Private Student Loans | Best Options for 2020 – 2021

Definition: A private student loan (also known as a private education loan or alternative student loan) is a non-federal loan used to pay for college or grad school. Private student loans may be an option once you have already exhausted other forms of free and federal financial aid. These loans are typically based on a strong credit history and verifiable proof of income or employment.

If you’re looking for no-nonsense information and help with private student loans, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s start with the basic definition.

Shopping around on our site and comparing lenders is a great way to find the best private student loan for your needs. And you’ll want to keep in mind that the most ideal private student loans are those that: 

4 Repayment Options: Three repayment options are available – Immediate repayment of principal & interest, interest-only payments while in school and full deferment of principal & interest until six months after graduating or ceasing to be enrolled at least half-time in school. Interest will continue to accrue during periods of deferment. You will receive quarterly interest statements during this deferment period. Paying the interest as it accrues each quarter will save you money over the repayment term of the loan because any accrued interest that you do not pay will be added to the principal balance at the end of the deferment period.

3 Cosigner Release: Requires that the borrower has made at least forty-eight (48) consecutive timely payments of principal and interest with no periods of interruption within that 48-month timeframe. To qualify, the borrower must submit a request, meet the consecutive timely payment requirements, provide proof of income and pass a credit check.

2 Automated Payment Discount: During repayment, an interest rate discount of 0.50% is available for automated payments. Borrower must be making scheduled payments that include both principal and interest. Interest-only payments do not qualify for the 0.50% interest rate discount. The rate discount will be applied at the time automated payment is established. If automated payment is discontinued at any time, the discount will be removed and the rate will increase by 0.50%.

Loan Payment Examples: The monthly payment per $10,000 borrowed at a fixed-rate range of 7.34% APR to 12.09% APR for 10 years means you would make 120 payments that may range from $118.22 to $144.71. The monthly payment per $10,000 borrowed at a variable-rate range of 8.49% APR to 13.24% APR for 10 years means you would make 120 payments that may range from $124.36 to $151.55 For the variable-rate loan, monthly payment may increase or decrease if the interest rate increases or decreases. Estimated loan payment examples assume 30 days to first payment and are for the immediate repayment option. Payments vary for other rates, loan amounts and repayment terms.

The lowest APR is available to well-qualified applicants. Your actual APR will be based on your credit qualifications, loan program, interest rate option, repayment term, repayment option and whether you elect the automated payment feature.

Variable APRs: APRs range 5.64% to 10.39% for a 5-year, 8.49% to 13.24% for a 10-year and 8.64% to 13.39% for a 15-year term. Variable rates are based on the Prime Rate index plus a margin depending on the creditworthiness of the borrower and cosigner, if any. The Prime index, adjusted monthly, is equal to the Prime Rate as published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal ‘(Eastern Edition)’ on the first business day of the immediately preceding calendar month. The Prime index is currently 7.50%. If the index increases or decreases, your rate will increase or decrease accordingly. The rate will not exceed 18%.

Fixed APRs: APRs range 4.49% to 9.24% for a 5-year, 7.34% to 12.09% for a 10-year and 7.49% to 12.24% for a 15-year term. Fixed rates are based on the creditworthiness of the borrower and cosigner, if any.

1 Annual Percentage Rates (APRs): APRs include a 0.50% interest rate discount for automated payments and may vary by repayment term and other factors (refer to additional details below). Rates are for the immediate repayment option, effective as of February 1, 2023, and are subject to change at any time.

PNC Solution Loans are subject to credit approval. Certain restrictions and conditions apply. PNC reserves the right to modify or discontinue the terms of these program at any time. You are encouraged to explore all scholarship, grant and federal borrowing options before applying for a private loan.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status and meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, years of professional experience, income, and a variety of other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

*UNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.49% to 13.98% annual percentage rate (“APR”) (with autopay), variable rates from 4.99% to 13.13% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 5.25% to 13.60% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 5.49% to 13.07% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 6.50% to 13.98% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 6.32% to 13.13% APR (with autopay). For the SoFi variable-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. The SoFi 0.25% 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 01/30/2023.

Up to four repayment types (including no payments while in school) and multiple repayment terms help you find the loan that fits your budget

THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER.

Earnest loans are originated by Earnest Operations LLC. California Finance Lender License 6054788. NMLS # 1204917. Earnest Operations LLC is located at 303 2nd Street, Suite 401N, San Francisco, CA 94107. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://www.earnest.com/terms-of-service, e-mail us at [email protected] , or call 888-601-2801 for more information.

The information provided on this page is updated as of 03/02/2023. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice.

1 You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay. 2 Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school. 3 Earnest does not charge fees for origination, late payments, or prepayments. Florida Stamp Tax: For Florida residents, Florida documentary stamp tax is required by law, calculated as $0.35 for each $100 (or portion thereof) of the principal loan amount, the amount of which is provided in the Final Disclosure. Lender will add the stamp tax to the principal loan amount. The full amount will be paid directly to the Florida Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 78-8016373916-1. 4 Earnest clients may skip one payment every 12 months. Your first request to skip a payment can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Please be aware that a skipped payment does count toward the forbearance limits. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.70% APR to 13.95% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.24% APR to 13.75% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.

This information is for graduate and undergraduate students attending participating degree-granting schools. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents if the school is located outside of the United States. Non-U.S. citizen borrowers who reside in the U.S. are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident) and are required to provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify identity. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. 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 require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.

Rates are effective as of 3/01/2023 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: www.AscentFunding.com/Rates

* Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate 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

© 2023 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

Edvisors is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Sallie Mae loan customers.

Smart Option Student Loans® are made by Sallie Mae Bank. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. CHECK SALLIEMAE.COM FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.

For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website may be subjected to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time.Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years.

Based on a comparison of approval rates for Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loans for Undergraduate Students who applied with a cosigner versus without a cosigner during a rolling 12-month period from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

3 Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note-first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

2 In 2021, instant credit decisions were provided to 97% of applicants. Other applications typically received credit decisions in 3 to 5 business days.

1 Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.

Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend school in the U.S., apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident), and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID. Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.

We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.

1 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. 2 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. 3 As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. Information advertised valid as of 03/01/2023. 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.

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.

To qualify for a private student loan you will need to demonstrate the following:

Private Student Loan Rates

Variable rates starting at:

4.49% APR

Fixed rates starting at:

4.49% APR

Lowest APRs shown for Private Student Loans are available for the
most creditworthy applicants for undergraduate loans, and include a
0.25% interest rate reduction while enrolled in automatic payments.
Interest rates as of September 15, 2022.

Federal Student Loan Rates

For loans first disbursed July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023

4.99%

Undergraduate

6.54%

Graduate

7.54%

PLUS Loans

How to Apply for Private Student Loans

To apply for a private student loan, follow the steps outlined below. We suggest that you also explore all your federal financial aid options.

1. Enter the name of your school at the top of this page
2. Review the lenders that show up based on your school selection. You can compare each lender to see things like current interest rates, repayment terms, how much you can borrow, and the benefits they may offer.
3. Choose your lender by clicking on the “Apply Now” button. From here you will be able to submit the loan application.
4. Fill out all the information requested and be prepared to invite a cosigner to help you qualify, if appropriate. You will need to provide personal and sensitive information, such as name, address, phone, birthdate, SSN, household income, and loan amount requested. Be sure to take precautions and complete your loan application in a private location.
5. After submitting your loan application, the lender will provide a disclosure statement which outlines the terms of the loan, including interest rate, any fees, and repayment information. This basically tells you how much the loan will cost.
6. If you agree with and accept the disclosure, you (and/or your cosigner) will be asked to sign your loan promissory note.
7. From here, the lender will send your loan information to the school’s financial aid office for certification. The school basically needs to confirm your enrollment and eligibility for the loan amount you requested or were approved for.
8. At the scheduled time, your loan funds will be disbursed to your school.

How Do Private Student Loans Work?

Private student loans work In much the same way as federal loans. You can borrow what you need to cover the cost of your education-related expenses. If you pass a credit check, your lender will send the loan funds to your school and the money you borrow can be deferred until after you graduate. But you also have the option to pay the interest while you’re still in school. Generally speaking, private loans help in these ways:

• Supplement your other financial aid to meet the total cost of your education
• Help pay for undergraduate, graduate school, and professional degrees, as well as career training
• Cover any education-related expense, including books and computers
• Aid in building your credit — especially with a creditworthy cosigner

When to Apply for Private Student Loans

If you decide to apply for a private student loan, we suggest you apply as soon as you know where you are going to college. That way your lender can send the private student loan certification form to the correct school.

Instantly Compare Lenders for Your School

And if you’re still considering your options to pay for school, we completely understand. There are a number of considerations that go into financing a college education. Choosing to borrow money for college can be stressful and involves a lot of thought and deliberation. Here are some things to consider:

• The starting point to qualify for any financial aid is always the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) – pay attention to the priority filing deadlines in your state or at your college, because aid may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
• Review your options to pay for your college costs, including:
  • Personal savings (including 529 plans)
  • Gift aid (think grants and scholarships)
  • Tuition payment plans offered through your school
  • Income from employment
• Student loans should be considered your last resort option
• If you still need additional assistance, consider your loan options by comparing your federal student loan and private student loan options according to:
  • Loan terms and conditions
  • Fees
  • Interest rates
  • Repayment benefit (like flexible plans and options of discharge/forgiveness)
• If you have not already done so, talk with your financial aid office to ensure you’ve truly exhausted all other forms of aid before taking out a private loan. In addition to federal resources, your school may be able to provide institutional aid (such as college backed scholarships or college work study).
  • Important: if your family’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) has changed since you filed your FAFSA, this could materially impact your eligibility for federal or state based aid.

If it turns out that you do need to borrow to pay for college, rest assured you are not alone. According to the Sallie Mae “How America Saves for College 2020” study, 34% of students and 20% of parents borrowed money to pay for college. In the 2019-20 academic year, families spent an average of $30,017 to pay for college.

The stark reality is most American students and families have to borrow money as part of the overall financing process to pay for a college education. In fact, according to the 14th Annual Project on Student Debt, “Student Debt and the Class of 2018,” published by The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) in 2019, 2 out of 3 graduating seniors had an average student loan debt of $29,200. On top of that, approximately 17% of the debt acquired among the Class of 2018 was non-federal debt.

Private Student Loan Tips

When you consider the value of a college education — including the fact that average lifetime earnings for college graduates are nearly $400K more than individuals with only a high school diploma or GED — student loans may be a smart investment. If you budget properly and have a good sense of the actual amount of money you need in loan funds to supplement other forms of aid as well as your resources, you can limit your overall indebtedness by borrowing only what you truly need. You should also consider the fact that there are no prepayment penalties. (Note: the lender partners on our site do not charge a prepayment penalty.)

Here are some simple tips to help you pay the least over of the life of your loan:

• Pay your loan while you’re in-school to reduce the amount of interest you will repay over the life of your loan, you have two options:
  • Making interest-only payments to avoid interest capitalization when you enter repayment (the process where any outstanding interest is added to your principal balance once you enter repayment), or
  • Make small, fixed payments which cover your interest and some of your principal balance.
• Accelerate payments (pay more than your monthly minimum) to reduce total interest paid and limiting the amount of time on your repayment

You can discuss your repayment options with your lender. If you are unable to make payments while you are in-school, you do have the option to defer repayment on your loan until you are out of school. This option will obviously cost the most money because any unpaid (accrued) interest that is not paid before the end of your grace period will be capitalized — or added — to your outstanding principal balance prior to the start of repayment.

An important consideration is the deferred repayment option means your loan balance at the start of repayment will be higher than what you originally borrowed due to the interest capitalization. Also, don’t let the lack of a sizeable payment stop you from sending even a small contribution to your student loan. As insignificant as it may seem now, even a payment of $10 or $20 a month can help curb the amount of money that would be capitalized on top of your outstanding balance.

Private Student Loan Interest Rates

One final thought concerning the use of private student loans: get a strong understanding of the interest rates as well as the loan’s other terms and conditions. Most lenders offer you a choice between a variable or fixed APR (annual percentage rate), so be sure to read up on the differences between the two interest rate options. Keep in mind that the rates advertised may not necessarily be the rates you qualify for based on your creditworthiness — or that of a qualifying cosigner.

For example, you may see variable rates advertised as low as 4.49% APR, with fixed rates typically slightly higher. But this is a sunny day scenario. You and/or your cosigner would need to have the right qualifying credit score or credit factors to achieve the lowest rate, and the lender may impose requirements such as signing up for auto-debit from a checking or savings account to lock in these low rates. When comparing lenders, look for the asterisks and footnotes along with the fine print to understand what it takes to achieve or put you in the running for the advertised rates.

What We Do at PrivateStudentLoans.com

As part of the Edvisors Network, we help you learn how private student loans work, and give you an easy way to compare loans from the country’s leading lenders. Get started now to explore student loan options.

If you’re at the beginning of the financial aid process, you may find this YesCollege podcast—featuring our in-house expert Elaine Rubin—helpful.

Elaine Rubin is the Director of Corporate Communications at Edvisors. Ms. Rubin is responsible for maintaining content, responding to press and media inquiries, as well as serving as the lead contributor for the Edvisors blog and the Ask the Edvisor column. Ms. Rubin volunteers in the local Las Vegas community to help students and families understand the importance of education for success. Ms. Rubin has worked in higher education finance for more than 10 years, including seven years with the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid, and provides information and advice from both personal and professional experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy and Administration from Northeastern University.