Best Private Student Loans

College Ave Private Student Loan

Fixed APR

3.59-17.99%

Variable APR

5.59-17.99%

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

on College Ave's website

4.5/5

Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan

Fixed APR

3.59-15.49%

Variable APR

5.54-15.70%

Min. credit score

Mid-600's

on Sallie Mae's website

on Credible’s website

Best Private Student Loans

Lender	NerdWallet Rating	Min. credit score	Fixed APR	Variable APR	Learn more
Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan GO TO LENDER SITE on Sallie Mae's website on Sallie Mae's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website	4.5 /5 Best for Private student loan	Mid-600's	3.59-15.49%	5.54-15.70%	GO TO LENDER SITE on Sallie Mae's website on Sallie Mae's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website
College Ave Private Student Loan GO TO LENDER SITE on College Ave's website on College Ave's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website	2024 Best Private Student Loan Overall 5.0 /5 Best for Private student loan + Part-time students	Mid-600s	3.59-17.99%	5.59-17.99%	GO TO LENDER SITE on College Ave's website on College Ave's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website
Ascent Credit-based Student Loan COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website	5.0 /5 Best for Private student loan	Low-Mid 600s	3.59-14.16%	6.00-15.21%	COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website
SoFi Undergraduate Student Loan Read review	5.0 /5 Best for Private student loan	Mid-600s	3.99-14.83%	5.99-15.86%	Read review
Custom Choice Loan COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website	5.0 /5 Best for Private student loan	600	4.24-14.02%	5.36-14.84%	COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website

Our pick for

Private student loan

on Sallie Mae's website

on Credible’s website

Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

Mid-600's

Fixed APR

3.59-15.49%

Variable APR

5.54-15.70%

Key factsBest for part-time students and those who want to make payments during school.

Pros

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.

Cons

You can't see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Qualifications

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.

Available Term Lengths10 to 15 years

DisclaimerLowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 9/24/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.

on College Ave's website

on Credible’s website

College Ave Private Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

Fixed APR

3.59-17.99%

Variable APR

5.59-17.99%

Key facts

College Ave Student Loans is an online lender that offers student loans for undergraduates, graduate students and parents, plus student loan refinancing.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
More flexible repayment options than other lenders.
Six-month grace period extension is available.

Cons

You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 8, 10 or 15 years

DisclaimerCollege Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 10/08/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.

on Credible’s website

Ascent Credit-based Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Low-Mid 600s

Fixed APR

3.59-14.16%

Variable APR

6.00-15.21%

Key facts

Online lender Ascent offers two private student loan products, one for borrowers who have a co-signer and one for independent students who don't have a co-signer or established credit.

Pros

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.

Cons

Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible.
Co-signer release not available to international students.

Qualifications

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.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years

DisclaimerAscent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent's Terms and Conditions please visit: AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates displayed above are effective as of 10/1/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans and 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions. The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. The AscentUP platform is only available to eligible Ascent borrowers and subject to terms and conditions.

SoFi Undergraduate Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

Fixed APR

3.99-14.83%

Variable APR

5.99-15.86%

Key factsBest for flexible repayment options and no fees.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
Multiple in-school repayment options available, including interest-only and flat-fee, and deferred for undergrad and grad students.

Cons

Does not offer bi-weekly payments via autopay.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 700+.
Minimum income: No minimum.
Loan amounts: $1,000 minimum.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10 or 15 years

Disclaimer* Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 3.99% APR to 14.83% APR with 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 5.99% APR to 15.86% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates are capped at 17.95%. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 9/3/24 and are subject to change at any time. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term and type of repayment option you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer (if applicable) and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Check out our eligibility criteria at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/. For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). UNDERGRAD LOANS: This repayment example is based on typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Partial Payment option with a 10- year repayment term, a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in a single disbursement, a 0.25% autopay discount, and a fixed rate between 8.51% – 13.23% Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”) (with autopay). It also assumes the borrower remains in school for 4 years and has a 6-month grace period (together, the deferment period) before the loan term begins. It works out to 54 monthly payments of $25 during the deferment period, followed by 120 monthly payments ranging from $161.26 – $244.80 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments ranging from $20,700.69 – $30,726.15. This repayment example assumes that the borrower is signed up for autopay and that all payments are made on time, with no pre-payments. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. This benefit is suspended during periods of non-payment through ACH, deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co- signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 8/5/24 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

on Credible’s website

Custom Choice Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

600

Fixed APR

4.24-14.02%

Variable APR

5.36-14.84%

Key factsCustom Choice student loans are best for upperclassmen who are confident they can take advantage of the 2% Grad Reward and returning borrowers who want to take advantage of a pre-filled application and income verification waiver.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
No late fees.
Principal reduction of 2% if you graduate.
Stands out for features that enable faster loan repayment.

Cons

Doesn't apply extra payments to the principal balance by default.
Co-signer release of 36 months is longer than what many lenders offer.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 700 for a non-cosigned loan and 733 for co-signed loans.
Minimum income: No minimum, but borrowers must demonstrate positive income.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to $99,999.

Available Term Lengths7, 10 or 15 years

DisclaimerBefore applying for a private student loan, Citizens and Monogram recommend exhausting all financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans. The Custom Choice Loan® is made by Citizens (“Lender”). All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to Lender’s underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. LENDER AND MONOGRAM LLC EACH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates) depend upon (1) the student’s and cosigner’s (if applicable) credit histories, (2) the repayment option and repayment term selected, (3) the expected number of years in deferment, (4) the requested loan amount and (5) other information provided on the online loan application. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate applicable to your loan. Rates and terms are effective as of 10/1/2024 The variable interest rate for each calendar month is calculated by adding the 30-Day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, or a replacement index if the SOFR index is no longer available, plus a fixed margin assigned to each loan. The SOFR index is published on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . The current SOFR index is 5.25% as of 10/1/2024. The variable interest rate will increase or decrease if the SOFR index changes or if a new index is chosen. The applicable index or margin for variable rate loans may change over time and result in a different APR than shown. The fixed rate assigned to a loan will never change except as required by law or if you request and qualify for the auto pay discount. APRs assume a $10,000 loan with one disbursement. The high fixed rate APR assumes a 7-year term with the Flat Payment Repayment option, a 1 month deferment period, and a six month grace period before entering repayment. The high variable rate APR assumes a 7-year term with the Fully Deferred Repayment option, a deferment period greater than 30 months, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment. The low APRs assume a 7-year term, and the Immediate Repayment option with payments beginning 30-60 days after the disbursement via auto pay. Auto pay yields a 0.25% interest rate reduction which is applied after the Servicer validates your bank account information. Automatic payments and the associated discount will be temporarily discontinued (1) if you elect to stop automatic deduction of payments and (2) during periods when you are not required to make payments. The discount will be permanently discontinued in the event three automatic deductions are returned by the financial institution for any reason. The auto pay discount is not available when reduced payments are being made or when the loan is in a deferment. Custom Choice Loan® is a registered trademark of Monogram LLC. Monogram LLC (NMLS #2542102) NMLS Consumer Access

on Credible’s website

ELFI Private Student Loan

4.0

Min. credit score

680

Fixed APR

3.69-14.22%

Variable APR

5.00-14.22%

Key factsBest for borrowers with a significant funding gap.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
You are assigned a student loan advisor.

Cons

No co-signer release available.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
Minimum income: $35,000.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10 or 15 years.

Check rate

on Earnest's website

Earnest Undergraduate Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

650

Fixed APR

3.69-16.49%

Variable APR

5.62-16.85%

Key factsAn option for undergraduate borrowers who want flexible repayment.

Pros

Option to skip one payment every 12 months.
No late fees.
Nine-month grace period is longer than most lenders offer.

Cons

Loans aren't available in Nevada.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 758.
Minimum income: $35,000.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years

DisclaimerActual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 3.94% APR to 16.74% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.87% APR to 17.10% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.

Funding U Private Student Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

None

Fixed APR

7.95-12.49%

Variable APR

N/A

Key factsBest for high-achieving independent students enrolled in four-year programs who have small funding gaps.

Pros

You don't need a co-signer or credit to get a loan.
You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Cons

Loans aren't available in 12 states.
Payment required while in school.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 650.
Minimum income: No minimum, but borrowers must demonstrate they can pay $20 per month toward their loan.
Loan amounts: $3,001 up to $10,000.

Available Term Lengths10 years

LendKey Private Student Loan

4.0

Min. credit score

660

Fixed APR

3.99-12.61%

Variable APR

5.98-13.74%

Key factsBest for students who value working with a community bank or credit union.

Pros

Forbearance of 18 months is longer than many lenders offer.

Cons

You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
Payment required while in school.

Qualifications

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.

Available Term Lengths5, 10 or 15 years.

Our pick for

International students

Ascent requires a co-signer; MPOWER does not.

MPOWER Private Student Loan

4.0

Min. credit score

None

Fixed APR

12.99-15.99%

Variable APR

N/A

Key factsBest for international students and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status.

Pros

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.

Cons

Payment required while in school.
Offers only one repayment term: 10 years.

Qualifications

MPOWER considers future income potential but does not factor in credit scores.
Loan amounts: Minimum $2,001. Maximum loan is $100,000, limited to $50,000 per academic period.

Available Term Lengths10 years

DisclaimerNote: Our loan does not support Canadian citizens studying in Canada. Canadian Permanent Residents and U.S. citizens are considered “international” when studying in Canada. International students, U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and DACA recipients in the U.S. or Canada. ‘International’ means you are a non-U.S. citizen or U.S. non-permanent resident studying at a university in the U.S., or you are a non-Canadian citizen or Canadian non-permanent resident studying at a university in Canada. ‘DACA’ means the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals Program initiated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2012. In order to qualify as a DACA Student, you must have applied for, and been granted, DACA status by USCIS. As a graduate student, you can borrow with a fixed interest rate of 12.99% (13.98% APR¹). This is the maximum rate and will not increase. However, MPOWER offers borrowers a way to qualify for a discount; a 0.25% rate discount is possible by making your loan payments through automatic withdrawal from your bank account. If you qualify for this discount, your rate will be 12.74% (13.72% APR²). ¹[International graduate student with regular interest rate] The APR is calculated using the following assumptions: A loan is approved in the amount of US$10,000 with a 5% origination fee of US$500. The student will start making payments 45 days after loan disbursement. Payments will be interest only until graduation, plus an additional 6-month grace period. The remaining months of repayment are calculated using a 120-month amortization schedule. All payments are made on-time, a forbearance is never utilized, and there is no pre-payment of any principal. At an APR of 13.98%, the monthly payment amount is US$113.66 for the first 30 months. For the next 120 months, the monthly payment amount is about $156.71. ²[International graduate student with discounted interest rate] The APRs with discounts are calculated using the following assumptions: A loan is approved in the amount of $10,000 with a 5% origination fee of US$500. The student will start making payments 45 days after loan disbursement. The borrower signs up for automatic debit immediately after the loan is disbursed and remains on it for the life of the loan, which reduces the rate by 0.25%. At an APR of 13.72%, the monthly payment is US$111.47 for the first 30 months. For the last 120 payments, the monthly amount is US$155.17. Undergraduate Students in the U.S. or Canada As an undergraduate student, you can borrow with a fixed interest rate of 13.99% (15.01% APR³). This is the maximum rate and will never increase. However, MPOWER offers borrowers a way to qualify for a discount; a 0.25% rate discount is possible by making your loan payments through automatic withdrawal from your bank account. If you qualify for this discount, your rate will be 13.74% (14.75% APR⁴). ³[International undergraduate student with regular interest rate] The APR is calculated using the following assumptions: A loan is approved in the amount of $10,000 with a 5% origination fee of $500. The student will start making payments 45 days after loan disbursement. Payments will be interest only until graduation plus an additional 6-month grace period. The remaining months of repayment are calculated using a 120-month amortization schedule. All payments are made on-time, a forbearance is never utilized, and there is no pre-payment of any principal. At an APR of 15.01%, the monthly payment amount is $122.41 for the first 30 months. For the next 120 months, the monthly payment amount is $162.97. ⁴[International undergraduate student with discounted interest rate] The APRs with discounts are calculated using the following assumptions: A loan is approved in the amount of US$10,000 with a 5% origination fee of US$500. The student will start making payments 45 days after loan disbursement. The borrower signs up for automatic debit immediately after the loan is disbursed and remains on it for the life of the loan, which reduces the rate by 0.25%. A forbearance is never utilized and there is no prepayment of any principal. At an APR of 14.75%, the monthly payment is US$120.22 for the first 30 payments. For the last 120 payments, the monthly amount is US$161.39.

Our pick for

Graduate school

on College Ave's website

on Credible’s website

College Ave Graduate Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

Fixed APR

3.59-14.49%

Variable APR

5.59-14.49%

Key factsBest for graduate students who'll need extra time before starting repayment.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
International students can qualify with a co-signer.
Nine-month grace period is longer than other lenders offer.

Cons

You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to the total cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 8, 10 or 15 years

Our pick for

No co-signer

Check rate

on Ascent's website

Ascent Non-Cosigned Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Low-Mid 600s

Fixed APR

12.63-14.59%

Variable APR

13.47-15.41%

Key factsBest for independent students with strong credit or upperclassmen with good grades.

Pros

Among the best for payment flexibility.
Grace period of 9 months is longer than most lenders.

Cons

International students are not eligible.
Freshmen, sophomores and those enrolled less than half-time are not eligible for the Outcomes-based loan.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
Minimum income: $24,000 per year for credit-based loan. No minimum for future-income based loan.
Loan amounts: $2,001 to $200,000 per year with an aggregate loan limit of $200,000 for credit-based loan. $2,001 to $20,000 per year for future-income based loan.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years

Our pick for

Parent loan

ISL Private Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

660

Fixed APR

3.95-8.01%

Variable APR

6.54-11.08%

Key factsBest for low-interest loans with consumer-friendly features, like a generous forbearance policy.

Pros

Forbearance of 24 months is longer than many lenders offer.
No late fees.

Cons

Only offers 2 loan terms.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 670.
Minimum income: No minimum income.
Loan amounts: $1,001 or $2,001, based on residency and school location, up to cost of attendance minus other aid received.

Available Term Lengths10 or 15

Our pick for

Part-time students

on College Ave's website

on Credible’s website

College Ave Private Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

Fixed APR

3.59-17.99%

Variable APR

5.59-17.99%

Key factsBest for students who want to make payments while they're still in school.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
More flexible repayment options than other lenders.
Six-month grace period extension is available.

Cons

You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 8, 10 or 15 years

Our pick for

Income-based private loan

Income-based private student loans give you money to finish school in return for part of your pay later.

Edly Non-Cosigner Student Loan

4.0

Min. credit score

Varies

Fixed APR

N/A

Variable APR

9.40-23.00%

Key factsBest for seniors and graduate students with small funding gaps and no co-signer or credit history.

Pros

No credit history required.
Available to students without a co-signer.

Cons

Borrowers have to repay 2.25X the borrowed amount if they want to pay off the loan early.
Low income forbearance is not automatic and interest accrues.
Not available to borrowers in Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, Vermont and West Virginia.

Available Term Lengths5 years of payments and up to 10 years with deferment periods.