Loans for education expenses in Florida
Read this part first: a StrideFi loan is not a student loan, and it should not be your first option for education costs. Federal student aid is cheaper, carries income-driven repayment and deferment rights, and this loan has none of that.
Federal aid first — this is not close
File the FAFSA. Federal student loans are priced far below unsecured consumer credit and come with protections this loan does not have: deferment while enrolled, income-driven repayment plans, and forbearance if your income drops. None of that exists here.
Also check Florida Bright Futures, the Florida Student Assistance Grant, and your institution’s own aid office. Grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid at all, which no loan can match.
Repayment on this loan begins about 30 days after disbursement whether or not you are enrolled, and continues on a fixed monthly schedule for the length of the term. There is no in-school deferment.
The narrow case where it fits
Costs that federal aid does not reach: a certification exam fee, a trade-school program outside Title IV eligibility, a laptop or tools required for a course, a licensing course for a job you already have lined up.
Underwriting requires verifiable income, so a full-time student without income is unlikely to qualify — and a loan repaid on a fixed schedule during a period with no earnings is a poor structure regardless of whether it is approved.
What it costs
The same terms apply whatever the loan is for: 28.99%–35.99% APR depending on amount and underwriting, 12-month terms, no prepayment penalty.
| Loan amount | APR | Term | Monthly payment | Finance charge | Total of payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | 35.99% | 12 mo | $200.91 | $410.92 | $2,410.92 |
| $3,500 | 33.99% | 12 mo | $348.11 | $677.32 | $4,177.32 |
| $5,000 | 31.99% | 12 mo | $492.34 | $908.08 | $5,908.08 |
| $7,500 | 28.99% | 12 mo | $727.43 | $1,229.16 | $8,729.16 |
| $10,000 | 28.99% | 12 mo | $969.91 | $1,638.92 | $11,638.92 |
Representative examples only, not an offer of credit. Each row assumes a 12-month term, on-time payments, and the APR StrideFi currently quotes at that amount; your APR, term, and payment depend on underwriting. Interest accrues daily on the unpaid principal balance, so paying early reduces the finance charge below the figure shown, and paying late increases it. There is no prepayment penalty.
Model your own figures with the loan calculator, or read the full rates and terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a private student loan?
- No. It is a consumer installment loan under Florida Chapter 516. It has no in-school deferment, no income-driven repayment, and no student-loan-specific protections, and it is not certified by a school.
- Can a student without income qualify?
- Underwriting requires verifiable income, so generally no. There is no co-signer option.
- Does interest accrue while I am enrolled?
- Yes. Interest accrues daily on the unpaid principal from disbursement, and the first payment is due about 30 days later regardless of enrollment status.
Other reasons people borrow
StrideFi is an online lender — we have no branch locations. Loans made by Stride Financial LLC under the Florida Consumer Finance Act (Chapter 516) to Florida residents statewide. Amounts from $2,000 to $10,000; APR 28.99%–35.99%; terms up to 12months; no prepayment penalty. Approval, loan amount, APR, and term depend on underwriting, including identity, income, and bank-account verification — not every applicant qualifies, and applying is not a guarantee of credit. Funding times depend on your bank's ACH processing.