Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning

⏰ Only 5 days left! The mail is piling up! If you were awarded an interest-free student loan, be sure to submit your paperwork by 6/30/26 to secure your funding for the upcoming academic year! 📚✨

To celebrate LDHL’s 65th anniversary, we’re sharing something truly special—65 stories from current students, alumni, and past loan recipients whose lives have been shaped by interest-free student loans.

Each story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in education and opportunity. 💙 Follow along as we highlight these inspiring journeys—and see the lasting impact of 65 years in action.

#5. "I graduated from Alliance University (formerly Nyack College) in December 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Adolescent Education. Since August of 2020, I have been teaching high school geography in Clearwater, FL. I love being in Florida, and the school I am at, and I feel that things have just come together incredibly well to allow me to follow that path to move there. The interest-free loan allowed me not to stress about repayment. The fact that I have a set, easy, low-cost repayment each month allowed me to quickly pay off my Sallie Mae loan before it went into repayment, and allowed me to live with far less debt than I would have otherwise." ~Dan R.

Our mission is to provide financial resources to Lancaster County residents in support of their post-secondary educational goals. Since 1961, we have provided more than $21 million in interest-free loans!

Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning: Interest-Free Loans Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning helps students pay for college with interest-free LIFT and Legacy loans that offer easy repayment plans.

: "If you are a full-time student, find a part-time job, even if only 15-20 hours a week. Make conservative financial choices. Since this interest-free loan exists, do your best to make up the gap by working, spending wisely (thrift books for school, thrifting, discount groceries, etc.), and saving up to make payments as soon as you graduate (or even before you graduate). Delay your gratification; meaning our society tends to focus on “self-love” and “self-care” that tends to lean more towards materialism, societal approval, and Instagram success. However, if you can put that aside and fight against that urge to “fit in” you will end up saving your wallet the burden of trying to keep up with those lies. Work hard now, make the difficult choices now, so that you can enjoy the sweet fruits of your hard work in the future. As long as you put your mind to it and have people around you to support you, college and the expenses that come with it can be overcome. And remember that this is only for a season, this grind isn’t forever – but only if you work at it now. You can do it!" ~Faith I. ( Penn State University)

Happy Father's Day to all the dads making a difference in their children's lives. You are a coach, a leader, a mentor, and so much more to your children. Celebrate your day and your accomplishments!

Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On that day in 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, TX, to deliver the news that the Civil War was over and that all enslaved people were now free. What began in Texas as a celebration of freedom has now evolved into a celebration of so much more—not just freedom, but also opportunity, equity, and access.

: "LDHL loans were a blessing to me as I paid for my education by myself. Having an interest-free loan is a lifesaver when it comes to making monthly payments, including a shorter loan payoff period, and all of your payments go to principal rather than interest on typical fixed or variable rate loans. I cannot thank Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning enough for helping fund my education." Justin S. (Penn State University)

: "I graduated in 2021 with a degree in Cinema & Television Arts and a minor in Business Administration. After graduation, I began my career in hospitality and have continued to grow within the marketing space, now in Florida, with a focus on brand marketing. What I enjoy most is being able to influence a variety of guest-facing touchpoints that drive brand awareness and revenue. It’s rewarding to see how creative ideas shape how people discover and experience a brand." ~Nathan L. (Elon University)

📣 Friendly Reminder! If you were awarded an interest-free student loan, your paperwork must be submitted by June 30, 2026. Don’t miss this important deadline to secure your funding for the upcoming academic year! ✨

The weather was beautiful for our road cleanup on Saturday. Since 2019 we’ve collected over 1,000 pounds of litter! A huge thanks to our volunteers for all their efforts of more than 350 manhours.