Student Loan Finder

What’s your goal today?

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  Pay for school
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  Refinance student loans
  
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  Compare repayment plans

I need a student loan. What are my options?

You have two options when you’re looking for a loan to pay for school: Federal loans or private loans.

• Federal student loansare funded by the government, which sets interest rates each year and offer flexible repayment plans.
• Private student loans are funded by providers like banks, credit unions and online lenders, which charge a range of interest rates based on your creditworthiness.

Typically, both private and federal lenders recommend that students apply for federal loans first, since they often have lower interest rates than federal loans and more forgiving repayment options. However, there is a limit to how much federal funding you can qualify for — and how you can use it. For a more in-depth look, check out our guide to 14 types of student loans.

Quiz: What type of student loan should I get?

Take our four-question quiz to get a quick recommendation on which type of student loan might be best for your needs.

What is a student loan and how does it work?

How federal and private student loans compare

Federal student loans generally attract lower interest rates than private student loans, but there’s a limit to how much you borrow and what you can use it for.

They also loans tend to be a first choice because they come with benefits like loan forgiveness programs, flexible repayment schedules, extended terms and multiple repayment options.

Students typically turn to private student loans after they’ve maxed out their federal loans or need help paying for a career-related postgraduate cost like studying for the bar exam or relocating for a medical residency.

Read our full guide on how federal and private student loans compare

A breakdown of every student loan option

How do I apply for a student loan?

You can apply for a federal student loan by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — which also allows you to apply for other types of federal aid like work-study. You can complete this online.

Private student loan providers typically offer online application applications that you can complete along with your cosigner in a few minutes. If you’re applying with a cosigner, they can typically either apply with you or are sent a link to access their part of the application once you’ve completed yours.

A step-by-step guide to applying for student loans

How do I find a competitive student loan?

Federal student loans are the same for everyone, but private student loans aren’t as simple. You can find a loan that works best for you by comparing lenders. First make sure you’re eligible, before comparing features like APR, terms and repayment options.

If possible, consider prequalifying with a few lenders once you’ve narrowed it down. That way you’ll get a closer idea of what you’re eligible for than a general range of rates and terms.

You can get a quick start by using our comparison table. Or for a more detailed comparison, check out our top picks for private student loan providers.

Curious about what happens after you take out student loans?

• Watch a short video on what to expect

Anna

Alternative ways to pay for school

Student loans aren’t the only way to pay for college. If you’re not certain you want a student loan, look into these financial aid alternatives.

Grants and scholarships

The federal government, state governments, schools and corporations offer grants and scholarships to students that you typically don’t have to repay.

Grants tend are often based on need, while scholarships are usually merit-based. Outside of need and merit, you can find both scholarships and grants for members of underrepresented groups, members of the US Armed Forces, veterans and specific career paths.

Because it’s rare for grants or scholarships to cover your full tuition, they’re most often used in combination with other financial aid. Popular federal grants include Pell Grants, SMART Grants, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and the Academic Competitiveness Grant.

Part-time job or side gigs

You likely can’t cover the cost of tuition with most part-time jobs. But you might be able to cover part of your housing, textbooks and pocket money. Bonus points if you find a job in your field to get a head start on your career.

Don’t have time for that kind of commitment? Take on side gigs when you have the time. These gigs might not always cover your entire rent, but they can keep more money in your pocket.

Personal loans

You can use a personal loan to pay for college, though you might not want to foot the entire bill with one. Personal loans are typically better for covering extra costs like flying back home for the summer, relocating for an internship and similar expenses that come with being in school.

You can typically borrow between $2,000 and $100,000 with rates that compare to private student loans. However, you often need good credit to qualify, and cosigners aren’t always allowed. Repayments also start immediately.

Income share agreement (ISA)

Schools are starting to offer income share agreements as an alternative to student loans. With an ISA, your school agrees to front you a fixed amount of money from a private investment account or college endowment to apply toward your expenses. In turn, you agree to pay a percentage of your post-college income over a fixed time — typically 10% to 20% of your income over a fixed period of time, typically around 10 years.

Retirement accounts

Parents or students can withdraw from their IRA without penalty to pay for qualified higher education expenses (QHEE), which includes tuition, fees and other costs related to attending college. Doing this essentially turns the IRA into a joint college savings fund and a retirement account. However, you might not want to use it to cover all of your education expenses — withdraw too much and you’re required to pay an income tax. Consult a tax expert before you withdraw from your retirement account early.

Just some of the top student loan providers we’ve reviewed

Refinancing student loans

Simply put, student loan refinancing means taking out a new loan to replace your current one. Refinancing can help you save now and in the future by reducing your interest rate, changing how much time you have to repay your loan or reworking the terms of your debt.

Generally, you need good credit and a steady income to qualify for a refinancing loan with low rates. But if you refinance a federal loans with a private lender, you could lose federal benefits that include income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness.

Find out how much you could save and cautions to consider before refinancing

Can I refinance my federal loans?

You can, but it might not be the best idea. When you refinance your federal loans with a private lender, you give up several benefits that include loan forgiveness for teachers and public servants, deferment programs for healthcare and legal professionals and flexible repayment plans.

Federal loans also generally come with some of the lowest interest rates out there — rates that are fixed by the federal government. Chances are, you might not be able to find a better deal with refinancing. Talk to your loan servicer to explore your options before turning to refinancing for federal loans.

Refinancing Parent PLUS Loans

Parent PLUS loans don’t come with as many benefits as most other student loans so refinancing might also help you save. You can also refinance a Parent PLUS Loan in your name or your child’s name to help build their credit and release you from their student debt, improving your personal debt-to-income ratio.

What happens after I take out a student loan?

Watch our short video explaining your different repayment options or read more below.

Unlike other types of debt, student loans come with several repayment options. Immediately after you take out your student loans, you might start making full repayments, interest-only repayments or none at all if you’re lucky enough to get a direct subsidized federal loan.

When your funds are disbursed

What happens after you take out your student loan depends on the type of student loan you have.

After you graduate or drop under half-time studies

Six months after leaving school and beyond

Federal student loans

If you haven’t already begun repaying your loan, you start making repayments to your loan servicer based on your repayment plan. Setting up autopay at any time could knock 0.25% off your interest rate.

Private student loans

You either start making repayments after a grace period or continue making repayments. Ask about discounts for autopay — some lenders are willing to discount your rate by 0.5% if you sign up.

What’s a loan servicer?

Loan servicers are companies that lenders hire to manage your loan repayments in exchange for a portion of the profits. The federal government uses loan servicers for all of its loans, but some private lenders use servicers as well.

You don’t get to choose your servicer, and they won’t always reach out after your loans are due. If you’re not sure who your loan servicer is, find it through the National Student Loan Data System.

Student loan repayment plans

When you start making repayments, you might have a choice between several different repayment plans. These can include monthly repayments that stay the same throughout the life of your loan, or repayments that better fit an earning curve as you start your career.

Generally, federal loans come with more flexible options, including several based on your income. Private student loans typically come with fixed repayments over five to 20 years regardless of how much you earn.

Other repayment options

Life happens. You might that you’re unable to make repayments on your loan, even if you’re on an income-based plan. Or maybe you want to let your cosigner off the hook to lower their overall debt load.

Some of the options you might come across for repayments include:

• Forbearance. If you lose your income, are part of a military deployment or simply want to return to school, you might be able to pause your student loan repayments. How long and often you can go into forbearance depends on your loan and lender, but expect interest to continue adding up.
• Deferment. Like forbearance, you can apply to pause your repayments for a legitimate reason. The difference is that your interest doesn’t accumulate while you’re in deferment.
• Cosigner release. You can release your cosigner from most student loans after consistent on-time repayments for a specific time — usually a few years. After your cosigner is released, you’ll be fully responsible for your debt.
• Forgiveness. Depending on your loan type or career, you might be eligible to have some or part of your loans canceled — especially if your have federal loans.

Understanding interest capitalization

Both federal and private student loans can include interest capitalization, adding accrued interest to your loan balance. The most common time for interest capitalization is with a change in your repayments — at the start of repayments deferral or forbearance. Some private lenders also capitalize interest annually or quarterly.
How interest capitalization increases the cost of your loans

Firsthand experiences of finder team members

Anna chooses a repayment plan for her federal loans

Anna was lucky: She got a free ride for college and graduated without any student debt. But when it came to graduate school, she didn’t have nearly as many financing options. By the time she completed her MA, she’d accumulated more than $39,000 in federal unsubsidized student loans.

Anna found income-based repayment plans too complicated, so she signed up for the extended graduated repayment plan offered by her servicer, Great Lakes. Repayments started at an affordable $208 per month for the first two years. And by the time her payments increased, she’d already landed a higher paying job.

Learn more about Anna’s experience with student loans — from how they affected her career to renting an apartment.

Andy negotiates a better deal on private student loans

Andy graduated from college with $62,000 in private student loans from Sallie Mae. But after his grace period was up, he wasn’t making enough money to afford that kind of repayment.

He deferred it for another six months, but by the time his second grace period was over and he still couldn’t afford repayments. Sallie Mae began frequently calling him and his parents — his cosigners — to demand repayments.

Andy explained his situation and convinced Sallie Mae to switch him to an income-based repayment plan. It reduced his monthly repayments to $301 until 2019, when Sallie Mae will reassess his income.

8 expert tips for taking out student loans

Frequently asked questions

Answers to commonly asked questions about student loans.

What’s the difference between student loan refinancing and consolidation?

Student loan refinancing is when you take out a new loan to pay off one student loan. Student loan consolidation typically refers to a Direct Consolidation Loan, which combines all of your federal student loans into one with a similar APR. Consolidating federal loans allows you to change your servicer and might open you up to more repayment options.

Can I refinance a student loan without a degree?

Yes, but with limited options, you might not find the most favorable deal. Compare your needs against your eligibility before signing any contract.

If I refinance, can I defer repayments if I switch careers or go back to school?

Probably not. Generally, only federal loans offer deferral, which you give up if you refinance your student loan with a private lender.

What are the most common fees that come with student loans?

It depends on whether you take out a federal or private student loan. Federal loans come with origination fees that range from around 4.5% to 7% of your loan amount. Private lenders don’t usually charge origination or application fees, though it varies. You might also be on the hook for late and NSF fees depending on the type of loan you take out. You can learn more with our guide to student loan fees.

Can I get a private student loan bad or no credit?

Generally you can as long as you bring on a cosigner, since most undergraduate students don’t have a credit score yet — some aren’t even old enough to take on credit themselves. Don’t have a creditworthy family member or friend? You still might be able to qualify for student loans through lenders like Sixup, which considers your grades instead if you don’t have a credit score.

Can I get a private student loan without a cosigner?

You can if you meet your lender’s credit requirements. Generally, you’ll need to have good credit and a certain salary if you go without a cosigner — something most undergraduate students don’t have. Some lenders specialize in student loans without a cosigner, considering your grades and future salary instead of credit and current income.

Where does the money go when I take out a student loan?

The money goes directly to your school when you take out a student loan. If there’s any left, the bursar’s office or financial aid office should contact you and let you know. If you want that money, you can pick up a check. Otherwise, you can request to have all or some of it returned.

Can I use a student loan for anything other than tuition and fees?

Yes, student loans are meant to cover your total cost of attendance. This includes living expenses, transportation and travel, housing and other miscellaneous costs that you have to pay because you’re a student.

Do I have to pay taxes on student loans?

No, student loans aren’t taxable. In fact, you might be able to deduct up to $2,500 per year if you pay that much or more in interest payments. The only time your student loans might be taxed is if you qualify for forgiveness or some types of cancellation.

Can a cosigner refinance my student loan?

No. But if you’re the primary borrower, a cosigner can ask you to refinance your loan and stay on as a cosigner. If you’re the cosigner, you can request a cosigner release if you’re unhappy with the way the terms of the loan are affecting your personal finances.

How does refinancing a student loan affect my credit score?

Refinancing a student loan can improve your credit in the long run by adjusting your monthly repayments to something you’re more likely to afford. However, it hurts your credit in the short run because most lenders conduct a hard credit inquiry during the application process, which causes your score to temporarily dip.

How student loans affect your credit score

Can I get a federal student loan to pay for a degree abroad?

It depends on which school you attend. Many universities abroad are part of a deal with the federal government that give US citizens access to federal loans. Learn more about paying for studies in another country.

Where can I find student loans if I’m pursuing a second undergraduate degree?

You have both federal and private student loans to consider, though you may have fewer options due to lifetime loan limits. Find out what you might qualify for with our guide to student loans for a second degree.

Can I get a student loan if I go to school part-time?

Yes, you can qualify for many federal and private student loans if you’re enrolled half time. But you aren’t eligible for federal and some private student loans if you drop below half-time enrollment. You can learn more with our guide to student loans for part-time students.

Can I get a student loan to pay for a skills-based program?

Yes, some student loan providers like Climb Credit specialize in loans for skills-based programs that don’t qualify for federal aid. However, these may come with higher interest rates and less-flexible repayment plans.

Can I get student loans to pay for community college?

Yes, if your community college is a Title IV school, you may qualify for federal student loans. Otherwise, you can look into private lenders you might qualify with. You can learn more with our guide to student loans for community college.

Can I transfer my student loans between schools?

Probably not. Federal student loans don’t transfer between schools, and most private student loans don’t either. Instead, you’ll need to take out a new student loan to use for the school you’re transferring to. You can find out how to do this with our guide to student loans for transfer students.

Is going to college worth taking out thousands of dollars in student loans?

It depends on your career and financial goals. However, most Americans believe college is worth the high costs since it opens you up to more job opportunities and increases your earning potential. You can explore more benefits of getting a college degree to help you decide if it’s right for you.