9 International Student Loans for 2023
Private student loans will be the best option for international students since most cannot qualify for federal student loans.
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International students going to school in America have fewer U.S. student loan options than most borrowers. Unless you’re an eligible noncitizen who can qualify for federal student loans, you may need to borrow from a private lender.
Some banks, credit unions and online lenders offer private student loans for international students, but they often require you to have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Your co-signer will need good credit for approval and to get the most favorable rates.
You may be able to find a private lender that doesn't require a co-signer, but you'll pay higher interest rates as a result.
You'll find both types of lenders below, as well as guidance as to who qualifies as an eligible noncitizen.
International Student Loans
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.0 /5 | None | 13.74-15.01% | N/A | Check rateon MPOWER's website on MPOWER's website | |
4.5 /5 | N/A | N/A | 11.06-14.96% | ||
4.5 /5 | Mid-600's | 4.50-15.49% | 6.37-16.70% | Check rateon Sallie Mae's website on Sallie Mae's website | |
5.0 /5 | Low-Mid 600s | 4.53-15.36% | 6.16-15.59% | Check rateon Ascent's website on Ascent's website | |
4.5 /5 | 650 | 4.42-15.90% | 5.62-16.20% | Check rateon Earnest's website on Earnest's website |
Our pick for
International student loans without co-signer
None
13.74-15.01%
N/A
Best for international students and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status.
- Offers a hard-to-find option: non-co-signed student loans for international and DACA students.
- Borrowers are assigned a dedicated student loan advisor.
- Borrowers can request forbearance of up to 24 months, which is longer than many lenders offer.
- Payment required while in school and during the grace period.
- Offers only one repayment term: 10 years.
- MPOWER considers future income potential but does not factor in credit scores.
- Loan amounts: Minimum $2,001. Maximum loan is $100,000, limited to $25,000 per academic period.
N/A
N/A
11.06-14.96%
- Offers a hard-to-find option: non-co-signed student loans for international students.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- No fixed interest rates.
- Prodigy Finance considers future income, rather than current income or credit score.
- Loan amounts: $15,000 to $220,000.
Our pick for
International student loans with co-signer
Mid-600's
4.50-15.49%
6.37-16.70%
Requirements: Non-U.S. citizens must have a creditworthy co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- One of the few lenders to provide loans to part-time students.
- Non-U.S. citizens, including DACA students, who live in the U.S. and attend school in the U.S. can apply with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You can't see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Does not disclose.
- Minimum income: Did not disclose.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified expenses.
Low-Mid 600s
4.53-15.36%
6.16-15.59%
Requirements: All borrowers, including international students, must have a qualified co-signer.
- Among the best for payment flexibility.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Stands out for features that enable faster loan repayment.
- Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible.
- Co-signer release not available to international students.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
- Minimum income: $0 for primary borrower. $24,000 for current and previous year for co-signer.
- Loan amounts: $2,001 to $200,000 per year with an aggregate loan limit of $200,000.
650
4.42-15.90%
5.62-16.20%
- Option to skip one payment every 12 months.
- No late fees.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than most lenders offer.
- Loans aren't available in Nevada.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 758.
- Minimum income: $35,000.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.
Varies
5.24-15.99%
6.62-17.49%
Requirements: International students are eligible if they apply with a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- International and DACA students can qualify with a qualified U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer.
- No late fees.
- You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Minimum income: Did not disclose.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 minimum. Borrow up to 100% of school-certified cost of attendance — including tuition, housing, books and more — minus financial aid. Aggregate loan limits apply.
660
4.39-11.11%
5.84-11.11%
Requirements: Borrowers must have a qualifying co-signer.
- Forbearance of 18 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Payment required while in school and during the grace period.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 748.
- Minimum income: $24,000 per year.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to cost of attendance, minus other aid received.
680
2.77-6.96%
5.00-9.44%
- May offer lower rates for graduate students than what are available through the federal government.
- Applies extra payments to the loan principal by default.
- Offers five loan terms, which is more than most lenders.
- Not available to borrowers enrolled in two year programs at community colleges.
- Biweekly payments via autopay is not available.
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
Who is an eligible noncitizen?
U.S. nationals, including natives of American Samoa or Swains Island.
U.S. permanent residents; that is, you have a "green card.”
Those who have an Arrival-Departure Record from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services showing the following statuses: refugee; asylum granted; Cuban-Haitian Entrant; Conditional Entrant issued before April 1, 1980; or parolee.
Those who hold a T-nonimmigrant status, or those whose parents do.
Those who are “battered immigrant-qualified aliens,” or children of someone designated as such.
STUDENT LOAN RATINGS METHODOLOGY
Our survey of more than 29 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing includes the top 10 lenders by market share and top 10 lenders by online search volume, as well as lenders that serve specialty or nontraditional markets.
We consider 40 features and data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these include the availability of biweekly payments through autopay, minimum credit score and income requirement disclosures, availability to borrowers in all states, extended grace periods and in-house customer service.
The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.
Read more about our ratings methodologies for student loans and our editorial guidelines.
Last updated on September 12, 2023
NerdWallet's International Student Loans for 2023
- MPOWER Private Student Loan: Best for International student loans without co-signer
- Prodigy Private Student Loan: Best for International student loans without co-signer
- Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer
- Ascent Credit-based Student Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer
- Earnest Undergraduate Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer
- Discover Undergraduate Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer
- LendKey Private Student Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer
- Brazos Private Student Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer
- EDvestinU Private Student Loan: Best for International student loans with co-signer