Navy Federal Credit Union Student Loans: 2026 Review
Navy Federal Credit Union offers its members a 6-month grace period for repayment.
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Student loan ratings
Navy Federal Credit Union requires members to be connected to the military. Its private loans are an option for members of Navy Federal Credit Union who can make small payments while in school.
Navy Federal Credit Union Undergraduate Loan review
Pros
- 0.25-percentage-point rate reduction when you sign up for automatic payments.
- Considers non-traditional criteria such as subscription payments, rent payments and existing relationship with Navy Federal.
- Does not require a particular GPA to qualify.
Cons
- Only available to those who have served in the military or are related to someone who has.
- Only two repayment terms: 5 and 10 years.
- Payment required while in school.
- International and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are not eligible.
An option for members of Navy Federal Credit Union who can make small payments while in school.
Full Navy Federal review
Navy Federal Credit Union's undergraduate private student loans are available only to members of the credit union, and in order to become a member you have to have served in the military or be related to someone who has. For Navy Federal’s purposes “related” includes parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, children, grandchildren and household members. Individuals who work at the Department of Defense also are eligible for loans.
Navy Federal requires borrowers to make payments while in school. These can be as little as $25 a month, but still this may not be ideal for some students. The credit union does offer a 0.25-percentage-point rate reduction when you sign up for automatic payments, but so do several other loan providers.
Navy Federal allows co-signers but does not require them. According to the credit union, a co-signer may increase your chance of receiving a loan and potentially help you get a lower interest rate. You can request a co-signer release after 24 consecutive, on-time principal and interest payments.
More about Navy Federal
Loan and borrower requirements
Loan terms: 5 and 10 years.
Loan amounts: $1,000 - $250,000.
Minimum credit score: Does not disclose.
Minimum income: Does not disclose.
Maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Does not disclose.
Time requirement after filing for bankruptcy: Does not disclose.
Co-signer: Co-signers are allowed but not required.
Payment and repayment
Allows greater-than-minimum payments via autopay: Yes.
Allows bi-weekly payments via autopay: No.
Grace period following graduation: 6 months.
In-school repayment options: Variety of repayment options, including a monthly payment of $25 and interest-only payments.
Post-school repayment options:
Interest-only payments.
Customer experience
Customer service: Has both in-house and outside customer service representatives, but borrowers aren’t assigned a dedicated advisor. Customer service can be reached by phone, mail, in-person visits and live chat (live chat hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time).
Time for application approval: Applicants will typically know if they have been approved in five minutes or less.
Loan servicer: Navy Federal.
Lender | Fixed APR | Min. credit score | Variable APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Check Rate on Sallie Mae's website | 1.95-17.49% | Mid-600s | 3.62-16.83% | Check Rate on Sallie Mae's website |
 Check Rate on College Ave's website | 1.94-17.99% | Mid-600s | 3.89-17.99% | Check Rate on College Ave's website |
 Check Rate on SoFi®'s website | 2.45-15.99% | Does not disclose | 4.39-15.99% | Check Rate on SoFi®'s website |
 Check Rate on Earnest's website | 1.99-16.24% | 650 | 4.74-16.60% | Check Rate on Earnest's website |
Navy Federal Credit Union Student Loan Refinance review
Pros
- Borrowers may be able to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Offers a 0.25-percentage-point rate discount with automatic payments.
- Greater-than-minimum payments allowed via autopay.
Cons
- Only available to those who have served in the military or are related to someone who has.
- Only three repayment terms: 5, 10 and 15 years.
- International and DACA students are not eligible for refinancing.
An option for members of Navy Federal Credit Union, especially those who have an associate degree.
Before applying for a Navy Federal student loan
Before taking out a Navy Federal 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 private 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 Navy Federal student loan
If Navy Federal 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.
FAQs
Does Navy Federal give student loans?
Navy Federal Credit Union offers private student loans for associate’s, bachelor's and graduate degree programs. It also offers refinancing for students and parents.
How do I apply for a student loan from Navy Federal?
You can apply online at Navy Federal Credit Union's website or in person at one of its branches. To be eligible you'll need to be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union.
Do I have to be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to get a student loan?
All student loan borrowers with Navy Federal Credit Union must be members. You're eligible if you or a family member served as part of the armed forces or are Department of Defense personnel.
Navy Federal Credit Union Graduate Loan review
Pros
- 0.25-percentage-point rate reduction when you sign up for automatic payments.
- Considers non-traditional criteria such as subscription payments, rent payments and existing relationship with Navy Federal.
- Does not require a particular GPA to qualify.
Cons
- Only available to those who have served in the military or are related to someone who has.
- Only two repayment terms: 5 and 10 years.
- Payment required while in school.
- International and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are not eligible.
- Navy Federal offers loans for most master’s, doctoral and professional degrees — but they have to be from Title IV, degree-granting institutions.
An option for members of Navy Federal Credit Union who can make small payments while in school.