8 Best Pharmacy School Loans of December 2024
Government programs can make federal loans the best choice for most pharmacy students.
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You can get pharmacy school loans from the federal government or private lenders. Most students should opt for federal loans, because government programs like income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness offer greater flexibility post-graduation. Start by checking if you qualify for a need-based health professions student loan, which is the most affordable federal choice.
But if you plan to work at a retail chain pharmacy or other for-profit business after earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, compare private loans with federal options. You may qualify for a less expensive pharmacy school loan with a private lender if you or a co-signer has excellent credit.
Here are our top picks for pharmacy school loans, plus information on how to get the loans.
- 35+ student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and student loans.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 43 categories and 40+ data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
- 35+ student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and student loans.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 43 categories and 40+ data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Best Pharmacy School Loans
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.0 /5 | None | 6.53-8.08% | N/A | ||
5.0 /5 | None | 9.08-9.08% | N/A | ||
 College Ave Pharmacy Loan GO TO LENDER SITE on College Ave's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website | 4.5 /5 | Mid-600s | 3.47-14.47% | 4.99-14.47% | GO TO LENDER SITE on College Ave's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website |
 Ascent Graduate and Health Professions Student Loan COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website | 5.0 /5 | Low-Mid 600s | 4.69-14.41% | 7.35-14.56% | COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website |
 Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan GO TO LENDER SITE on Sallie Mae's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website | 4.5 /5 | Mid-600's | 3.49-15.49% | 4.92-15.08% | GO TO LENDER SITE on Sallie Mae's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website |
4.0 /5 | Does not disclose | 6.69-13.89% | 8.44-11.54% | ||
4.5 /5 | 650 | 4.45-14.90% | 4.99-15.30% | ||
4.0 /5 | 680 | 3.69-14.22% | 5.00-14.22% | COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website |
Our pick for
All borrowers as a first option
Federal direct unsubsidized loans should be your top choice if low-cost federal health professions student loans aren’t available for your pharmacy program.
Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan
None
6.53-8.08%
N/A
Graduate students qualify for unsubsidized federal loans only.
- More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers than other lenders.
- Subsidized loans do not collect interest while in school or during deferment.
- Lower interest rates than many private lenders.
- You pay an origination fee.
- No credit check or minimum income is needed to borrow.
- Loan amounts for undergraduates: $5,500 year one, $6,500 year two, $7,500 year three and thereafter, up to a total of $31,000
- Independent students and graduate students have higher loan limits.
- Undergraduate interest rate fixed at 3.73%, while grad students get higher 5.28% rate
Our pick for
Manageable payments post-graduation
If you want to ensure your payments are manageable after pharmacy school, you can base them on your salary with a federal income-driven plan.
- More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers compared with private lenders.
- All borrowers who attend a school authorized to receive federal aid can qualify.
- May have higher interest rates compared with private lenders.
- You pay an origination fee.
- You can’t see if you’ll qualify without a hard credit check.
- Grad PLUS loan borrowers must not have adverse credit history.
- Borrowers with adverse credit history can still receive a grad PLUS loan by enlisting a co-signer without adverse credit history or documenting extenuating circumstances for their credit history.
- Loan amounts: Total cost of attendance minus other financial aid.
Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan
None
6.53-8.08%
N/A
- More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers than other lenders.
- Subsidized loans do not collect interest while in school or during deferment.
- Lower interest rates than many private lenders.
- You pay an origination fee.
- No credit check or minimum income is needed to borrow.
- Loan amounts for undergraduates: $5,500 year one, $6,500 year two, $7,500 year three and thereafter, up to a total of $31,000
- Independent students and graduate students have higher loan limits.
- Undergraduate interest rate fixed at 3.73%, while grad students get higher 5.28% rate
Our pick for
Private loans for borrowers with excellent credit
College Ave Pharmacy Loan
Mid-600s
3.47-14.47%
4.99-14.47%
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than other lenders offer.
- You can defer payments up to an additional 48 months, in 12-month increments for residency adn fellowship, after your grace period.
- You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.
Ascent Graduate and Health Professions Student Loan
Low-Mid 600s
4.69-14.41%
7.35-14.56%
- Forbearance of 24 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- Grace period of 9 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
- Minimum income: Not available.
- Loan amounts: up to $400,000.
Our pick for
Private pharmacy school loans
These lenders offer private loans with unique features for pharmacy students, like higher loan limits and generous payment deferment times during residency.
Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan
Mid-600's
3.49-15.49%
4.92-15.08%
Rating and details displayed are for Sallie Mae's private student loan. Sallie Mae’s health professionals student loan lets you defer payments for up to four years during a residency or fellowship.
- One of the few lenders to provide loans to part-time students.
- Non-U.S. citizens, including DACA students, who live in the U.S. and attend school in the U.S. can apply with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You can't see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Does not disclose.
- Minimum income: Did not disclose.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified expenses.
PNC Private Student Loan
Does not disclose
6.69-13.89%
8.44-11.54%
Rating and details displayed are for PNC's private student loan. PNC’s health and medical professions student loan may let you defer payments during residency.
- Interest rate discount for autopay is larger than most lenders offer.
- You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
- Minimum income: Did not disclose.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 to $50,000.
Our pick for
Private loans for borrowers seeking multiple repayment terms
Ascent Graduate and Health Professions Student Loan
Low-Mid 600s
4.69-14.41%
7.35-14.56%
- Forbearance of 24 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- Grace period of 9 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
- Minimum income: Not available.
- Loan amounts: up to $400,000.
College Ave Pharmacy Loan
Mid-600s
3.47-14.47%
4.99-14.47%
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than other lenders offer.
- You can defer payments up to an additional 48 months, in 12-month increments for residency adn fellowship, after your grace period.
- You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.
Earnest Pharmacy School Loan
650
4.45-14.90%
4.99-15.30%
- Option to skip one payment every 12 months.
- No late fees.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than most lenders offer.
- Loans aren't available in Nevada.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 758.
- Minimum income: $35,000.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.
ELFI Private Student Loan
680
3.69-14.22%
5.00-14.22%
The ratings and details shown are for ELFI's private student loan. ELFI's Healthcare Student Loan also has four loan terms: 5, 7, 10, and 15 years.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- You are assigned a student loan advisor.
- No co-signer release available.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
- Minimum income: $35,000.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.
What is the best pharmacy school student loan?
1. Health Professions Student Loans
You may be able to receive a health professions student loan for pharmacy school from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These loans have a fixed 5% interest rate and don’t accrue interest while you’re in school or during a 12-month grace period, making them the only subsidized loan for graduate students.
You must demonstrate financial need to get a health professions student loan, and not all schools participate in the HRSA’s loan program. Funding amounts vary, so you may need to take on additional debt to pay for your Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D., degree.
2. Federal Graduate Student Loans
Pharmacy students are eligible for two types of federal student loans.
Federal unsubsidized loans. Unsubsidized loans have lower interest rates and fees than PLUS loans, so max these out first. You can get up to $20,500 annually.
Federal graduate PLUS loans. If unsubsidized loans won’t cover all your costs, you can take out up to your cost of attendance, minus other aid received, in PLUS loans.
All government loans — including those from the HRSA — can qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Stick with federal loans if you plan to work for an employer that could qualify you for PSLF.
Federal loans also offer income-driven repayment plans that tie payments to a percentage of your discretionary income, typically 10%. This option can be useful during periods in which your salary might be low, especially if you’re just starting out — like if you plan to do a one- or two-year post-graduate residency.
If you don’t need federal loan benefits, you can refinance pharmacy school loans with a private lender to save money when you start working.
3. Sallie Mae Health Professions Student Loan
Sallie Mae offers a specific private loan for aspiring health professionals such as pharmacy students. PNC also has a similar products.
Sallie Mae’s health professions loan stands out because it offers options that future pharmacists may value. For example, you can defer payments during residency. You can also apply to remove the co-signer from your loan after making 12 on-time payments, which is faster than the other lenders allow.
4. Ascent Graduate and Health Professions Student Loan
Ascent’s Health Professions Loan offers a deferment of 36 months while a student is enrolled at least half-time and provides a grace period of up to nine months. Borrowers for this loan as well as any other Ascent loan can also receive a 48-month deferment for a residency or fellowship in 12-month increments. Those benefits may come in handy when repaying pharmacy school loans.
Consider private loans if you don’t need federal benefits and you or a co-signer has excellent credit. You may qualify for a lower rate than the government offers on PLUS loans. Most private lenders also don’t have origination fees, while PLUS loans charge over 4%.
If you don’t need the features of a private health professions loan, shop around to find the least expensive loan possible. Many lenders offer graduate student loans, including College Ave and SoFi.
How to get student loans for pharmacy school
Complete the FAFSA to get federal student loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the gateway to most types of federal student aid, including unsubsidized loans, graduate PLUS loans and, typically, health professions student loans.
Submit any paperwork for federal health professions loans. If your school participates in the HRSA loan program, it may require a different application form than the FAFSA. Contact your school’s financial aid office to ask about its process.
Apply directly with a lender to get private loans. If you’re considering a private pharmacy school loan, look for lenders that let you prequalify. That way you can compare rates without affecting your credit score. Once you’ve found the best option, you’ll likely be able to start the application process on the lender’s website.
Last updated on August 8, 2024
NerdWallet's Best Pharmacy School Loans of December 2024
- Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan: Best for All borrowers as a first option + Manageable payments post-graduation
- Federal Grad PLUS Loan: Best for Manageable payments post-graduation
- College Ave Pharmacy Loan: Best for Private loans for borrowers with excellent credit + Private loans for borrowers seeking multiple repayment terms
- Ascent Graduate and Health Professions Student Loan: Best for Private loans for borrowers with excellent credit + Private loans for borrowers seeking multiple repayment terms
- Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan: Best for Private pharmacy school loans
- PNC Private Student Loan: Best for Private pharmacy school loans
- Earnest Pharmacy School Loan: Best for Private loans for borrowers seeking multiple repayment terms
- ELFI Private Student Loan: Best for Private loans for borrowers seeking multiple repayment terms
