Youth & College Support
Whether you're preparing for your first year of college or are well into your journey as a student or graduate, 3Rivers has solutions and resources, and a dedicated Youth & College Support Team to help you at every stage!
We want you to reach your current and future goals and are here to support you along the way. We can help you find scholarship opportunities, navigate your financial aid and refinance options, and more, so you can feel confident in making informed decisions that benefit you now and down the road.
Feel free to explore this page for more information, check out our blog posts, or contact us anytime if you'd like to chat!
Our philosophy on student loans:
We're committed to working with students and their families to find ways to minimize student loan debt. Before ever recommending a student loan, we'll seek ways to reduce the cost of your higher education by providing you with college and career counseling, which can guide you in selecting a school and career path that works best with both your current financial state and your future desired lifestyle. We also help you find free forms of student aid, including grants and scholarships . Once we've exhausted all other resources for free college funding, we'll discuss your best in-school loan options.
Which student loan option is right for you?
There are a lot of "what-if's", and no one type of loan is best for all borrowers. Here are some questions to keep in mind as you consider student loan types:
- How much will you need to borrow? Having a longer repayment period will keep payments more manageable on high-balance loans.
- How quickly will you pay off the loan? The lower offered variable rate may be a better option for you if you intend to start paying off your loan while attending school or quickly after graduation.
- How comfortable are you with change? Fixed rates don’t change, but this stability comes at a higher up-front cost. A variable-rate may change, but typically comes with a lower interest rate up-front.
We're here to help you decide! Get in touch with our Youth & College advisors to determine what student loan option is best for your unique situation!
Student Loans
| Type | Term | Loan Amount | Rate (As Low As) | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Student Loan - Variable | 60 month draw period, 15 year (180 month repayment term) |
$1,000 - $60,000 |
6.74%(1)(2) | |
| Private Student Loan - Fixed | 60 month draw period, 10 year (120 month repayment term) |
$1,000 - $40,000 | 5.99% | |
| Student Loan Refinance (Federal & Private) | 12 - 60 months | Minimum $5,000(3) | 7.54% | 8.37%(4) |
| Student Loan Refinance (Federal & Private) | 61 - 120 months | Minimum $10,000(3) | 8.04% | 8.27%(4) |
| Student Loan Refinance (Federal & Private) | 121 - 180 months | Minimum $15,000(3) | 8.54% | 8.65%(4) |
Apply for New Loan Refi Existing Loan
(1) Variable Rate- Interest-Only Draw Period - Your account will be subject to a Variable Rate which is based on the highest Prime Rate as published in the Money Rates Section of The Wall Street Journal in effect on the last calendar day of each month of each year ("Index") plus ("Margin"). The Index plus the Margin equals the Interest Rate. Changes in the Index will cause changes in the Interest Rate on the 1st day of each month that immediately follows a change in the Index. Increases and decreases in the Interest Rate will result in like increases or decreases in the Finance Charge and may affect the amount of Your interest-only payments during the draw period and amount of Your amortized payments during the Repayment Period. Your Annual Percentage Rate will never be greater than eighteen percent (18.00%), and will apply to the remaining principal balance.
(2) Variable Rate - Deferred Payment- Your Account will be subject to a Variable Rate which is based on the highest Prime Rate as published in the Money Rates Section of The Wall Street Journal in effect on the last calendar day of each month of each year ("Index") plus ("Margin"). The Index plus the Margin equals the Interest Rate. Changes in the Index will cause changes in the Interest Rate on the 1st day of each month that immediately follows a change in the Index. Increases or decreases in the Interest Rate will result in like increases or decreases in the Finance Charge and will affect the amount of interest that accrues on Your Account during the Draw Period, which will affect the amount of Your initial amortized payment during the Repayment Period. Interest rate changes that occur during the Repayment Period may also affect the amount of Your regularly scheduled payment during the Repayment Period. Your Annual Percentage Rate will never be greater than eighteen percent (18.00%), and will apply to the remaining principal balance
(3) Total loan amount considered will be subject to a $100,000 unsecured aggregate limit (excludes credit cards).
(4) APR shown is calculated using the 'as low as' rate, the maximum term, the minimum amount, and a $99 loan processing fee. Your rate is fixed at the time of loan origination and will be determined based on your Loan Term & FICO score/data obtained from your credit file. No Early Payoff Penalties.
Membership required, to learn more visit www.3riversfcu.org/join
Meet Our Youth & College Support Team!
P: 260.515.7216 | O: 260.399.8230 | E: clawson@trfcu.org
Caitlyn Lawson started her career with 3Rivers in 2016 and has loved being able to help members with their goals and financial wellness journeys. She is dedicated to helping students find their own unique paths upon graduating high school—helping make sense of higher education, career paths, and the many other financial situations students may discover along the way.
Caitlyn’s own path to a higher education was more of a zig-zag than a straight line. Feel free to ask, she’d be happy to share more about her own journey and lessons learned!
Outside of work, she helps coach and teach swimming, loves to hike and explore new places, and is always seeking a new challenge to accomplish.
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P: 260.222.3440 | E: jhersey@trfcu.org
Jordan Hersey received his bachelor’s in communication studies from Huntington University. Before beginning his journey at 3Rivers in 2022, he gained experience working at the Boys & Girls Club, in the service industry, and as a substitute teacher. He brought this unique mix of skills to our branches, helping members along their financial wellness journeys.
Having recently joined our Youth & College Support Team, Jordan is excited to help advise students and families as they navigate through the unknowns and stressors of college planning, so they can enter this chapter with confidence. He’s passionate about getting to know our members, their stories, and their dreams to help them create personalized plans that can help them achieve their goals, personally, professionally, and financially.
Outside of work you can find Jordan trying new restaurants, traveling, engaging in reading groups, and riding his motorcycle.
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