decorative banner image

Office of Higher Education Completes $70 million Bond Sale to Support Student Loan Program

Archive

11/17/2006


 

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
Office of Higher Education
(651) 259-3902

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education today completed the sale of $70 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to provide additional funds for its student loan program. The bond sale will enable the agency to meet continuing strong demand for its Student Educational Loan Fund Program, known as the "SELF" program.

Loan disbursements from the SELF program have quadrupled since 1998, with $127 million in disbursements processed in fiscal year 2006. Funds generated by the bond sale will provide resources to enable the agency to meet the continuing strong demand for SELF Loans in the coming academic year.

"Minnesota created this program years ago to help students bridge the financial gap, many of whom have exhausted their other financial aid options," said Susan Heegaard, Director for the Office of Higher Education. "This bond sale will enable the agency to make about 15,000 additional loans to students initially, and as loans are repaid, the funds can be recycled for new loans."

The legislature created the SELF Loan Program in 1985 to provide students with long-term, low interest educational loans. The program is operated at no cost to the state. SELF Loans are funded entirely by revenue bonds, investment earnings and loans repaid by borrowers. Since the program's creation by the legislature in 1985, the agency has originated more than 350,000 loans. In fiscal year 2006, 33,000 loans were made.

Minnesota students attending eligible postsecondary institutions within or outside Minnesota and non-residents attending eligible postsecondary institutions in Minnesota may apply for SELF Loans. There are no minimum or maximum income thresholds and no application fees. The interest rate charged on loans is adjusted quarterly with an October 1, 2006 interest rate of 8.1 percent. The borrower pays interest quarterly while in school.

For information about the SELF Loan Program, contact the financial aid office at the college you attend or are considering attending, or contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education at (800) 657-3866 or visit www.selfloan.org.

The bond sale is being underwritten by RBC Dain Rauscher Incorporated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bonds are rated AAA as the result of insurance from MBIA Insurance Corporation of Armonk, New York. The trustee is Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is a cabinet-level state agency providing students with financial aid programs and information to help them gain access to postsecondary education. In addition to the SELF Loan Program, the agency administers a large need-based state grant program that supplements the Federal Pell Grant program. The agency also oversees tuition reciprocity programs, Minnesota's 529 college savings program, licensing and an early awareness outreach initiative for youth. The agency serves as the state's clearinghouse for data, research and analysis on postsecondary enrollment, financial aid, finance and trends.

This document can be made available in alternative formats upon request.


Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader