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Best Private Student Loans of 2026

Find the funding you need for the future you want.

Apply Now

Lowest rate - starting at 1.94% APR1

  • Cover up to 100% of your school costs2
  • Flexible options for repayment
  • No application, origination, or prepayment fees
  • Checking rates won't affect your credit score
Apply Now

No fees required

  • Covers full attendance cost
  • Fixed rates from 2.45%-15.99% APR (with autopay)
  • Variable rates from 4.39% - 15.99% APR (with autopay)
  • Save on interest with rate discounts for autopay (0.25%), continuing scholar borrowers (0.125%), and cosigners taking a second student loan (0.25%).
  • US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands residents are eligible for student loans*
  • Flexible repayment options to fit your financial situation

*Borrowers must attend an approved school within these areas to qualify.

#1 Best Choice

Student loan payment calculator

Estimate your monthly payment, total interest, and lifetime cost. Updates as you type.

$
%
years
Monthly payment $237.40
Total interest $8,488
Total paid $28,488

Estimate uses standard amortization. Your actual rate depends on credit, cosigner, and lender — check rates with the lenders above for a real quote.

How to choose a private student loan

Federal loans should come first — but if you've maxed out grants, scholarships, and federal aid, a private loan can fill the gap. Here's what to compare before you sign.

  • Fixed vs. variable APR. Fixed rates stay the same for the life of the loan; variable rates can be lower today but rise with the market. Match the choice to how quickly you plan to pay it back.
  • Repayment options while in school. Look for deferred, interest-only, or fixed in-school payments. Interest still accrues on most plans, so paying something now saves a lot later.
  • Cosigner requirements & release. Most undergrads need a creditworthy cosigner. Lenders that offer a cosigner release after 12–36 months of on-time payments are friendlier long-term.
  • Fees. The best private lenders charge no application, origination, or prepayment fees. If a lender does, work it into the true cost.
  • Discounts that actually apply. Autopay typically shaves 0.25%. Some lenders add loyalty or graduation discounts. Small percentages compound over 10+ years.
  • Soft credit pull to check rates. Reputable lenders let you prequalify without dinging your credit. Skip any lender that does a hard pull just to show you a rate.

Federal vs. private student loans

Federal loans

  • Fixed rates set annually by Congress
  • No credit check for undergrads
  • Income-driven repayment plans
  • Forgiveness programs (PSLF, teacher, etc.)
  • Hard borrowing caps per year

Private loans

  • Fixed or variable rates, based on credit
  • Can cover up to 100% of school-certified costs
  • Fewer relief options if income drops
  • Cosigner often required (and helps the rate)
  • Better fit after federal aid is exhausted

Frequently asked questions

Will checking my rate hurt my credit score?

No — every lender on this page uses a soft credit pull to show you prequalified rates. A hard pull only happens after you formally accept and submit a full application.

Do I need a cosigner?

Most undergraduates don't have enough credit history to qualify on their own, so a cosigner is usually required. A strong cosigner can also drop your rate by several percentage points. Many lenders offer a cosigner release after 12–36 months of on-time payments.

What credit score do I need?

Most private lenders look for a FICO score in the mid-600s or higher, plus steady income. With a cosigner, the lender evaluates both files — the better of the two typically anchors the rate.

How fast can I get approved?

Prequalification takes a few minutes online. Final approval and disbursement to the school usually takes 1–3 weeks, depending on the lender's verification process and your school's certification timeline.

Can I refinance later?

Yes. Once you graduate and have steady income, you can refinance one or more student loans into a new private loan — often at a lower rate. Refinancing federal loans into a private one removes federal protections, so weigh that carefully.

Advertiser Disclaimers and Disclosures:

Sallie Mae

Borrow Responsibly. Sallie Mae encourages 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.

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.

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. 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.

² Although Sallie Mae does 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.

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, 2022 through September 30, 2023.

³ 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.

College Finance is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Smart Option Student Loan customers.

Information advertised valid as of 12/26/2025

SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.

© 2025 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

College Ave Student Loan

College Ave's student loan products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or BTG Pactual Bank, N.A., member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.

¹ All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.

SoFi®

Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 2.45% APR to 15.99% APR with 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 4.39% APR to 15.99% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates are capped at 17.95%. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 7/6/2026 and are subject to change at any time. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term and type of repayment option you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer (if applicable) and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Check out our eligibility criteria at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/. 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.

 

Autopay Discount: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly payments as outlined in your loan agreement by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. When the autopay interest rate deduction is added or removed, the next time the loan is re-amortized (quarterly for fixed rate loans; monthly for variable rate loans),the principal balance of your loan will be spread over the remaining loan term, and your monthly payment amount will change. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment, grace period, or forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.

 

Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.


Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Not all repayment options may be available for all loans. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. View payment examples. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is current as of 3/4/2026 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Credible

1APR Disclosure: Before making a decision, please read rates and terms at – https://www.credible.com/student-loans

2Prequalified rates are based on the information you provide and a soft credit inquiry. Receiving prequalified rates does not guarantee that the Lender will extend you an offer of credit. You are not yet approved for a loan or a specific rate. All credit decisions, including loan approval, if any, are determined by Lenders, in their sole discretion. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates from Lenders may differ from prequalified rates due to factors which may include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in your personal credit circumstances; (ii) additional information in your hard credit pull and/or additional information you provide (or are unable to provide) to the Lender during the underwriting process; and/or (iii) changes in APRs (e.g., an increase in the rate index between the time of prequalification and the time of application or loan closing. (Or, if the loan option is a variable rate loan, then the interest rate index used to set the APR is subject to increases or decreases at any time). Lenders reserve the right to change or withdraw the prequalified rates at any time. Get $200 if you can find a better rate" (All bonus payments are by gift card). See terms.

110 Corcoran Street, 5th Floor, Suite 151 Durham, NC 27701. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS# 1681276, "Credible." Not available in all states.