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Edvisors (“Edvisors Network, Inc.”) provides independent advertising-supported platforms for consumers to search compare and apply for private student loans. Loan offers from participating lenders that appear on our websites are not affiliated with any college and/or universities, and there are no colleges and/or universities which endorse Edvisors’ products or services. Lender search results do not constitute an official college preferred lender list. Edvisors receives compensation from lenders that appear on this site. This compensation may impact the placement of where lenders appear on this site, for example, the order in which the lenders appear when included in a list. Not all lenders participate in our sites and lenders that do participate may not offer loans to every school.

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Home Student Loans Credit Unions Parent PLUS Loans vs Private Student Loans
  • Contents
  • Best Parent Loans for College May 2025
  • Parent PLUS Loan vs. Private Loan
  • What is a Federal Parent PLUS Loan?
  • How Do I Apply for a Parent PLUS Loan?
  • What is a Private Student Loan?
  • Private Parent Student Loan
  • College Loan Rates for Parents
  • Differences Between Parent PLUS and Private Loan
  • Learn More About Student Loans for College

Parent PLUS Loans vs. Private Student Loans

Photo of Elaine Rubin
By Elaine Rubin
Updated on July 31, 2023
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Summary: Parents have two college loan options when financial aid falls short: Federal Parent PLUS Loans and private loans. Low interest rates, flexible repayment plans and borrower benefits are available. Learn about each program and find the best lender.

Best Parent Loans for College May 2025

Parent PLUS Loans are typically the best option for parents. However, private parent loans often offer more competitive interest rates and no origination fees. If you have excellent credit, or a creditworthy cosigner, a private parent loan may be the right choice for you for long-term savings.

   Parent PLUS Loan Private Parent Loans
Current Interest Rate   9.08% Starting at 5.09%

Best Private Parent Loans for College

Earnest Private Student Loan

Fixed APR 3.47% - 16.49%1
Variable APR 4.99% - 16.85%1
Apply Now
Featured Lender
Earnest Private Student Loan
  • Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
  • No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
  • Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4

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.

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 3.72% APR to 16.74% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.24% APR to 17.10% 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.

1You 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.

2Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.

3Earnest 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.

4Earnest 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.

The information provided on this page is updated as of 02/19/2025. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice.

Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107.

Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 340, Oakland 94612. NMLS #1204917, with support from Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) (NMLS# 1442770) One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.

© 2025 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.

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

Sallie Mae Logo

Fixed APR 3.49% - 15.99%1
Variable APR 4.54% - 14.71%1
Cosigner Recommended
Apply Now
Featured Lender
Sallie Mae Logo
  • Choose the #1 Private Student Loan Lender in the Nation. Sallie Mae is trusted by more families than any other private student loan lender.
  • Applying online is easy - you could receive a credit result in about 10 minutes.2

Borrow Responsibly

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.

Explore federal loans and compare to make sure you understand the terms and features. Private student loans that have variable rates can go up over the life of the loan. Federal student loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options, including, but not limited to, income -based repayment and income-contingent repayment plans, and loan forgiveness and deferment benefits, which other student loans are not required to provide. Federal loans generally have origination fees, but are available to students regardless of income.

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.

1Advertised 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.

2Although 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.

3Based on a comparison of the percentage of students who were approved with a cosigner to the percentage of students who were approved without a cosigner from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.

4For 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 will be subject 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.

Information advertised valid as of 04/17/2025.

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

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

© 2025 Sallie Mae Bank. Sallie Mae 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.

SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America. W646400 0325

Citizens Bank Logo

Fixed APR 3.49% - 15.49%1
Variable APR 4.99% - 15.51%1
Cosigner Recommended
Apply Now
Featured Lender
Citizens Bank Logo
  • Get your rate in about 2 minutes4
  • 4x more likely to be approved by applying with a qualified cosigner5
  • No Application or Origination Fees

1Student Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.99% - 15.60% (4.99% - 15.61% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.99% - 15.60% (3.99% - 15.61% APR).

2Automatic Payment Discount: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. Discount is not available when payments are not due, such as during forbearance. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account three or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount.

3Loyalty Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: personal checking, personal savings, personal credit card or previous student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan.

4Get My Rate: Selecting “Get My Rate” only requires a "soft credit pull" which does not affect your credit score. Submitting a full application will result in an inquiry on your credit report.

5Citizens Undergraduate Booked Loans from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024 were 4 times more likely to be approved with a qualified cosigner.

6Multi-Year Approval: Funds available for future use are subject to a soft credit inquiry at time of your next request to verify continued eligibility. After we make the initial Loan to you, you must continue to meet eligibility criteria to obtain additional funds under the Multi-Year Approval feature. Terms and conditions are outlined in the promissory note. Multi-Year Approval borrowers have a 99% approval rate on future requests for additional funds. The additional funds approval rate is based on the percentage of approved Multi-Year borrowers from Citizens between October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2024. The approval rate represents only borrowers who had previously accepted the Multi-Year Approval offer. Please Note: International students are not eligible for Multi-Year Approval.

Information advertised valid as of 05/01/25. Rates and offer subject to change. All accounts, loans and services subject to individual approval.

© 2025 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizens is a brand name of Citizens Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

College Ave Student Loans

Fixed APR 3.47% - 17.99%1
Variable APR 4.44% - 17.99%1
Apply Now
Featured Lender
College Ave Student Loans
  • Competitive APRs starting at 3.47%1
  • Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum) 2
  • Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision

College Ave's student loan 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.

1All 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.

2As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.

3This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.

Information advertised valid as of 03/03/2025. Variable interest 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.

Ascent offers loans that power bright futures

Fixed APR 3.44% - 15.00%*
Variable APR 4.95% - 14.85%*
Cosigner Recommended
Apply Now
Featured Lender
Ascent offers loans that power bright futures
  • AFFORDABLE fixed rates starting at 3.44% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
  • 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
  • COVER UP TO 100% of your tuition and eligible living expenses.

* Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent's Terms and Conditions please visit: AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 5/1/2025 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans and 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions. The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. The AscentUP platform is only available to eligible Ascent borrowers and subject to terms and conditions.

The minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.

Refinance student loans with SoFi

Fixed APR 3.54% - 15.99%*
Variable APR 4.64% - 15.99%*
Apply Now
Featured Lender
Refinance student loans with SoFi
  • All online, all easy.
  • SoFi private student loans cover up to 100% of school-certified costs.
  • No fees required.
  • Repay your way with flexible repayment options (find the monthly student loan payment and rate that fits your budget).
  • Applying with a cosigner may increase your chances of approval and getting a better rate.*
  • Over 1 million students have chosen SoFi.

SoFi Private Student Loan

Undergraduate, Graduate, MBA, Law, Health Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 3.54% APR to 15.99% APR with 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 4.64% 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 1/7/25 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. 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. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Parent

Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 5.74% APR to 16.85% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 6.07% APR – 16.85% 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 1/7/25 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. 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. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and 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., and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 8/5/24 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Elfi

Fixed APR 3.69% - 14.22%*
Variable APR 5.00% - 13.97%*
Apply Now
Featured Lender
Elfi
  • Prequalification: Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score
  • Online Application Process: Submit online application in minutes
  • Flexible Repayment Options: ELFI offers immediate, interest only, partial payment, and fully deferred repayment options
  • No Fees: No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties
  • Low Rates: Fixed rates from 3.69% to 14.22% and variable rates from 5.00% - 13.97%*
  • Award winning Customer Service: Individually paired Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process

*ELFI is a nationwide student loan provider offered by Tennessee based SouthEast Bank. ELFI is designed to assist students financially with receiving their education. Subject to credit approval. See Terms & Conditions. Interest rates current as of 01-01-2025. Variable interest rates may increase after closing but will never exceed 18.00%. Interest rates may also differ from the rates shown above. The term of your loan, financial history, and other factors, including your cosigner’s (if any) financial history can affect the interest rate. For example, a 10-year loan with a fixed rate of 7% would have 120 payments of $11.61 per $1,000 borrowed. Rates are subject to change.

 

Both Parent PLUS Loans and private student loans can help cover the difference between the total cost of attendance (COA) of your school and the financial aid you receive. Both types of loans can be used to pay for educational expenses such as:

  • Tuition and fees
  • Room and board
  • Books
  • Supplies
  • Equipment
  • Transportation
  • Miscellaneous/personal expenses

Parent PLUS Loan vs. Private Loan


Parent PLUS Loan Private Student Loan
Primary Borrower Parent of a dependent undergraduate student Parent or Student
Cosigner Required Only if parent has an adverse credit history Cosigner may be required
FAFSA Required Yes No
Lender Federal government Private lenders and financial institutions
Interest Rate Type Fixed Fixed and variable options
Interest Rate 9.08%
(2024 - 2025 academic year)
Depends on borrower and cosigner credit
Interest Rate Reduction for Automatic Payments 0.25% Varies by lender
Tax Deductible Interest Yes Yes
Subsidized Interest N/A N/A
Loan Fees 4.228%
(Loans disbursed Oct. 1, 2024 - Sept. 30, 2025)
Varies by lender
Typically 0% to 5%
Depending on credit
Annual Loan Limits Cost of Attendance (COA) minus other student aid Cost of Attendance (COA) minus other student aid
Cumulative Loan Limits No Varies by lender
May vary by degree/major & credit
Repayment Term Varies by repayment plan and loan balance
10 to 25 years
Varies by lender
5 to 25 years
Repayment Plans Standard, Extended, Graduated Varies by lender
Death Discharge Student or Parent Varies by lender
Disability Discharge Parent only Varies by lender

What is a Federal Parent PLUS Loan?

A federal Parent PLUS loan is offered under the federal student loan program. The loan is only an option for parents of dependent undergraduate students.

How Do I Apply for a Parent PLUS Loan?

To apply for a Parent PLUS Loan, the student will need to file the FAFSA. It is then recommended that the parent wait until the school provides the student with a financial aid offer first. You can find all the details in our companion article about Federal Parent PLUS Loans.

What is a Private Student Loan?

A private student loan can be borrowed by a parent to help cover a child’s college costs. Private student loans are offered by many private student loan lenders. In addition, a parent may cosign a student loan for their child. Parents who cosign for their child may not be the borrower, but are considered equally responsible to repay the loan as a cosigner.

Private Parent Student Loan

When it comes to finding a private student student loan, you may want to get an idea of some lenders that work with your child's school. We can help with that. Insert your child's school below to see lenders we work with that offer competitive loan products.

College Loan Rates for Parents

A parent PLUS loan will have an interest rate set by congress each year. The current rate is 9.08% for the 2024 - 2025 award year. A private student loan will have interest rates based on current market trends and the strength of the borrower’s (and if applicable, cosigner) credit. 

Differences Between Parent PLUS and Private Loan

There are three main differences:

  1. Lender: Parent PLUS Loans are federal student loans. The federal government is the lender. Private student loans are offered by private financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions, states, as well as colleges and universities.
  2. Primary Borrower: The parent is the primary borrower on a Parent PLUS Loan. The primary borrower of a private student loan can be the parent or the student. The parent may be a cosigner on the student’s private student loan.
  3. Interest Rate: Parent PLUS Loans have fixed interest rates, currently 9.08% for the 2024 - 2025 academic year. Private student loan interest rates start as low as 5.09% and are based on borrower credit and come in fixed and variable interest rate options, depending on the lender.

Families should always consider scholarships, grants, and federal student loans, like Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, before applying for private student loans.

Learn More About Student Loans for College

Best Student Loans for May 2025

Introduction to Parent PLUS Loans

Private Parent Student Loans

How Does Student Loan Interest Work

Tuition Payment Plans

Student Loan APR

 

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Once you’ve exhausted federal aid, private student loans can help fill in gaps in college funding. Learn how to find the best private student loan option for you.
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The main difference between subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans is that the federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while you are in school at least half time, during the grace period, and during periods of authorized deferment. This makes subsidized loans a less-expensive option.

Read Article
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Compare your student loan options easily with our comparison tables. Understand the benefits of Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, PLUS loans, and private student loans.
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Edvisors provides expert advice on planning and paying for college. On Edvisors.com easily compare student loan lenders, learn how to apply for financial aid, and discover scholarships. Learn about federal and private student loans for students and parents, how and when to apply to college, and more!

Edvisors (“Edvisors Network, Inc.”) provides independent advertising-supported platforms for consumers to search compare and apply for private student loans. Loan offers from participating lenders that appear on our websites are not affiliated with any college and/or universities, and there are no colleges and/or universities which endorse Edvisors’ products or services. Lender search results do not constitute an official college preferred lender list. Edvisors receives compensation from lenders that appear on this site. This compensation may impact the placement of where lenders appear on this site, for example, the order in which the lenders appear when included in a list. Not all lenders participate in our sites and lenders that do participate may not offer loans to every school.

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