Student Loans

The Strong Foundation administers a loan program for American college students, studying in the U.S. or abroad, who are entering their FINAL year of study in a baccalaureate or graduate degree program.  Loans are made solely on the basis of individual merit, without regard to race, sex, or religion, are interest-free and do not require collateral.  Applicants must be enrolled, as full-time students, in an accredited four-year college or graduate school.  Our maximum loan is $5,000.

The terms of repayment are based upon monthly income after graduation and are arranged with each individual so as to work a minimum of hardship.

All arrangements are made directly with the students themselves.  Personal interviews are not conducted.  Students should write between January 1 and May 15^th, giving brief personal history and identification of the educational institution attended, the subject studied, date expected to complete studies and amount of funds needed.  If the applicant qualifies for consideration for a loan, formal application blanks are then sent to be filled in and returned to the Foundation.  The enclosure of a self addressed, stamped envelope will speed the process.

Since there are normally many more applicants than the funds available can accommodate, loans are necessarily made on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicant's motivation, need and self-reliance as well as scholastic record.

Foreign students temporarily in this country do not qualify for loans.

Application forms are sent to eligible students between January 1 and May 15 for consideration for the scholastic year beginning the following September.  After processing, all applications are studied during the month of June and the applicants are notified of the Foundation's decision as promptly thereafter as possible.

The Strong Foundation is an endowed corporation and no appeal is made for financial assistance.  The Loan program is funded from a revolving fund in which the same money is used over and over in helping young men and women to prepare themselves for a more full and useful life of service.