BEST OF
6 Student Loans With Fastest Co-Signer Release
To get a co-signer release you must have at least one year of on-time payments and meet the lender's requirements on your own.
A co-signer release lets your parent, relative or friend off the hook for your student loan once you prove you’re capable of making payments on your own.
Most college students have limited credit history, so private student loans typically require that a co-signer share legal liability for the debt. About 93% of new undergraduate private student loans in 2018-19 were co-signed, according to the higher education data firm MeasureOne.
If you have the opportunity to release your co-signer or be removed from a student loan you co-signed, seize it. There are two ways to remove a student loan co-signer:
Co-signer release.
Student loan refinancing.
If you qualify for a lower interest rate, student loan refinancing is generally the better option — it’ll remove your co-signer and save you money. You can refinance student loans in your own name if you have good credit, sufficient income and a track record of on-time payments.
If you can’t get a better interest rate through student loan refinancing, or you want to avoid the hassle of comparing interest rates and switching lenders, pursue a co-signer release.
» MORE: Can you refinance student loans?
A co-signer release lets your parent, relative or friend off the hook for your student loan once you prove you’re capable of making payments on your own.
Most college students have limited credit history, so private student loans typically require that a co-signer share legal liability for the debt. About 93% of new undergraduate private student loans in 2018-19 were co-signed, according to the higher education data firm MeasureOne.
If you have the opportunity to release your co-signer or be removed from a student loan you co-signed, seize it. There are two ways to remove a student loan co-signer:
Co-signer release.
Student loan refinancing.
If you qualify for a lower interest rate, student loan refinancing is generally the better option — it’ll remove your co-signer and save you money. You can refinance student loans in your own name if you have good credit, sufficient income and a track record of on-time payments.
If you can’t get a better interest rate through student loan refinancing, or you want to avoid the hassle of comparing interest rates and switching lenders, pursue a co-signer release.
» MORE: Can you refinance student loans?
Summary of Student Loans With Fastest Co-Signer Release
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Min. Credit Score | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for Release after 12 months of payments | 4.25 - 12.59% | 1.25 - 11.35% | Does not disclose | Check Rate on Sallie Mae's website | |
Best for Release after 24 months of payments | 3.99 - 10.99% | 4.13 - 9.64% | 660 | Check Rate on CommonBond's website | |
Best for Release after 24 months of payments | 4.13 - 11.52% | 1.78 - 11.89% | Does not disclose | Check Rate on SoFi's website | |
Best for Release after 24 months of payments | 3.99 - 8.49% | 1.51 - 7.75% | 660 | Check Rate on LendKey's website | |
Best for Release after 24 months of payments | 4.99 - 11.69% | 3.01 - 8.92% | Does not disclose | Read review | |
Best for Release after 24 months of payments | 3.64 - 5.46% | N/A | 680 | Read review |
Our pick for
Release after 12 months of payments

on Sallie Mae's website
Sallie Mae Private Student Loan

Fixed APR
Variable APR
Min. Credit Score
on Sallie Mae's website
Our picks for
Release after 24 months of payments
on CommonBond's website
CommonBond Private Student Loan
Fixed APR
Variable APR
Min. Credit Score
on CommonBond's website

on SoFi's website
SoFi Private Student Loan

Fixed APR
Variable APR
Min. Credit Score
on SoFi's website
on LendKey's website
LendKey Private Student Loan
Fixed APR
Variable APR
Min. Credit Score
on LendKey's website
Navy Federal Private Student Loan

Fixed APR
Variable APR
Min. Credit Score
RISLA Private Student Loan

Fixed APR
Variable APR
Min. Credit Score
What you need for a student loan co-signer release
Almost all private student loans have a co-signer release option. Each lender has slightly different requirements; check with yours to make sure you know all the fine print. Generally, you must:
1. Make at least 12 on-time payments
Depending on the lender, you must make 12, 24, 36 or 48 on-time payments before applying for a co-signer release. Often, those payments must be consecutive and without periods of forbearance. If you made fixed or interest-only payments during school, those may not count.
2. Meet the income and credit requirements
When you take out a student loan with a co-signer, you qualify based on their credit history and financial profile. To remove the co-signer, you must meet those requirements on your own.
You'll need good credit — a FICO score in the high 600s, at least — and enough income to afford your debt payments and other expenses. Most lenders also require that you graduate first and have U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.
3. Submit a co-signer release application
Some lenders and servicers, including Sallie Mae, have co-signer release applications available online. Otherwise, contact your lender or servicer to request one.
You may need to disclose financial information including your income, housing payment and other debt payments. Your lender may also check your credit report and ask for income verification.
Co-signer release for refinanced student loans
It’s possible to apply for student loan refinancing with a co-signer.
Some student loan refinance lenders — including CommonBond, Laurel Road and PenFed — offer co-signer release. But other refinance lenders, such as SoFi and Earnest, don’t.
Last updated on December 18, 2020
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Student Loans With Fastest Co-Signer Release
- Sallie Mae Private Student Loan: Best for Release after 12 months of payments
- CommonBond Private Student Loan: Best for Release after 24 months of payments
- SoFi Private Student Loan: Best for Release after 24 months of payments
- LendKey Private Student Loan: Best for Release after 24 months of payments
- Navy Federal Private Student Loan: Best for Release after 24 months of payments
- RISLA Private Student Loan: Best for Release after 24 months of payments