MPOWER Review: Private Student Loans for International Students
MPOWER offers hard-to-find student loans for international and DACA students.
Our Take
4.5
The bottom line: MPOWER is not currently processing new loan applications. Check other international student loan lenders if you need a new loan for the fall.
Full Review

MPOWER Private Student Loan
Fixed APR
7.52 - 14.98%
Pros & Cons
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.
Forbearance of 24 months is longer than many lenders offer, and borrowers can access national disaster forbearance as well.
Cons
Payment required while in school and during the grace period.
Offers only one repayment term: 10 years.
Compare to Other Lenders
Fixed APR3.34 - 14.51% | Fixed APR4.59 - 12.99% |
Variable APR2.46 - 12.98% | Variable APR1.59 - 11.99% |
Min. Credit Score680 | Min. Credit ScoreDoes not disclose |
Full Review
MPOWER Financing offers student loans for undergraduate juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students. MPOWER is best used as an option for international students and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status.
U.S. students have access to federal student loans and can get private loans with better terms and more beneficial repayment options from other lenders. If you're a U.S. citizen in search of a lender, you can compare private student loans here.
MPOWER is one of the few lenders to offer loans to international and DACA students, who make up 90% of its borrowers. The company lends to students from 180 countries who attend college in the U.S.
Since most international borrowers do not have a U.S. credit history, MPOWER considers borrowers' earning potential as it makes underwriting decisions.
MPOWER at a glance
• Ideal for international and DACA students without a co-signer or U.S. credit history.
• Higher fixed interest rates and fees than other student loans.
• Interest-only payments required while in school and during the six-month grace period.
How MPOWER could improve
MPOWER could improve by offering additional programs such as:
• The option to fully pause payments while in school, rather than making interest payments each month.
• Eliminating its origination fee.
• Biweekly student loan payments via autopay.
MPOWER private student loan details
Before applying for a MPOWER student loan
Before taking out an MPOWER student loan or any other private student loan, exhaust your federal student loan options first. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, to apply.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s FAFSA Guide
Compare your international student loan options to make sure you’re getting the best rate you qualify for. In addition to interest rates, look at lenders’ repayment alternatives and the flexibility they offer to borrowers who struggle to make payments.
If you aren’t eligible for a MPOWER student loan
If MPOWER denies your student loan application, the lender will let you know why. Depending on the reason, you may want to consider other lenders or, if you haven’t already, try applying with a co-signer.
If you don’t have access to a co-signer — or still aren’t eligible with one — consider lenders that don’t require co-signers or specialize in bad or no credit student loans.
Student loan ratings methodology
NerdWallet believes the best student loan is one you can repay at the lowest interest rate you can get. That's why NerdWallet’s student loan ratings reward lenders that offer a variety of loan terms, limit their fees and penalties, and extend borrowers multiple options to avoid default. Points are also awarded for soft credit checks, underwriting transparency and other consumer-friendly features. Use these ratings as a guide, but we encourage you to shop around for the lowest interest rate you can qualify for. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for its reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
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Frequently asked questions
MPOWER Financing is a lender that provides student loans for undergraduate juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students. MPOWER is best used as an option for international students and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status.
MPOWER Financing is a niche private student lender aimed at providing higher education financing for international and DACA students. It officially launched in 2015 and is registered as a public benefit corporation.
MPOWER offers student loans to international students and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status.