Grad PLUS is ending and Parent PLUS is capped — compare private lenders with rates from 1.95% APR.
Did you know? Adding a cosigner can dramatically increase your approval odds and lower your rate.
Select your school type to see how the new limits affect you
College Ave is built around a fast, three-minute application and a flexible term-pick that lets you tune monthly payment against total interest. Approval typically completes in under fifteen minutes, and four in-school repayment options give borrowers room to manage cash flow while enrolled.
Sallie Mae's Smart Option loan is one of the only major private loans that funds part-time enrollment and career-training programs. Returning borrowers get multi-year approval — one credit decision covers subsequent academic years.
SoFi pairs a no-fee private student loan with member perks usually reserved for refinance customers: free career coaching, financial planning sessions, and member events. Cosigner release becomes available after 24 consecutive on-time payments.
Credible is a rate-comparison marketplace rather than a direct lender — one soft-pull form returns prequalified offers from 9+ partner lenders in about three minutes. A $200 best-rate guarantee backs the comparison.
Ascent offers a rare non-cosigned undergraduate option that prices on future income potential rather than current credit history — useful for juniors and seniors without a credit-built cosigner. All borrowers earn 1% cash back at graduation.
Starting July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will significantly restrict federal borrowing for families and graduate students. Here's a summary of the changes:
| Feature | Before July 1, 2026 | After July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Parent PLUS Limit (Undergrad) | Covered up to full cost of attendance | Capped $20k/year · $65k lifetime |
| Grad PLUS Loans | Available up to full cost of attendance | Eliminated for new borrowers* |
Graduate borrowers will rely primarily on Unsubsidized Direct Loans, with annual limits of $20,500 for most programs and $50,000 for designated professional-degree programs.
If your tuition exceeds these new limits, private student loans are a great alternative to bridge the gap — they offer flexible rates and terms tailored to your enrollment and credit profile.
Rates as of the date listed above. Rates subject to change without notice. Lowest displayed APR includes a 0.25% autopay discount. Actual rate is based on creditworthiness and other factors. Loans made by FirstKey Bank or one of College Ave Student Loans' lending partners.
Sallie Mae loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank. Information advertised is for the Smart Option Student Loan. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Advertised APRs assume a $10,000 loan with a 4-year in-school deferment period and the maximum applicable discounts.
Fixed rates range from 3.49% APR to 15.49% APR (with autopay). Variable rates from 5.99% APR to 15.86% APR. SoFi rate ranges are current as of the date listed and are subject to change without notice. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate.
Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS Number 1681276. Credible is not a lender — it operates as a marketplace. Rates displayed are the lowest available from participating lenders and are subject to eligibility and underwriting.
Ascent Funding, LLC. Standard and Truth-in-Lending disclosures apply. Sample loan: $10,000 undergraduate cosigned loan, 10-year term, 6.50% fixed APR, 60 months in-school deferment — monthly payment after deferment approximately $113.55.
We evaluate private student lenders across four weighted categories to surface the option most likely to fit a typical borrower's situation:
Lenders compensate us when readers apply through the links on this page, but compensation does not affect how we score them. Our editorial team independently reviews each lender's published terms.
