footnote Borrow responsibly
We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.footnote Graduate School Loan and Graduate School Loan for Health Professions are for graduate students at participating degree-granting schools and are subject to credit approval, identity verificati...

Nearly two-thirds of students are “on track”

“On-track” students are undergraduate students who reported being on a successful path to graduation, never having considered leaving school or being at risk of dismissal.

“At-risk” students are undergraduate students who have seriously considered leaving school or have been at risk of dismissal.

A lot of scholarships require essays for you to be considered, so you’ll want to write one that shows how you are the best fit for that money. This isn’t your typical essay done for school—this is your chance to showcase who you are beyond your grades and test scores.



If you’re ready to improve your odds of winning the most free money, here are some tips to help you write a winning essay.

Sallie Mae is uniquely positioned to make a significant impact. The alignment and integration of our ESG and business strategies support and reinforce the strength and value of our franchise.

We are dedicated to expanding higher education access, advocating for affordability, and helping students complete their higher education. This mission-aligned work is the foundation of our ESG strategy.