8 Best Student Loans for Community College of August 2022

Key facts

Pros

• More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers than other lenders.

• Subsidized loans do not collect interest while in school or during deferment.

• Lower interest rates compared with private lenders.

Cons

• You pay an origination fee.

Qualifications

• No credit check or minimum income is needed to borrow.

• Loan amounts for undergraduates: $5,500 year one, $6,500 year two, $7,500 year three and thereafter, up to a total of $31,000

• Independent students and graduate students have higher loan limits.

• Undergraduate interest rate fixed at 3.73%, while grad students get higher 5.28% rate

Available Term Lengths

10 to 25 years once repayment begins, depending on the repayment plan.

Key facts

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 Lengths

5, 8, 10 or 15 years

Disclaimer

College 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. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. Variable rates may increase after consummation. 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. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. 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 08/01/2022. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.

Key facts

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.

• Additional perks like career planning, job search assistance and entrepreneurship support available.

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: $5,000 minimum.

Available Term Lengths

5, 7, 10 or 15 years

Disclaimer

UNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 3.50% to 13.35% annual percentage rate ("APR") (with autopay), variable rates from 2.59% to 12.13% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.50% to 13.35% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 2.99% to 12.13% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.23% to 13.60% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 2.39% to 12.13% APR (with autopay). For theSoFivariable-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. Interest rates for variable rate loans are capped at 13.95%, unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the repayment option you select, the term and amount of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. TheSoFi0.25% 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. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Information current as of 08/01/2022.

Key facts

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: $1,000 to $200,000 per year with an aggregate loan limit of $200,000.

Available Term Lengths

5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years

Disclaimer

Ascent Student Loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills, Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates are effective as of 08/01/2022 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Click here for details. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner.  Lowest APRs are available for the most creditworthy applicants and may require a cosigner.

Key facts

Pros

• Income-based repayment plan available, with forgiveness after 25 years.

• You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

• Partial loan forgiveness for eligible internships; interest forgiveness for qualifying nurses.

Cons

• Fewer repayment terms available than other lenders.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 768.

• Minimum income: $40,000.

• Loan amounts: $1,500 to $45,000.

Available Term Lengths

10 or 15 years

Key facts

Pros

• Forbearance of 24 months is twice as long as most lenders.

• Loans are available if you’re enrolled less than half time.

Cons

• Loans may not be available depending on where you live or go to school.

• Fewer repayment terms than other lenders offer.

• 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: Does not disclose.

• Minimum income: Does not disclose.

• Loan amounts: Minimum $1,000. Maximum depends on creditworthiness and debt-to-income ratio.

Available Term Lengths

10 years

Key facts

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 and during the grace period.

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 Lengths

5, 10 or 15 years.

Key facts

Pros

• Among the best for payment flexibility.

• No late fees.

Cons

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

Qualifications

• Minimum income: Did not disclose.

• Loan amounts: $1,000 minimum. Borrow up to 100% of school-certified cost of attendance — including tuition, housing, book and more — minus financial aid. Aggregate loan limits apply.

Available Term Lengths

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Disclaimer

The fixed interest rate is set at the time of application and does not change during the life of the loan unless you are no longer eligible for one or more discounts. The variable interest rate and corresponding APR may increase over the life of the loan. The variable interest rate is calculated based on the 3-Month CME Term SOFR index plus the applicable margin percentage less any applicable discounts. The 3-Month CME Term SOFR index value for variable interest rate loans is 2.00% as of July 1st, 2022. 3-Month CME Term SOFR is administered by CME Group and is published by CME Group on its website (cmegroup.com/termsofr). Discover Student Loans may adjust the variable interest rate quarterly on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 (each an “interest rate change date”), based on the 3-Month CME Term SOFR rate available for the day that is 15 days prior to the interest rate change date, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent (0.125% or 0.00125), or 0%, whichever is greater. This may cause the monthly payments to increase, the number of payments to increase or both. If the 3-Month CME Term SOFR rate is less than zero percent, then the index will be deemed to be zero percent (as stated in the promissory note) for purposes of calculating your interest rate. Your variable interest rate (index + margin – applicable discounts) will not exceed 18%. Our lowest APRs are only available to applicants with the best credit. The APR will be determined after an application is submitted. It will be based on credit history, the selected repayment option and other factors, including a cosigner’s credit history (if applicable). If a student does not have an established credit history, the student may find it difficult to qualify for a private student loan on their own or receive the lowest advertised rate. Learn more about Discover Student Loan rates at DiscoverStudentLoans.com.