<p>According to the govt website, the student can choose any lender they want. The college can recommend lender(s), but the student can choose:</p>
<p><a href=“https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/pay_for_college/loans_evaluate.html[/url]”>https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/pay_for_college/loans_evaluate.html</a></p>
<p>According to Pitt’s financial aid site, you can choose any lender you want. They recommend PHEAA, but you can choose anyone, and they give you links to find alternatives:</p>
<p>[University</a> of Pittsburgh: Undergraduate Admissions & Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/stafford.aspx]University”>Office of Admissions and Financial Aid | University of Pittsburgh)</p>
<p>We do not live in Pennsylvania, and our state has a local FFELP lender that can be used not just for our state colleges and universities, but for out of state also. The college you attend determines your aid eligibility, but you can choose your lender. You are not locked in to the preferred lender list. Some students don’t look past the list and assume they are locked in. Pitt does a good job of making sure you know you have a choice.</p>