Loans and Lines of Credit
An affordable way to make continuing education possible. Students can borrow to assist with the cost of attending a post-secondary educational institution, including community college, university, or techincal school.
Benefits:
- Loans or lines-of-credit are available to full or part-time students(a co-signer may be required), at very competetive interest rates.
- Choice of loan or line-of-credit
- While in school, you pay only for the interest on your loan or line-of-credit.
- Regular loan payments on the principal do not begin until six months after you've stopped being a student
- Additional 6 months may be negotiated if student is unemployed
Features:
- Repayment amortizations from 5-15 years, depending on loan balance.
- Credit Life and Disability insurance available
Line-of-credit means you apply once and advance funds as needed. You pay interest only on amount used.
To apply for a student loan through St. Joseph's Credit Union, you can click here!
Check out options for provincial and federal student loans and grants
Finding the best options for financing your education can be overwhelming. You may qualify for federal and provincial government loans and portions of these may come to you in the form of a grant that you don't have to pay back so we strongly encourage you to research these options as well. Take advantage of the useful tools available on these websites to help you calculate estimated loan amounts and plan for making repayments once you are done school. Our number one priority is getting you that all important education with as little debt as possible.
Nova Scotia Student Loan and Grant Information
Canada Student Grants - Nova Scotia residents are not elibile for student loans through the federal government of Canada, but may still be eligible for Canada federal grants.
Scholarships
Money that I don't have to pay back? Sounds good doesn't it? There are lots of scholarships out there for the taking for students. Make sure you keep your ears and eyes open for scholarship opportunities and talk to your school councelors or financial aid offices to stay up-to-date on what is available. Here are a few resources that may make the scholarship search and education financing a little easier:
Atlantic Credit Union Bursary Program
Loan Repayment Tips
Don't let student debt get you down. St. Joseph's Credit Union continues to be there for you through the loan repayment process and our financial professionals are here to advise you every step of the way. We get that debt tends to add up when you are in school and can be overwhelming upon graduation. Whether it be government loans, lines of credit or credit card debt, we are here to help you get out of debt so you can get on with life. Our student lines of credit do give students a low interest rate during their studies and then upon graduation students have 6 months before they need to begin regular payments on the principle. The nature of a line of credit, however does give you the ability to make payments whenever you want and the sooner you make payments the less interest you will have to pay and the sooner you will be debt free.
Do you have government student loans? Take advantage of some of the student loan repayment and relief options available to you:
0% Interest on Nova Scotia Student Loans - This new program introduced as of March 20, 2014 allows borrows to apply and qualify for zero interest on their provincial student loan funding. For more information visit the link.
Nova Scotia Debt Reduction Program
Employment Bonus Award - Did you know that if you work in Nova Scotia full time, and can demonstrate 50 weeks of full-time employment in Nova Scotia in the 3 year period subsequent to gradulation, you can receive an additional 50% of the amount of Debt Reduction that you received at graduation?
Repayment Bonus Award - If you make 12 payments on your Nova Scotia Student Loan (or a lump-sum payment of an equivalent amount) within three years of graduation (full principal plus interest), you can receive an additional 20% of the amount of Debt Reduction that you received at graduation.
Early Childhood Education Assistance Program - This program provides debt reduction incentive to eligible Early Childhod Education graduates. For application requirement and more information please visit the link.
