Industry data
Financing for private schools: what the loan data shows
193 SBA 7(a) loans went to private schools recently, at a median of $300,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
193 SBA 7(a) loans went to private schools in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $300,000 over 10 years. 27.5% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a private school loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Private elementary and secondary schools | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 193 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $300,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $100,000 - $1,077,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 27.5% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 2.8% | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $300,000 is 100% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- Startup share is about average, at 28% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 20% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 2.8% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which lenders actually fund private schools
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to private schools, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 23 | $144,400 | 39% | 10.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 9 | $270,000 | 11% | 11.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 6 | $150,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| U.S. Bank | 6 | $420,200 | 33% | 9.00% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 6 | $151,250 | 0% | 12.38% |
| SouthState Bank | 5 | $275,000 | 0% | 10.25% |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 5 | $725,000 | 40% | 9.65% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 5 | $500,000 | 40% | 9.50% |
| TD Bank | 4 | $82,500 | 0% | 10.65% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 4 | $150,000 | 0% | 11.12% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for private schools: Texas (25), California (24), Florida (17), Arizona (14), Georgia (11), New York (9).
Which financing fits
| Product | Fit for this sector | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | The dominant vehicle in this niche | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
| Equipment financing | For the hard assets, often cheaper separately | 7.0% - 30.0% APR |
| Business acquisition loan | If you are buying an existing operation | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
Before you apply
- Check coverage first. Run the payment through the affordability calculator at 1.25x.
- Shortlist from the lender table, favouring ones whose median loan here is close to what you need.
- Assemble the documents — see the checklist.
- If you are buying rather than starting, read business acquisition loans first; the injection rules and diligence are different.