- Flexible student loans built for nursing, PT, pharmacy and more - Cover 100% of your program costs1.
- Repayment options to fit your budget and no application or origination fees
- Option to fully defer repayment during residency or fellowship
Here are our current graduate health professions student loan interest rates:
Variable rates
3.89%
to 15.99% APR
Fixed rates
2.49%
to 15.99% APR
(all rates shown include auto-pay discount)2
Should I choose a Variable or Fixed Rate?
The decision to pursue an advanced health professions degree is often heavily influenced by finances. One of the top considerations is whether you'll choose a variable or fixed interest rate2 student loan. Compare the differences before selecting your loan options.
Variable Rate
3.89%
to 15.99% APR
*all rates shown include auto-pay discount2
Variable interest rates are tied to a market index and will fluctuate - up or down - over time with the market. This will change your monthly payment amount.
Changes to the rate are typically based on a publicly available interest rate index such as the prime rate or SOFR.
Fixed Rate
2.49%
to 15.99% APR
*all rates shown include auto-pay discount2
Fixed interest rates stay the same for the entire repayment period. You will have the same monthly payment amount every month after entering full repayment.
How Does Our Health Professions Loan Compare?
| College Ave | Sallie Mae | Citizens Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Repayment Options |
4 |
3 | 3 |
| Select Your Own Repayment Term |
|
Limited | Limited |
| Apply in as Little as 3 Minutes |
|
|
|
| Grace Period | 9 months | 9 months | 6 months |
| Deferment During Residency/Clinical Training |
|
|
|
*Comparisons based on information obtained on lenders’ websites as of January 28th, 2026.
Your Path to Your Advanced Degree Starts Here. We'll Help Fund the Journey.
You're dedicated to taking care of others, and we're dedicated to you. We start with great rates, let you decide how quickly you pay back your loan, and back it all up with superior service. You're confident about a career in health care— now you can pay for your graduate health professions degree with confidence too.
Overwhelmed? Don't Be! Just Follow These Easy Steps
1
Evaluate your graduate school program length, timing, along with your credit score and financial situation.
Understand your current financial standing, including your credit score and any existing debt. Consider how long you plan to be in graduate school and how much you can comfortably borrow. Graduate students can apply to cover their full program year, giving you confidence grad school is covered.
2
Weigh the importance of loan repayment terms, grace periods and deferment.
When deciding to go to graduate school, you will need to find a loan that fits your program. College Ave offers graduate loans structured for your degree, like deferment while in residency, clerkship or fellowship.
3
Compare interest rates from private lenders and evaluate originations fees.
Compare rates from lenders and be sure to consider any origination fees that may be associated with taking a loan. Taking the time to compare lenders side by side can help you feel confident you're choosing the best option for your financial goals, with fewer surprises down the road.
4
Take the Next Step in Your Career with College Ave
Ensure your graduate school is fully covered with a private student loan from College Ave. Once approved, we’ll work directly with your school to certify the loan, making it an easy process and setting you up for success.
1
Evaluate your graduate school program length, timing, along with your credit score and financial situation.
Understand your current financial standing, including your credit score and any existing debt. Consider how long you plan to be in graduate school and how much you can comfortably borrow. Graduate students can apply to cover their full program year, giving you confidence grad school is covered.
2
Weigh the importance of loan repayment terms, grace periods and deferment.
When deciding to go to graduate school, you will need to find a loan that fits your program. College Ave offers graduate loans structured for your degree, like deferment while in residency, clerkship or fellowship.
3
Compare interest rates from private lenders and evaluate originations fees.
Compare rates from lenders and be sure to consider any origination fees that may be associated with taking a loan. Taking the time to compare lenders side by side can help you feel confident you're choosing the best option for your financial goals, with fewer surprises down the road.
4
Take the Next Step in Your Career with College Ave
Ensure your graduate school is fully covered with a private student loan from College Ave. Once approved, we’ll work directly with your school to certify the loan, making it an easy process and setting you up for success.
FAQ's for Graduate Health Professions Student Loans
-
What is the difference between a Health Professions Loan and a Medical School Loan?
Our Health Professions Loan is designed for students pursuing graduate or doctoral health degrees, such as: Nursing, Physician's Assistant(PA), Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), among other degrees.
College Ave's Medical School Loan is designed for students enrolled in one of the following doctoral degree programs: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD), or Podiatric Medicine (DPM).
-
How much can you borrow with a Health Professions student loan?
You can borrow up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance1, which includes tuition, fees, housing, and other eligible education-related expenses.
Always remember to be responsible when you borrow. Try to exhaust all other forms of aid - like scholarships, grants, subsidized federal student loans, etc. - before applying for private student loans.
Footnotes
1
As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
2
Variable rates may increase after consummation. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
3
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a first year graduate student borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 6.27% fixed Annual Percentage Rate ("APR"): 33 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $145.75 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $14,817.03. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
4
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a first-year graduate student borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.10% fixed Annual Percentage Rate ("APR"): 120 monthly payments of $141.66 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $16,699.21. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.