While the credit crunch may be making it hard to get private student loans in some parts of the country, that is not the case at Arizona's largest university, according to an Arizona State University official.

"Here at ASU, financial aid remains as available as ever before," said Craig Fennel with the ASU Financial Services Department.

"We're still doing the same volume we've done in prior years, and we're not aware of any unusual difficulties students are having here at ASU in obtaining those private student loans."

But, Fennel said, "It's different in some areas of the country, particularly on the east coast. So what we're seeing there is a higher cost-of-living, private colleges being more expensive, there is dragging on private student loan availability."

ASU has one of the lowest tuition rates in the country, so it is pretty easy to get financed, Fennel said, although some students may need a co-signer.

Grants and scholarships make up much of the aid, but students are picking up plenty of private loans, too, he said.

"Students here generally have to borrow less than they do at many other schools -- particularly private schools, but many other public schools, as well. So it's easier to get approved for those lower loan amounts."

He added, "Here at ASU, for the first time last year, we were at over half-a-billion dollars in total aid, which is one of the highest amounts in the country."

For students who do get turned down, Fennel advises them not to give up, to shop around and always apply for scholarships.

He said he believes the government is taking sufficient steps to avoid a student loan crisis.