career-Track, Career-Track+, and the certificates and ratings associated with the Contour Airlines Program. In some cases, Sallie Mae may also approve financing for individual certificates or ratings beyond the Private Pilot level when they are clearly tied to continued professional training.
It’s important to understand that Sallie Mae does not fund Private Pilot training when it is pursued as a standalone or hobby-focused certificate. Financing eligibility is generally based on the training being part of a broader, career-focused progression toward commercial aviation opportunities.
I only want to get my Private Pilot Certificate and am not interested in anything else - am I eligible for Sallie Mae?
Sallie Mae financing is not available for those who are only interested in obtaining their private pilot certificate. To qualify for the Sallie Mae Airline Career Loan, you must be seeking training towards a career in aviation which requires additional training beyond a private pilot certificate.
Is a co-signer required?
No – not always. If you have a strong credit profile, it is possible to qualify for Sallie Mae financing on your own without a cosigner. Factors such as credit score, established credit history, income, and overall debt obligations all play a role in whether an individual approval can be granted.
In situations where an applicant has limited credit history, lower credit scores, or higher existing debt, Sallie Mae may require a qualified cosigner in order to approve the loan or to offer more favorable loan terms. A cosigner can help strengthen the overall application by adding additional creditworthiness and repayment assurance.
Because each application is reviewed individually, the best way to determine whether a cosigner will be needed is to complete the application process directly with Sallie Mae.
Does Sallie Mae allow for co-signer release?
Yes. If your loan is approved with a cosigner, Sallie Mae does offer a cosigner release option after the primary borrower has made 12 consecutive on-time payments and meets any additional eligibility requirements at the time of the request.
It’s important to understand that because this release feature exists, Sallie Mae generally underwrites the loan with the expectation that the cosigner may not remain on the loan for its entire term. As a result, a significant portion of the final loan terms – such as interest rate or approval conditions – will still be influenced by the primary applicant’s credit profile, income, and overall financial picture.
For example, if a younger applicant with limited or no credit history applies with a cosigner who has a very strong credit profile, the loan terms may improve compared to applying alone. However, they may not be reduced as much as some applicants expect, since the lender anticipates that the cosigner could be released once the borrower establishes a consistent repayment history.
As always, specific eligibility requirements and policies can change, so it’s best to confirm current details directly with Sallie Mae during the application process.
Ready to Fly?
If you are passionate about aviation and looking for a faster, smarter way to build your career, this is it.
Here’s how to get started:
1
Schedule a Consultation
Schedule a consultation with FLT Academy to receive personalized training estimates and more details about the program and requirements.
2
Prepare
Obtain and provide all enrollment requirements and documentation.
3
Enroll
Enroll and begin training at FLT Academy.
