“At the core of our student-first loan philosophy is to only work with stable and reliable lending partners…”
Media Contacts: Barbara Fornasiero; EAFocus Communications; 248.260.8466
Fort Myers, Fla.— August 25, 2025—Paragon Flight Training, an award-winning flight training academy based at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida, with additional locations in Punta Gorda, Florida, and LaGrange, Georgia, is now offering student loan financing through Sallie Mae, leaders in private school lending. The announcement was made by Paragon Flight Training President Christopher Schoensee.
The Sallie Mae loan program, which has already started processing loan applications for prospective Paragon Flight students, is designed for privately held trade schools and flight academies and offers 100% financing for tuition and related fees, no origination fee and a .25% discount when payments are made with auto pay. Paragon Flight entered into the funding partnership with Sallie Mae after a rigorous review and audit period.
Paragon Flight President Christopher Schoensee said the boom-and-bust cycle of private lending in the flight training arena has created volatility for students, hindering their ability to consistently pursue flight training and certification in a specific time frame without breaks in education – or leaving a program entirely – for financial reasons.
“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. At Paragon Flight, we promote and are committed to the student experience. The new Sallie Mae program is another positive aspect of that experience.”
While only a small portion of Paragon Flight’s students currently use student loans to fund their education, funding options are critical to providing access to qualified candidates who otherwise would not pursue flight training.
“To maintain America’s leadership in commercial aviation, we must invest in pilot training,” Schoensee stated. “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. This empowers them to choose the best program, and we believe it makes Paragon a top contender.”
About Sallie Mae
Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM) believes education and life-long learning, in all forms, help people achieve great things. As the leader in private student lending, we provide financing and know-how to support access to college and offer products and resources to help customers make new goals and experiences, beyond college, happen. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
About Paragon Flight Training
Paragon Flight is an award-winning flight school headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. Holding FAA and SEVIS accreditations, the company trains commercial, professional, and recreational pilots as well as offering military pilot training for domestic and foreign governments. With multiple locations in Florida and Georgia, Paragon Flight now has more than 34,000 square feet of training facilities in the Southeastern United States. Learn more at ParagonFlight.com.
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