What if, instead of borrowing money for school at a certain interest rate, you promised a percentage of your future earnings to cover the cost?

This is possible, with an Income Share Agreement (ISA).

If this sounds interesting you might have a question of your own: Where can I sign up for an Income-Share Agreement?

While Income Share Agreements sound promising, there are some things to consider first. In some ways, they can be better than borrowing a traditional private student loan, but in some cases, they may not be an ideal solution for some students.

Here’s what you need to know depending on your career path, before deciding on which financial aid route to take.

Which Professions are Right for Income-Share Agreements (and Which Aren’t)

Aside from the fact that your major affects your college cost, it also leads to your career – and not all careers are best suited for ISA payments.

1. Good Fit for an ISA: Web Developer

Many coding schools and boot camps offer ISAs in exchange for the more detailed training you receive at a bootcamp. Since bootcamps and coding schools typically aren’t eligible for federal or traditional private student loans, taking advantage of an ISA program if they offer one is an excellent idea.

When comparing these programs and their tuition, it’s imperative also to examine their ISA agreements. ISA agreements differ from school to school, so be sure to do the math, and think about what you could be paying back in the long run.

At the General Assembly, for example, you pay 10% of your $40,000-or-greater salary for 48 months. App Academy, meanwhile, calls for alumni earning $50,000 or more to repay only 28% of their first year’s salary and nothing more.

2. Good Fit for Federal Student Loans: Government or Nonprofit Employee

If you plan on working full time in public service when you’re done with school – but need to borrow in the meantime – you might be better off with federal student loans. Income Share Agreements are not meant to replace traditional federal loans, if you still need financial assistance after your scholarships and federal financial aid, ISAs can be a good option.

But, an important reason to avoid ISAs, in this case, is the potential to have your student debt forgiven under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). After 10 years of working for an eligible employer and making prompt payments, the remainder of your debt could be wiped away.

And while there are questions surrounding the future of PSLF, here is a list of other programs that could help you with student loan repayment. Yet, by signing an ISA contract, you’d lose out on any chance of loan forgiveness through these programs.

3. Good Fit for an ISA: Artist

Working as a so-called starving artist could mean an Income Share Agreement is a great fit for you. According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fine arts are among the majors leading to the lowest-paying careers, with working artists earning a median salary of $49,520.

Other trade school careers or bootcamp programs can also be suitable matches for ISAs as your school or program might not be eligible for federal or traditional private student loans.

Be careful to check whether any ISA you sign will benefit you. Read the terms of your ISA to ensure that it will fit your destined career path and your payments are something you are comfortable paying.

4. Good Fit for Federal Student Loans: Teacher

Much like government and nonprofit workers, teachers aren’t best suited to using an ISA provider. Although teachers are often on the lower end of the wage scale, there are numerous options for educators to receive loan forgiveness, or at least repayment assistance.

Beyond PSLF, you could obtain additional federal loan forgiveness via the government’s teacher loan forgiveness program. It can get up to $17,500 of your debt canceled after you work for five academic years at a low-income school or eligible education service agency. Consult a directory of eligible employers if you’re already eyeing the location of your future classroom.

To ISA or not to ISA? How to Pay for School the Smart Way

An ISA is a terrific tool to consider as you pursue higher education. Although it can be a wonderful option for many students, it’s not the right path for every student.

Run the numbers to ensure your projected salary won’t leave you paying more under an ISA than you would have paid to borrow federal or traditional private student loans. Ensure too that you’re okay giving up some forgiveness and assistance options that you would have gotten with federal loans. It depends on the terms offered by the ISA program.

On the other hand, an ISA could be an excellent solution if your school isn’t eligible for federal loans, doesn’t work with reputable private lenders, or you want to have education protections throughout paying back your outstanding student loan debt.

Choosing your financial aid is an important decision, think about where you want to be when you graduate, specifically what career you’re thinking about, and make sure to do your research before deciding on one.

Interested in learning more about Income Share Agreements or how to fund your education with one? Check out more on the Meratas blog.