Frequently Asked Questions Got questions? We've got answers!

The average JELF loan is approximately $4,800 per academic year. This amount can vary based on factors like the financial needs of applicants, available funding, and individual circumstances. JELF strives to offer meaningful support while ensuring the sustainability of the fund for future students.

JELF provides interest-free loans (not scholarships) to Jewish students with demonstrated financial need. As loans are repaid, the funds are recycled to assist future students.

For more resources on paying for college and more, visit our Student Resources Page.

A “last dollar” loan from JELF covers the remaining expenses after all other financial aid options have been exhausted. JELF provides “last dollar” loans, typically ranging from $1,000 to $8,000 annually, based on the remaining financial need.

How a JELF “Last Dollar” Loan Works:

1. Students apply to JELF after securing all possible scholarships and loans, including Federal Direct Loans.
2. JELF calculates the loan amount based on the student’s remaining financial need after other aid is applied.

No, there is no application fee to apply for a JELF loan. Our loans are completely free—there are no fees or interest. Recipients only repay the amount they actually borrow.

JELF Eligibility Criteria:

• Jewish Students: Must be Jewish by lineage or conversion (Messianic Jews are not eligible).
• School Type: Must be enrolled full-time in a U.S.-accredited college, university, or vocational school.
• Residency: Must reside in FL, GA, NC, SC, or VA (excluding metro DC).
• Age: No age limit, though most recipients are 18-25.
• Need: Must demonstrate financial need by completing the FAFSA, submitting documentation, and participating in an interview.

JELF serves students in the following states:

• Florida
• Georgia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Virginia (excluding metro DC)

This region was established when JELF was founded as the Hebrew Orphans’ Home (HOH) in 1889, serving B’nai B’rith District #5, which continues to be JELF’s service area.

Residency Requirement:

• Students must have lived in the five-state region for at least one year before the application deadline.
• Proof of residency can include legal documents such as a driver’s license or tax return.
• Students can attend any U.S.-accredited school, regardless of location.

For Hebrew or Jewish Free Loan agencies outside JELF’s five-state region, you can find a list through the International Association of Jewish Free Loans.

JELF provides funding for students to attend any U.S.-accredited college, university, or vocational school of their choice.

Yes! Thanks to the Judith and Aaron Alembik Endowment, JELF has established a dedicated fund specifically to support the children of Jewish clergy. This endowment ensures that eligible clergy children have access to JELF’s interest-free loans as part of the regular application process, helping them pursue higher education without the burden of high-interest debt.

This fund is not intended for students who are studying to become rabbis, cantors, or other Jewish clergy themselves. Rather, it is intended to assist the children of clergy in financing their undergraduate or graduate education. To learn more about this unique opportunity and eligibility requirements, visit jelf.org/clergy.

• Full Academic Year: January 1 to April 30

• Spring and/or Summer Semesters: August 1 to September 30

JELF loans are based on financial need, not a student’s GPA.  In order to be eligible (or stay eligible) for funding, all loan recipients must prove to be in good academic standing each semester.

JELF loans are available for students attending U.S.-accredited universities, vocational, or CTE (Career & Technical Education) programs. If a school is eligible for FAFSA, it meets JELF’s criteria.

Although most international universities are not FAFSA-eligible, JELF has funded programs outside the U.S., such as the American Medical Program at Tel Aviv University in Israel, which is accredited through NYU.

To determine if an international school qualifies for FAFSA, please contact the university or program directly.

The personal interview, involving both the student and their cosigner(s), is designed to gain a deeper understanding of the applicant’s needs beyond what financial documents can show. This in-person or video interview will cover:

• Educational Program: Details about the student’s chosen program and professional goals.
• Financial Situation: Current financial status, debts, and any special expenses.
• Family Dynamics: Context about the student’s family situation.

Confidentiality: The interview is conducted with strict confidentiality. The Local JELF Administrator (LJA), often a social worker from a local Jewish agency, is involved in the intake process but does not make funding decisions. Post-interview, information is presented anonymously to JELF’s Loan Review Committee, along with a summary of the application.

Click here for more details or to prepare for a JELF interview.

This is not a problem! As long as an applicant has legal residency within JELF’s five-state region, JELF will consider them. Many applicants come from smaller Jewish communities, and we ensure that a Local JELF Administrator (LJA) is assigned to each student regardless of location. For further assistance, please visit our LJA page.

Once awarded a JELF loan, both the student and their cosigner(s) must sign a Promissory Note accepting the loan amount. After the Promissory Note is fully executed, JELF will deposit the loan through an ACH (automatic bank deposit) following bank account verification. For full academic year awards, the loan is disbursed in two installments: half in August and the other half in December, assuming the student remains in good academic standing.

Yes. Most applicants do not yet know their total financial resources when applying. If a student no longer needs to borrow funds from JELF after being awarded a loan, they do not have to accept it. JELF appreciates it if the student or family withdraws their application as soon as they realize they no longer need the loan. Students can reapply for subsequent school years if they discover a gap in funding.

No, applicants do not request a specific dollar amount. JELF determines a student’s need by subtracting their total financial resources (including state, school, and federal aid, as well as possible family contributions) from the total cost of attendance for that academic year.

To compile a summary of each student’s need, JELF uses a combination of the FAFSA Submission Summary, applicant and/or parents’ tax returns, and additional financial information provided on the loan application and during the personal interview.

Because financial circumstances and school costs can change annually, JELF loan reviewers evaluate all loan information and supporting documents each year.

JELF takes both the total cost of the student’s education as well as the family’s total resources into account. Defining need is both personal as well as different for different families. Need is based not only on household income but also the number of individuals in a household, as well as a medley of other factors related to health or employment that may directly alter what funds exist for a student’s higher education.

Learn more here about JELF’s process for determining each applicant’s loan amount. 

JELF loans are awarded directly to the student, not their family or the school they are attending. If a student applies for funding for the full academic year, JELF divides the loan into two equal payments, one at the beginning of the school year and the second in mid-to-late December. It is up to each student to determine how they best need to utilize these funds throughout the semester.

No, JELF does not require Parent PLUS loans. However, if a student’s gap is considerably larger than JELF’s average loan size that school year, JELF may advise a student or family that they need more financial aid before JELF can assist, as JELF loans are ‘last dollar,’ typically covering everything from food to books and healthcare and more.

At JELF, the difference between a dependent and independent student depends on whether the student is relying on any parental support.

• Dependent student – Typically under the age of 25 and is claimed on parents’ income tax form(s) for the previous year.
  
• Independent student – Typically 25 or older. If under 25, must not be claimed on parents’ income tax form and cannot receive any parental support. If a student is independent and under 25, JELF will require further verification.

A cosigner is someone willing to be legally responsible for a borrower’s repayment if the borrower defaults. While JELF does not charge interest or any fees, we are responsible for ensuring that every dollar loaned is repaid in full. JELF therefore requires a cosigner for each loan made.

A cosigner is someone who agrees to be legally responsible for a borrower’s repayment if the borrower defaults. While JELF does not charge interest or fees, we must ensure that every dollar loaned is repaid in full. Therefore, each loan requires a cosigner.

JELF Cosigner Requirements:

• Must reside in the U.S.
• Provide tax returns, W-2s, and a government-issued photo ID
• Cannot be the applicant’s spouse

Typical cosigner relationships are a parent, legal guardian or relative. All cosigners must complete JELF’s cosigner form, including all required documentation, at the appropriate time and after receiving email instructions.

While typically a parent, legal guardian or relative, there are other examples of cosigner relationships.  All cosigners must complete JELF’s cosigner form (at the appropriate time and after receiving email instructions to do so), including all required documentation.

JELF maintains strict confidentiality regarding the identities of its applicants. Only the appropriate JELF staff and the Local JELF Administrator (LJA) who interviews the applicant and cosigner will know about the loan application.

We are sensitive to the issues that lead individuals to seek financial assistance, and we ensure privacy by assigning each application a non-identifying code. JELF loan reviewers and other staff members do not have access to an applicant’s name or gender.

JELF never sells or gives lists of loan applicants to outside parties and will only disclose the name of a recipient with the recipient’s permission.

JELF prioritizes the security of all information throughout the application process.

• Secure Transmission and Storage: All data collected from students and cosigners is transmitted via our secure email platform and stored on our private, secure server and CRM software.
• Maintaining Confidentiality: We diligently maintain the confidentiality of your information during its use and promptly delete it when no longer needed.
• Proven Track Record: In our six decades of handling educational loans, JELF has never experienced a data breach.
• Prompt Notification: If any breach were ever suspected, affected parties would be promptly notified.