Financing Partnership Expands Pathways for Pilot Training

Paragon Flight Training, a flight training academy based at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida, with additional locations in Punta Gorda, Florida, and LaGrange, Georgia, announced it is now offering student loan financing through Sallie Mae. The program is designed for privately held trade schools and flight academies and has already begun processing loan applications for Paragon students.

The Sallie Mae loan option provides 100% financing for tuition and related fees, with no origination fee and a .25% discount when payments are made with auto pay. Paragon Flight entered into the partnership with Sallie Mae after a review and audit process.

Paragon Flight President Christopher Schoensee said the boom-and-bust cycle of private lending in flight training has created volatility for students, often interrupting their education. “The core of our student-first loan philosophy is to only work with stable and reliable lending partners,” Schoensee said. “Sallie Mae, with its stringent requirements, solid reputation and 45-year history in student lending, will be an excellent student loan partner and serve our students well in their pursuit of high-paying aviation careers without a financially induced interruption in their education.”

While only a portion of Paragon’s students currently use loans, the availability of financing is key to opening opportunities for qualified candidates. Schoensee added, “To maintain America's leadership in commercial aviation, we must invest in pilot training. Paragon Flight is stepping up by making flight education accessible to more candidates. We offer what very few schools can: the financial security for students to complete their training.”