These charities make no-interest loans to students. Many religious and ethnic organizations also offer no- or low-interest education loans.

Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation

No website, (409) 770-5665.
Makes 800 loans of up to $6,000 annually to Texas residents attending a Texas college who have good grades and test scores. Deadline: February 28

Hattie Strong Foundation

Makes about 125 new loans annually of up to $5,000 for meritorious and needy fourth-year college students. Deadline: March 31

Central Scholarship Bureau

Makes about 120 loans annually of up to $15,000 over four years to meritorious students from central Maryland whose families have adjusted gross incomes of less than $75,000. Rolling deadlines

Evalee C. Schwarz Charitable Trust for Education

Makes about 70 loans annually of up to $15,000 for students with expected family contributions of less than $4,000, high test scores and grades, and no plans to become lawyers. Deadline: April 15

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis

Makes about 600 loans annually of up to $6,000 a year for meritorious students who come from parts of Missouri and Illinois and whose families have EFCs of under $12,000. Deadline: April 15

Bill Raskob Foundation

Makes about 100 loans a year (the number is very flexible) of up to $20,000 a year to U.S. citizens attending an accredited American college who have finished their freshman year. Deadline: May 1