Beginning college but not sure where to start?

Wherever you are on your higher education journey, we want to help you get the funding you need for school. Student loans from First Citizens' in partnership with Sallie Mae® are here to give you the knowledge and support you need to succeed!

For borrowers attending a Degree-Granting Institution

Sallie Mae® higher education loans are designed for the needs of undergraduate and graduate students.

  • Competitive interest rates
  • Multiple repayment options
  • No origination fees; no prepayment penalty1

Preparing for College with Banzai!

Preparing for college? We're here to help! First Citizens' has partnered with Banzai! to create a financial education center that can help you get ready.

One of the most useful tools is the Cost of College guide, a whimsical take on a traditional expense list that walks students through a virtual journey through the major expenses associated with higher education. This course and other resources are built with data sets from the National Center for Education Statistics meaning they can help students estimate everything from expected fees to the average cost of their school’s meal plan.

Tuition is a big bill, but there are ways to make the cost of your dream school possible. Learn all you need to know to pay for that coveted degree.

Check out these great resources to help parents and students prepare for college:

Check out some of our Financial Education interactive videos to get you started!

We've partnered with Banzai to bring free financial wellness program to our community. Your financial future starts today with our financial education tools and resources. Learn more about Financial Education.


Helpful Links

Application icon.
Student search icon.
Student icon.
Student icon.

























We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan. These loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank or a lender partner. First Citizens’ is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of loan customers. Smart Option Student Loan and graduate loan products: These loans are for students at participating degree-granting schools. Smart Option Student Loan information is for undergraduates only. Graduate Certificate/Continuing Education coursework is not eligible for MBA, Medical, Dental, and Law School Loans. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend a participating school in the U.S., apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident) and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify their identity. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.

1Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note—first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.

©2021 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.