3 Best Student Loans Without a Co-Signer in 2025

What is a co-signer?

A co-signer on a private student loan is someone who shares the legal financial responsibility to repay borrowed funds. Some undergraduate students may not yet have enough credit history to qualify for a loan in their own name. Using a co-signer, such as a parent or relative, can help you get a loan with a lower interest rate.

But if you have a solid credit history, with a credit score in the mid to high 600s, or the lender considers factors beyond your credit, you may be eligible for private student loans without a co-signer.

» MORE: Options to consider before co-signing a loan

How to get a student loan without a co-signer

Utilize federal aid first before exploring private student loans without a co-signer. Federal financial aid includes money you don't have to pay back — like funding from grants, scholarships and work-study programs.

If you’ve exhausted your federal aid and need to turn to a private loan, a few lenders do offer funding to students without co-signers. Be prepared for private lenders to assess you on future earning potential and academic outcomes, in addition to verifying a credit score in the mid to high 600s.

Apply for federal student loans; no co-signer needed

1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing the FAFSA gets you access to grants and federal student loans that don’t require a co-signer or credit check and often come with lower interest rates. Federal loans also have more repayment options, like income-driven repayment plans and forgiveness programs if you struggle to afford payments down the road. 

2. Review your FAFSA Submission Summary. After completing the FAFSA, you’ll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary, which outlines the federal loans you’re eligible for, such as direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

3. Determine how much money to borrow. You may be eligible to take out multiple federal loans, but there are limits on how much you can borrow based on your loan type, year in school and whether you are a dependent or independent student.

4. Supplement with private loans. If you have financial gaps to fill after federal aid, private student loans are an option.

Apply for private student loans without a co-signer

Private student loans are provided by non-governmental entities such as banks, credit unions and state-based agencies. While some private lenders offer benefits, they aren’t typically as generous as federal student loan terms.

1. Build credit before you apply for a private student loan. If you have credit, do what you can to strengthen your score before applying for a loan. Fix errors on your credit report, pay down any debt and use as little of your credit limit as possible.

2. Compare requirements and loan features. When shopping for a private loan without a co-signer, review lenders’ qualification requirements and compare offers to get the lowest interest rate you qualify for. Find out if there are origination, prepayment or late fees, and how easily you can reach the lender by phone, email or live chat if you encounter a billing or customer service issue. Note whether the lender will postpone payments in case you have difficulty affording them.

3. Opt for a fixed interest rate. Given the choice, a fixed interest rate is a safer bet than a variable interest rate. Fixed rates don't increase over time.

4. Keep an eye on the bottom line. Use a student loan calculator to see what kind of payment you’ll have once repayment begins.

5. Consider refinancing in the future. Once you’ve graduated and had time to build your credit profile, you may be able to refinance private student loans to an even lower interest rate. But again, you'll generally need a solid income, a credit score in the mid to high 600s and a history of on-time debt payments.

STUDENT LOAN RATINGS METHODOLOGY

Our survey of more than 19 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.