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Every JELF loan begins with an application.

JELF's next application period opens January 3rd.

Get a Reminder About When Our Next Application Period Opens

  • JELF's loan season is open every January - April and then again August - September each year. Using your best judgment please indicate when you would like reminding about JELF so that it best corresponds with when you may need it.

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First Things First....

If you can check all of these qualifications, then you should apply for a jelf loan!

Gather Documents

Get It Together

Next comes supporting documents

Now that you've filled out your application, the next step is to submit the initial required supporting documents. You can upload these directly from your account. 

Final transcript from the school last attended (if not currently a student).

School acceptance letter (if an entering student).

Cosigner's current year tax return(s) and schedules and W-2's or 1099's.

Student's current year tax return(s) and schedules (if filed) and W-2's or 1099's (if student has worked).

Spouse's current year tax return(s) and schedules (if filed) and W-2's or 1099's (if married).

The Student Aid Report (SAR) received after filing your FAFSA.

Your application is not considered complete until you submit these initial supporting documents.

Securing a cosigner

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Securing a Cosigner

instructions & criteria

All loan recipients must have at least 1 valid cosigner, who must also submit JELF's cosigner form after receiving email instructions to do so.

  • A cosigner is typically a parent, legal guardian or relative.
  • Cosigners must reside in the U.S.
  • Spouses are not qualified cosigners.
  • In some cases, a second cosigner may be required.

Personal Interview

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Let's Get Together

Meet with your Local jelf administrator

We place great value on personally connecting and interviewing each JELF loan applicant and their cosigner(s). After your application is submitted, you will contact your Local JELF Administrator (LJA) to schedule an interview (virtual or in-person). 

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Submit Docs

Bringing it all together

Submit the final supporting documents

The app is done. The initial docs are in. Your interview is complete! 

Now we just need for you to submit a few final required supporting documents by June 15 or October 21, depending on your application period. Please upload to your account or email our application staff.

Final transcript for the school year you've most recently completed (if currently a student)

Financial aid letter from the educational institution you will be attending in the upcoming school year

Cost of attendance for the school you will be attending

Without these documents your application will be considered incomplete. It is your responsibility to ensure your app is complete.

JELF cannot consider incomplete applications for funding. If your application is not submitted and/or complete by the designated deadlines, JELF will assume that you have withdrawn from the process and you will be withdrawn from our system.

Sign Promissory Note

Last Steps

Signing Your Promissory Note

After JELF has finished reviewing all applications, JELF’s Central Office will contact you via email to let you know if you were granted a loan and for how much.

If you are granted a loan, you will receive 1/2 the loan amount in early-August and the other 1/2 in December. Students who apply in September will receive one check for the full loan amount in December. You and your cosigner(s) must fill out and sign a promissory note (witnessed by your LJA or a notary).

After your promissory note is fully executed, you will receive your loan. You will also have to submit an ACH form so that JELF can directly deposit the loan funds to you. To obtain your December loan, you will be asked to submit your fall grades to demonstrate that you are in good academic standing with your university or program.

January-April dates August-September Dates

The January-April Application opens January 6 and closes on April 30 and is for students needing loan assistance for the following academic year (next fall and/or the following spring/summer terms).

Jan 6, 2023
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January-April loan application opens. We suggest starting the application as early as possible.
Apr 30, 2023
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Deadline for submitting January-April loan application and initial supporting documents.
May 31, 2023
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All student loan interviews must be completed.
Jun 15, 2023
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Applicant deadline for submitting all required supporting documents. These documents can be directly uploaded to the applicant or cosigner portal.
Aug 1, 2023
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Students are notified of their loan amounts.

The August 1 - September 30 application period is for students that need assistance for spring and/or summer semester(s).

Aug 1, 2022
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August-September Application opens. We suggest starting the application as early as possible.
Sep 30, 2022
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Deadline for submitting August-September loan application and initial supporting documents.
Oct 21, 2022
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Applicant deadline for submitting all required supporting documents. These documents can be directly uploaded to the applicant or cosigner portal.
Oct 31, 2022
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All student loan interviews must be completed.
Dec 1, 2022
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Students are notified of their loan amounts.
Joshua K.
Palm Beach, FL

JOSHUA K.

During high school, Joshua worked hard to earn a 3.5 GPA, had good SAT scores and participated in extracurricular activities.

Yet, when he started bringing home brochures for different universities, his parents just didn’t have the college savings he had hoped. Joshua didn’t know how much his father’s multiple sclerosis had affected the family’s finances.

Ready to Apply? Click here!

After getting government student loans for tuition and books, Joshua turned to JELF for the necessary living expenses he needed to attend school full time. After graduating, Joshua decided to apply his passion for writing as a means of giving back and began working at a synagogue as a digital communications associate.

As Joshua recently put it, “My college journey was made possible by JELF, and I can’t express how appreciative I am for its existence.”

How Repayment Works

Repayment begins 6 months after either graduation, termination of your course of study or a status change to part-time student. JELF's repayment period is 8 years (although you can always pay back sooner!). JELF has a graduated repayment program, which means that in your first years of repayment, when your income is likely to be at its smallest, you will make the smallest payments.  

Each time you make a loan repayment back to JELF, you allow JELF to help more students in need. There is no fee for paying back the loan early.

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have another repayment request? let us know!

So, let's say you borrow $10,000....Here is your repayment schedule:

Year 1 5% $500 $41.67
Year 2 5% $500 $41.67
Year 3 10% $1000 $83.34
Year 4 10% $1000 $83.34
Year 5 15% $1500 $125
Year 6 15% $1500 $125
Year 7 20% $2000 $166.67
Year 8 20% $2000 $166.67
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