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Sallie Mae® parent loan
A parent loan is taken out by a parent or other creditworthy adult to help fund a student’s education. You apply, manage, and repay the loan, making it a good option for those who want to stay hands-on and limit student borrowing.
A New Way for Families to Help Finance Flight Training
FLT Academy students now have another option for financing their training through the Sallie Mae® Parent Loan.
Despite the name, the borrower does not have to be a parent. A parent, guardian, family member, or other creditworthy adult may apply to help cover a student’s eligible training expenses while keeping the loan and repayment responsibility in the adult borrower’s name.
A New Way for Families to Help Finance Flight Training
With a Parent Loan, the adult borrower applies for, manages, and repays the loan. Unlike cosigning a student loan, the student is not responsible for repayment, and the loan is generally reported only on the adult borrower’s credit report. This can help families support a student’s aviation career while limiting the amount of debt placed directly in the student’s name.
Parent Loan Benefits
Eligible borrowers may receive:
- Financing for up to 100% of school-certified education costs
- Fixed or variable interest rate options
- No upfront loan fees
- A 0.25 percentage-point interest rate reduction when enrolled in automatic payments
- The choice between interest-only payments while the student is enrolled or immediate principal and interest payments
Loan approval, available rates, and the amount financed will depend on the borrower’s credit profile and the school-certified cost of training.
Parent Loan vs. Cosigning a Student Loan
A Parent Loan may be a good fit for families who want the supporting adult to maintain full responsibility for the financing.
With a Parent Loan:
- The adult borrower is responsible for repayment
- The loan is reported on the adult borrower’s credit
- The student’s credit is not affected by the loan
- The adult borrower selects the repayment option
When cosigning a student loan:
- The student and cosigner are both responsible for repayment
- The loan is reported on both credit reports
- The student may become eligible to apply for cosigner release after meeting Sallie Mae’s requirements
Every family’s financial situation is different. Some may prefer a Parent Loan, while others may choose a traditional student loan with a cosigner or use a combination of financing options.
Who May Apply?
The Sallie Mae Parent Loan is available to qualifying parents and other adults borrowing on behalf of an eligible student enrolled at a participating school. Borrowers must meet applicable citizenship, residency, age, credit, identity-verification, and loan-document requirements. The minimum requested loan amount is $1,000.
Curious about your rate?
Prequalification helps you see if you may get approved for a student loan and what interest rate you might be able to get. Answer a few questions and request how much you want to borrow, and we’ll let you know if you prequalify and what rate we can offer you.
Explore the Sallie Mae Parent Loan
Important Financing Information
Sallie Mae loans are subject to credit approval, identity verification, completion of required loan documents, and certification by FLT Academy. Prequalification is not a loan approval or firm offer of credit. Variable interest rates may increase over the life of the loan. Borrowers should carefully review anticipated monthly payments and compare all available financing options before borrowing. Product terms, rates, benefits, and eligibility requirements 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.
