Higher Education Loans
The affordable way to underwrite your undergraduate and graduate studies as you pursue your career dreams.
LOANS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
DHFLA provides interest-free, last-dollar loans to Jewish students pursuing higher education disbursed by semester for a maximum of eight semesters. Students may borrow up to $32,000 over the course of their studies.
DHFLA’s “last dollar” funding fills in the final gap after all other financial aid has been applied. Students are required to accept all State of Texas financial aid and federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans that are offered to them. These loans typically carry the lowest interest rates and most flexible repayment terms and accepting them is a requirement before DHFLA can help. DHFLA does not require families or students to take Parent PLUS, Grad PLUS or any other high-interest private loans.
Term: Loans are made in semester installments for a maximum of eight semesters. The total amount borrowed cannot exceed $32,000. For a four-year undergraduate or graduate program semester installments are made in $4,000 increments. For programs that are less than eight semesters, the installment amount varies depending on program length.
If you are eligible to apply for a Higher Education loan you will receive a link to complete a full loan application after your preapplication is reviewed.
TIMELINE AND DEADLINES
New Borrower Loan Application
Applications
Start of when initial applications accepted
Applications
End of when initial applications accepted
Supporting Documents
Deadline to submit initial supporting documents
Required Documents
Deadline to submit all required documents
Interviews
All student loan interviews completed
Current Borrower Loan Renewals
Spring Semester
Deadline to submit all required documents for spring semester loan advancement
Summer Semester
Deadline to submit all required documents for summer semester loan advancement
Fall Semester
Deadline to submit all required documents for fall semester loan advancement
Documents submitted and requests received for disbursements after these dates will NOT be approved.
Loan recipients must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA to remain eligible for additional loan advancements.
STUDENT LOAN BORROWER REQUIREMENTS
- You must meet DHFLA’s general requirements (see below).
- The student borrower must be Jewish.
- Students are required to apply for federal financial aid through the school they are attending.
Students attending a community college, technical college or university in Texas are required to apply for State of Texas Financial Aid. - Students are required to accept all financial aid offered including federal and state loans, scholarships, work study, etc.
- Students must attend a U.S.-accredited university, community college, vocational, or career and technical education (CTE) program. If a school is eligible for FAFSA, it meets DHFLA’s criteria.
- International programs may qualify if they are accredited through a U.S-accredited institution and are FAFSA eligible. To determine if an international school is FAFSA eligible, contact the university or program directly.
HIGHER EDUCATION LOANS
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS – NEW BORROWERS
- ACH form with voided check or screenshot with account and routing numbers
- Copies of a valid government-issued photo ID for student, parents (if applicable), and guarantors
- Completed guaranty agreement and information release form from two guarantors
- FAFSA report
- Itemized tuition statement from the school student is attending showing tuition, fees, scholarships, and financial aid student is receiving If financial aid is not included on tuition statement, submit a separate financial aid statement
- Class schedule for upcoming semester
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS – CURRENT BORROWERS
- Transcript or grade report showing most recently completed semester grades, semester GPA, and overall GPA
- Itemized tuition statement showing tuition, fees, scholarships, and financial aid student is receiving for upcoming semester
- Class schedule for upcoming semester
WHO CAN BE A GUARANTOR
- U.S. citizen or have immigration status that provides a U.S. social security number.
- Adult 18 years-old or older.
- Show creditworthiness and have a credit score of 650 or higher.
- Cannot have an outstanding DHFLA loan.
- Provide a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Parents, if married or separated, serve as one guarantor. The second guarantor must be a non-parent living at a different address.
- One guarantor must reside in DHFLA’s service area.
If you are concerned about meeting the guarantor requirement for higher education loans, please contact us at 469-206-1639 to discuss the circumstances. We’re here to help, and we may be able to make exceptions to certain requirements.
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for a loan, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements. Some loan types have additional qualifying criteria. Visit the loan page for the program for which you want to apply for details on what is required to be considered for a specific type of loan.
- Be a member of the Jewish community.
- Reside for at least six months in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell or Wise Counties, or any other county in North Central or East Texas that includes Longview, Texarkana, Tyler, Waco or Wichita Falls.
- Be 18 years-old or older, unless otherwise noted.
- Demonstrate need.
- Show creditworthiness.
- Cannot have an outstanding DHFLA loan.
- Cannot be serving as a guarantor on a current DHFLA loan.
- Have two creditworthy guarantors, unless otherwise noted.
- Provide a valid government-issued photo ID.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Identify which loan type meets your needs. If you’re unsure, contact the Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association office: 469-206-1639 or admin@dhfla.org.
- Complete the appropriate loan application and submit with our online form, by email to admin@dhfla.org or by mail.
- Obtain guarantors and ask them to complete and submit the guarantor paperwork to admin@dhfla.org.
- If you are a qualified applicant, you will be contacted to schedule a loan interview by Zoom with members of the DHFLA loan committee. You may be asked to submit additional information.
- A loan decision will be communicated to you by the loan officer following the interview.
- If approved, funds will be disbursed following communication of the credit decision.
No interest loans for the Greater North Texas Jewish Community
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CONTACT US
Mailing Address:
PO Box 671235
Dallas, TX 75367-1235
Physical Address:
16301 Quorum Drive
Addison, TX 75001
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 am – 6 pm
Phone: 469-206-1639
What We Do
Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association (DHFLA) provides interest-free loans to members of the Jewish communities in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell and Wise Counties, and any other county inclusive of Wichita Falls, Texarkana, Tyler, Waco and Longview, Texas.
Member of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans (IAJFL). We are a nonprofit 501c3.