If you've already used your savings, federal student loans, and student aid to pay for college and still find that you're short on cash, a private student loan could be a good option.
Best for Easy Application: SoFi Undergraduate Student Loans
SoFi® private student loans are best for graduate students. SoFi is one of the few lenders offering lower interest rates for graduate school loans than undergraduate loans.
While SoFi's interest rates are competitive with others on the list, what makes SoFi unique are its other features. Additionally, SoFi's student loans have no late fees (though it's worth noting that interest will still accrue).
Watch out for: High maximum loan amount. SoFi's minimum loan amount is $1,000 — if you need a small student loan, it might be worth turning to a lender that makes smaller loans.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 4.64% - 15.99% variable and 3.54% - 15.99% fixed (with AutoPay discount)
Fees: N/A
Loan Amount Range: Minimum of $1,000
Best for Low Interest Rates: College Ave Undergraduate Student Loans
College Ave ties as one of the lowest starting interest rates on private student loans since undergraduate fixed-rate loans start with an interest rate of 3.47%. Interest rates for grad school students are also competitive with SoFi's lower interest rates for this group.
It's a good choice for both graduate and undergraduate students, and it offers four options for repayment. College Ave allows cosigners for loans and offers parent loans in addition to undergraduate and graduate loans, starting at the same interest rate as the undergraduate interest rate.
What to watch out for: Late payment penalty. You'll fork over a late payment of 5% of the amount due, capped at $25 if you fall behind on your payments.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 4.54% - 17.99% variable and 3.47% - 17.99% fixed (with AutoPay discount)
Fees: late payment of 5% of the amount due, capped at $25
Loan Amount Range: Minimum of $1,000
College Ave Student Loans Review
Best for No Fees: Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loans
Sallie Mae doesn't charge any origination and prepayment fees, and you also get four months of the study service Chegg for free. Chegg offers expert Q&A, and students can submit up to 20 questions per month.
What to watch out for: Sallie Mae sets your repayment term length, so if you want to choose your term length another lender is a better option.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 4.54% - 14.71% variable and 3.49% - 15.49% fixed with auto debit discount
Fees: late payment of 5% of the amount due, capped at $25
Loan Amount Range: Starts at $1,000
Sallie Mae Student Loans Review
Best for Cosigner Release: Ascent Undergraduate Student Loans
Ascent private student loans are a flexible option for almost any student loan borrowers. Interest rates are competitive, and terms range from five to 15 years.
Cosigners are allowed and encouraged. A relatively unique feature is Ascent's cosigner release. Make 12 consecutive on-time payments, and Ascent can release a cosigner from your student loan. If your parents are helping you get a loan by signing on as cosigners but don't want to maintain this responsibility in the long term, you'll need a loan that allows cosigner release.
What to watch out for: Ascent limits borrowers' total loans to $400,000, including any other federal or private student loans outside of Ascent.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 5.09% - 14.73% variable and 3.39% - 15.19% fixed (with AutoPay discount, varies by plan)
Fees: None
Loan Amount Range: $2,001 - $200,000 ($200,000 aggregate total)
Best for Flexible Repayment: Earnest Undergraduate Student Loans
Earnest's private student loans offer low starting interest rates and very flexible repayment terms. Earnest has four options for repayment, including a nine-month deferral after school. Earnest doesn't charge any fees, including prepayment or origination fees on private student loans, which makes it a strong option.
Earnest also advertises the ability to skip a payment once per year. But that doesn't mean that you're off the hook for that payment since interest will still add up, and your payoff will be delayed. Your payments could be higher if you take full advantage of these features, and they could increase your total payoff time and loan amount.
But if used the right way, Earnest's private student loans could still beat the competition with such low starting interest rates.
What to watch out for: Some of Earnest's flexible features aren't the right fit for everyone. The ability to delay loans for nine months may not be as great as it sounds, since interest still accrues during this period, growing your loan's balance.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 4.99% - 16.85% variable and 3.47% - 16.49% fixed (with AutoPay discount)
Fees: $0
Loan Amount Range: $1,000 - 100% of education cost
Best for Rate Discounts: Custom Choice Undergraduate Student Loans
Custom Choice offers loans of up to $99,999 annually that come without fees, and you can check your rates within a few minutes.
Custom Choice also offers a 2% reduction on your loan principal after you provide the lender with proof of graduation, as well as a .25% interest rate reduction when you sign up for AutoPay.
What to watch out for: No mobile app. If you want to manage your loans on the go, you won't be able to with Custom Choice.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 4.45% - 14.08% variable and 4.24% - 14.02% fixed
Fees: N/A
Loan Amount Range: $1,000 - $99,999
Custom Choice Student Loans Review
Best for International Students: MPower Financing Undergraduate Student Loan
MPower Financing offers fixed loans designed for international students. You can get a loan without a cosigner, collateral, or US credit history. Most other lenders that offer loans to international students require a US citizen or permanent resident to cosign on the loan.
What to watch out for: High interest rates. While the lender's starting interest rates are higher than many of the other lenders on this list, we included it because of its accessibility for international students.
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 13.74% to 14.75% fixed (with AutoPay discount)
Fees: 5% origination fee and undisclosed late fee
Loan Amount Range: $2,001 — $100,000 lifetime
MPower Financing Student Loans Review
Understanding Private Student Loans
What are private student loans?
Private student loans are educational loans offered by private companies. Any student loan that isn't offered through the federal government is considered a private student loan.
How are private student loans different from federal loans?
Unlike federal student loans, which are issued by the government, private student loans are issued by private lending companies and don't offer as many opportunities for loan forgiveness.
Take the federal student loan forbearance offered by the government during the coronavirus pandemic. While private lenders may have offered their own help for people experiencing hardships, private student loan borrowers didn't get that widespread benefit or keep interest rates at 0%.
While federal student loans have fixed interest rates, private loans can have fixed or variable rates, and they're typically higher than federal rates. Private student loans generally offer fewer options for repayment.
If you need student loans to afford college, you should start by exploring your federal loan options by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Since federal loans usually have more favorable terms, prioritize these before private student loans.
Which Private Student Loan Lender Is the Most Trustworthy?
We've only selected private student loan lenders with no public controversies in the last three years. We've also compared each institution's Better Business Bureau score.
The BBB, a non-profit organization focused on consumer protection and trust, evaluates companies by judging a business's responses to consumer complaints, honesty in advertising, and clarity about business practices. Here is each company's score:
| Lender | BBB grade |
| SoFi Student Loans | A+ |
| Ascent Student Loans | B |
| Earnest Student Loans | A+ |
| College Ave Student Loans | A+ |
| Sallie Mae Student Loans | A+ |
| Custom Choice Student Loans | N/A |
| MPower Financing Student Loans | A+ |
Of our top picks, only Ascent and Custom Choice are not currently A or higher by the BBB. Custom Choice isn't rated by the BBB at all, and Ascent has a B rating due to 19 complaints filed against the business.
Customer experience can vary widely, so this doesn't necessarily reflect Ascent or Custom Choice's trustworthiness overall. You should ask others about their experiences with the businesses before deciding against borrowing from the companies.
How to Choose the Best Private Student Loan
Key Factors to Consider
When shopping for a private student loan, the main factors you'll be comparing across lenders are:
- Interest rates — Unlike federal student loans, which have fixed interest rates set by the federal government, private student loans come with fixed rates that are generally higher or variable rates that can change. You'll want to find the lowest interest rate possible and consider the risk of choosing a variable rate that could go up in the future.
- Fees — Some private student loan lenders tack on extra charges like origination fees when you open a loan or late payment penalties. Look for a lender with as few fees as possible.
- Term lengths — Make sure you choose a lender with repayment term lengths that work for you. Some lenders will choose the term length for you, while others offer a variety of options. Student loans can affect your credit score, potentially lowering it significantly, if you are late or skip payments, so you'll want to pick a repayment term that works with your monthly budget.
- Repayment options — Look for a private student loan lender that has a variety of repayment options. For example, the best private student loan lenders offer the ability to defer payments until after you graduate.
Comparing Interest Rates and Terms
Remember that the best private student loan for you will depend on your credit score, with higher credit scores generally qualifying for lower interest rates.
Pay close attention to term lengths, too, since shorter term lengths will entail larger monthly payments. This is a great way to save on interest, but you'll need to evaluate your budget to see whether you can afford it.
Make sure to compare offers with several lenders before making a final decision.
Applying for a Private Student Loan
Unlike federal student loans, which require filling out the FAFSA, you can apply for private student loans directly through a given lender. But you'll need to make sure you're eligible to apply first.
Eligibility Requirements
Generally, to get a private student loan, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident with an eligible co-signer, or have DACA status
- Be enrolled at least half-time in a school that is part of the lender's network
- Meet certain income requirements
- Pass a credit check or apply with a co-signer who can
Required Documents
To apply for a private student loan, you'll typically need to provide the following:
- Your Social Security card
- Your school of enrollment and area of study
- The loan amount you need
- Personal information including your address, phone number, and income history
Application Process
You can apply for a private student loan via a lender's website. Navigate to the application section, where you'll be asked to fill in information such as the items above.
After you complete the initial application, you'll generally see your prequalified rates and an approval decision. The results will generally include various options with a range of monthly payments.
From there, choose the option that works best for you, and sign the paperwork. Once you officially sign the paperwork for the loan, your funds will arrive within a matter of days or weeks.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Private Student Loans
Advantages
- Variable rates — Unlike federal student loans, private loans often come with variable rates rather than fixed rates. Sometimes, the variable rates start lower than rates on federal loans, but keep in mind that variable rates can change at any time.
- No origination fees with most lenders — While some private student loan servicers, such as MPower Financing, do charge origination fees, the majority do not. With federal student loans, expect to pay an origination fee.
Disadvantages
- Fewer options for loan forgiveness and deferment— Federal loans come with more opportunities for forgiveness, while with personal student loans, you'll get short-term relief at most. This applies to student loan deferment, too; federal student loans generally offer more deferment options than private student loans. Having the option to defer payment can be hugely helpful if you're going back to school or starting a fellowship that won't provide regular income. That said, some of the top lenders in this guide offer some form of deferment.
- Need high credit score to qualify for the best rates — To save on interest rates, you'll need an excellent credit score or to apply with a co-signer with a high score.
- Interest starts accruing while you're in school — Some federal student loans don't accrue interest while you're studying, but that's not the case with private student loans.
- Higher rates in general — Overall, private student loans charge higher interest rates than federal ones, and this is especially true with fixed rates.
Private Student Loan Alternatives
Federal Student Loans
The most obvious alternative to getting a private student loan is getting a federal student loan. Not only do federal loans offer more protections when it comes to loan forbearance, forgiveness, and deferment, but they also tend to have lower interest rates than private loans. You should always pursue your federal student loan options before looking into private lenders.
Scholarships and Grants
Loans aren't your only option for getting money to fund your education. You should also explore any scholarship and grant opportunities available to you. The advantage with these is that you won't be required to pay back the money you receive.
Under the umbrella of scholarships and grants, there are two main categories. The first is need-based financial aid, which is awarded based on your family's financial situation compared to the cost of attendance for your desired school. The second category is merit-based scholarships and grants. As the name implies, these scholarships are awarded to those who meet certain academic or athletic standards, such as having a high GPA or achieving success with one or more sports.
Even if you don't think you'll qualify for any grants or scholarships to cover your education, you should explore your options. It's worth applying, since that money won't need to repaid.
Work-Study Programs
Work-study programs provide part-time jobs, generally on campus, to students with financial need. Students can use the funds to pay for tuition, books, and other living expenses. To be eligible for work-study, you'll need to submit the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.
FAQs About Private Student Loans
Students can apply for a private student loan either on their own or with a co-signer. The private student loan application process usually requires a credit check, so if you don't have an established credit history, you may need a co-signer to qualify.
Private student loan interest rates can be either fixed or variable. The higher your credit score, the lower your rate should be.
Whether or not it's a good idea to take out a private student loan depends on your unique financial situation. You may consider alternatives such as a less expensive school, scholarships, or a side job to earn more money. Whatever your decision is, make sure you understand the terms of your loan before making a choice.
While private student loan repayment options vary from lender to lender, in general the options include immediate repayment, interest-only payments while you're in school, and defering payments until after you graduate.
Federal student loans have a number of protections that private student loans don't, for instance, the widespread forbearance during the pandemic. Income-based repayment plans are also only available for federal student loans. Be sure to use all your available federal loan options first to take advantage of these protections.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Picked the Best Private Student Loans
We rate all student loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is a weighted average that takes into account seven different categories, some of which are judged more heavily than others. They are:
- Interest rate (20% of rating)
- Fees (20% of rating)
- Term lengths (15% of rating)
- Repayment options while in school (15% of rating)
- Borrower accessibility (15% of rating)
- Customer support (7.5% of rating)
- Ethics (7.5% of rating)
Each category's weighting is determined based on its importance to your borrowing experience. Rates and fees have the most significant impact on the total cost of your loan, so we weigh those the most heavily. Customer support and ethics are still crucial parts of the borrowing experience, but they are not directly tied to a student loan's terms, so they have less of an impact on the overall rating.
Read more about how we rate student loans »
Our Experts' Advice on Choosing the Best Private Student Loan
We consulted the following loan and financial experts to give their insights into finding the best low-interest student loans for your needs.
- Sean August, CEO at The August Wealth Management Group
- Ryan Wangman, former loans reporter at Personal Finance Insider
How should I determine how much to borrow through a student loan?
Sean August:
"The loan amount should be high enough to cover your education expenses, but not so high that you borrow more than you can afford to repay."
Ryan Wangman:
"Look at the total cost of your education, and subtract any 'gift aid' you'll receive, like scholarships or grants. Then, consider how much of the remaining money you'll need to take out in loans to afford the cost of school."
How do the best private student loan rates compare with other loan rates?
Sean August:
"The best private student loans should have lower interest rates compared to credit cards and personal loans. Competitive interest rates will ensure that you don't pay more than you need to over the life of your loan."
Ryan Wangman:
"The best private student loans will have rates in the single digits, especially for borrowers with great credit. Rates on student loans are usually lower than the rates on credit cards or personal loans."
