AAPA, Juno Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Student Loan Resources for PA Students and Practicing PAs

AAPA, Juno Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Student Loan Resources for PA Students and Practicing PAs

Partnership to provide PAs and PA students access to group buying power for better private loan rates amid a shifting federal lending landscape

July 23, 2026

Today, the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and Juno (joinjuno.org), the student loan group negotiation platform, announced a new strategic partnership designed to help PA students and practicing physician associates navigate private student loan financing with greater confidence and collective leverage. The partnership will give AAPA members and incoming PA students access to Juno's group negotiation model, which uses the collective bargaining power of large groups to secure lower rates from private lenders than borrowers could typically obtain on their own.

Juno's platform aggregates borrowers into negotiating groups, then requests competing bids from a vetted network of lenders, passing the resulting savings directly to borrowers. The model is available both to students financing their PA education and to practicing PAs seeking to refinance existing loans at more favorable terms.

The partnership comes at a time of significant change to graduate student lending. Federal student loan policy affecting professional degree programs, including PA education, remains the subject of ongoing litigation. Juno's group negotiation model gives PA students and graduates an additional resource for navigating private financing with confidence, regardless of how that litigation ultimately resolves. This partnership complements - and does not replace - the federal financial aid options currently available to PA students.

"AAPA's priority has been, and continues to be, protecting PA students' access to affordable student aid," said AAPA Chief Growth Officer Donna Nogay. "A federal court has granted preliminary relief for PA students, but the litigation is ongoing, and the outcome is not yet final. Amid the uncertainty, our partnership with Juno will equip PAs and PA students with the tools they need to make confident, informed decisions about their financial future. Our goal is to reduce financial stress for our members so that they can focus on what matters most: furthering their education and providing high-quality patient care."

Practicing PAs carrying existing student loan debt will also benefit from the partnership. Through Juno's refinancing offering, licensed PAs can access the same group negotiation advantage to potentially reduce their interest rates and monthly obligations, freeing up financial bandwidth at a time when many are building their careers and practices.

"We're proud to partner with AAPA to bring Juno's group negotiation model to PA students and practicing PAs. Whatever direction federal studetn loan policy ultimately takes, our mission stays the same: help borrowers access more competitive private loan options, make lenders compete for their business, and ensure they have the information they need to make confident financing decisions," said Juno Co-founder Chris Abkarians.

Through the partnership, PA students will receive dedicated access to Juno's platform, educational resources on navigating private loan options, and guidance on refinancing strategies tailored to physician associates. Students and PAs can learn more and get started at joinjuno.com/p/aapa.

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