Summary: Each student loan has borrowing limits. Annual limits determine the amount you can borrow for a single academic year, while aggregate limits set a maximum on your total borrowing throughout the loan program. Furthermore, the loan amount can’t go over your school’s official cost of attendance once other financial aid is deducted.
- Federal student loan limits are determined by the type of loan, the student’s dependency status, and the student’s grade level, and past borrowing history.
- Dependent undergraduates may borrow up to $31,000 in federal student loans.
- Independent undergraduates may borrow up to $57,500 in federal student loans.
- Graduate or professional students may borrow up to $138,500 in federal student loans, and certain health profession students may borrow up to $224,000.
Is There a Limit On Student Loans?
Yes. Most student loans have several types of limits on the amount you can borrow.
Annual Student Loan Limits
An annual limit specifies the maximum amount you can borrow in a single academic year in each loan program for which you are eligible.
Aggregate Student Loan Limits
An aggregate limit, sometimes called a cumulative limit, specifies the total amount you are allowed to borrow through each loan program. One of the most common loan programs, the federal Direct Stafford Loan program.
Cost of Attendance Loan Limits
Your school's financial aid office cannot provide financial aid that exceeds your cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, housing, meals, transportation, and more. Financial aid is usually awarded in the order of scholarships, grants, work-study aid, and then student loans as needed. The cost of attendance (COA) dictates the maximum total cost after deducting other forms of financial assistance you may receive. This COA limit complements or replaces the annual loan limit to ensure that all aid, including student loans, stays within your school's determined budget for attendance.
Remember, making informed decisions about how to finance your education can significantly impact your financial well-being long after graduation.
How Student Loan Limits are Calculated
When you take out a student loan, both the annual and aggregate loan limits are applied to the loan amount. Each type of loan limit represents a restriction on the amount you can borrow.
Sometimes, you may want to borrow an amount that satisfies the annual limit, but you will qualify for a lower amount because your total debt would exceed the aggregate loan limit. You will then be restricted to the lower loan amount.
For example:
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan has annual limits for dependent undergraduate students based on the student’s year in school. The 2024 - 2025 loan limits are:
- $5,500 for freshmen
- $6,500 for sophomores
- $7,500 per year for juniors, seniors, and any additional undergraduate years of study
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan also has an aggregate loan limit of $31,000 for dependent undergraduate students.
Suppose a dependent undergraduate student in a 5-year engineering degree program borrows the annual maximum for each of the first four years, for a total of $27,000. During the student’s fifth year the annual limit would be $7,500. However, as the next table shows, the remaining aggregate loan eligibility is only $4,000 after the end of the fourth year. So, the student can’t borrow the $7,500 annual maximum as a fifth-year senior. Instead, this student can borrow no more than $4,000.
| Year | Annual Limit | Amount Borrowed | Aggregate Debt | Remaining Aggregate Loan Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Year (Freshman) | $5,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $25,500 |
| Second Year (Sophomore) | $6,500 | $6,500 | $12,000 | $19,000 |
| Third Year (Junior) | $7,500 | $7,500 | $19,500 | $11,500 |
| Fourth Year (Senior) | $7,500 | $7,500 | $27,000 | $4,000 |
| Fifth Year (Senior) | $7,500 | $4,000 | $31,000 | $0 |
Private Student Loan Limits
Private student loans come with an annual limit based on the cost of attendance minus other financial aid, such as federal student loans. Undergraduates usually have aggregate loan limits from $75,000 to $120,000, while graduate and professional students may qualify for higher limits. Remember, these limits cover all student loan debt - both federal and private loans combined.
Medical and dental residency and relocation loans and law bar study loans typically have annual loan limits that are 50% lower than the annual loan limits for students who are currently enrolled in school.
Even though you are working with a private student loan lender, your school will still certify the total amount you are able to borrow. Your school will let your lender know if adjustments needs to be made in order to ensure you are not offered financial aid (which includes student loans) in excess of your cost of attendance minus other aid received.
Federal Student Loan Limits
A federal student loan limit isn’t the amount you will be able to borrow, it’s the maximum the school can approve you to borrow. Your school might give you less than the loan limit.
The annual and aggregate borrowing limits on federal student loans vary based on several factors:
- Loan Program (Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, or Direct PLUS Loan)
- Dependency Status (Dependent or Independent)
- Year in School or Grade Level (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student)
- Health Professional Student
If your grade level changes in the middle of the academic year, you may qualify for higher annual loan limits. You would then be eligible to borrow the difference between the new annual loan limit and the amount you already borrowed during the same academic year.
Similar rules apply to transfer students. Transferring from one school to another does not reset the loan limits. This can get a little tricky is you are transferring in the middle of an academic year. Your school will essentially let you borrow the difference between your annual loan limit at the new school and the amount received at the previous school. All loans borrowed through a loan program (i.e., Direct Stafford Loans) will count towards your aggregate loan limit.
Loan fees (which may be added to the loan balance) and capitalized interest do not count against the loan limits.
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Limits
Your school's financial aid office determines how much you will be able to borrow each year. This amount might be less than the annual loan limit.
When it comes to the Direct Stafford Loan program, it's important to remember there are two types of loans in the this loan program: Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized loans. Although these loans are part of the same program, Direct Subsidized Loans have their own limits.
Eligibility for Direct Subsidized Loans is based on demonstrated financial need, up to the annual and aggregate loan limits. (As of July 1, 2012, students attending graduate school or professional school are no longer eligible to borrow new Direct Subsidized Loans.)
One more thing to keep in mind, beyond annual and aggregate loan limits, there is a maximum eligibility period for you to receive Direct Subsidized Loans. For first-time borrowers whose first loan was obtained on or after July 1, 2013, there is a maximum eligibility period of time that you can receive Direct Subsidized loan funds. You are only able to receive Direct Subsidized loans for no more than 150% of the published length of your program.
For example, if you are enrolled in a four-year degree program, the maximum amount of time you can receive Direct Subsidized loan funds is 150% of four years, which is six years.
Eligibility for Direct Unsubsidized Loans does not depend on demonstrated financial need.
Aggregate loan limits, sometimes referred to as cumulative limits, may be refreshed by repaying the debt. So, if you have hit the aggregate loan limit, you will need to pay down your loan before you will be eligible to borrow more.
The aggregate loan limits for students attending graduate school or professional school students include any undergraduate federal student loan debt.
Borrowing Limits for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limits for Health Profession Students
Health profession students, such as students enrolled in medical school, are eligible for higher Direct Loan limits.
There are two different levels of increased loan limits, depending on the area of study (see table). These limits are available only to health profession students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students enrolled at foreign institutions are not eligible.
| Health Professions Programs Eligible for Higher Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limits |
Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limit
9-Month Academic Year
|
Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limit
12-Month Academic Year
|
|---|---|---|
|
$40,500 | $47,167 |
|
$33,000 | $37,167 |
Some schools may also offer 10-month or 11-month academic programs, which would have different annual limits than those listed here. Check with your school’s financial aid office to get the limits for your program.
Other Direct Loan Limits
Additional Loan Funds for Preparatory Coursework
- All students: Up to $2,625 for coursework required for enrollment in an undergraduate degree or certificate program
- Bachelor’s degree recipients: Up to $5,500 for coursework required for enrollment in a graduate or professional degree or certificate program
- Bachelor’s degree recipients: Up to $5,500 for state-required teacher certification coursework
These loan funds are limited to a period of 12 consecutive months. Any loans received for preparatory coursework will be counted towards your Direct Loan aggregate loan limits.
If Parents Refuse to File the FAFSA
If the parents of a dependent undergraduate student decline to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the college's financial aid administrator may still permit the student to borrow additional Direct Unsubsidized Loans, even if the FAFSA is incomplete. Keep in mind that the student will not be eligible for the Direct Subsidized Loan, the Federal Pell Grant, or other types of federal student aid.
Increased Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limits for Dependent Undergraduate Students
There are times when a dependent student can become eligible for the same Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits as independent students:
- Parents are denied eligibility for a Parent PLUS Loan
- Other documented "exceptional circumstances," even if parents aren't denied eligibility for a Parent PLUS Loan
In some exceptional circumstances, college financial aid administrators may allow a dependent undergraduate student to borrow at the higher Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits available to independent students without requiring the parent to obtain a denial of a Parent PLUS Loan. For example, you would need to successfully qualify for a dependency override.
College financial aid administrators aren't required to make the student eligible for the higher loan limits, even if exceptional circumstances exist.
Prorated Annual Loan Limits for Undergraduate Students
Annual loan limits for Direct Loans are prorated (adjusted) for undergraduate students who are enrolled in programs that are:
- Shorter than one academic year; or
- Remaining period of study is shorter than one academic year
For example, if an undergraduate student in a 4-year Bachelor’s degree program will be graduating at the end of the fall semester (halfway through the academic year), the student is eligible for half of the annual loan limit for seniors.
Half-time students are eligible for the same annual loan limits as full-time students.
Direct PLUS Loan Limits
The annual loan limit for the Direct PLUS Loan (Parent PLUS Loan or Grad PLUS Loan) is the annual cost of attendance minus other aid received during the enrollment period. There is no aggregate loan limit. The loan limits are the same for both parents of undergraduate students as well as graduate students.
Direct Consolidation Loan Limits
There are no limits on Direct Consolidation Loans (also known as Federal Consolidation Loans), other than the underlying limits on the loans included in the consolidation loan.
Recommendations
- File the FAFSA every year to maintain your eligibility for student aid.
- When you compare different types of student loans, make sure you understand both the annual and aggregate loan limits.
- If you are a dependent undergraduate student and your parents won’t qualify for a Parent PLUS Loan due to an adverse credit history, encourage them to apply anyway because a denial will make you eligible for the same Direct Loan limits as an independent student.
- If you’ve hit the annual and/or aggregate limits on federal loans, but you still need additional funds to complete your education, consider private student loans as a potential option.
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Edvisors (Edvisors Network, Inc.
) provides independent advertising-supported platforms for consumers to search compare and apply for private student loans.
- Competitive APRs starting at 3.24%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 05/29/2025. 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.
- 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.
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- 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 for any Sallie Mae loan with a cosigner to the percentage of students who were approved without a cosigner from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
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 05/23/2025.
Edvisors is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Sallie Mae loan customers.
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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.
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- AFFORDABLE fixed rates starting at 3.39% 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 6/1/2025 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% on credit-based college student loans submitted prior to 6/1/2025, a 0.5% discount for on credit-based college student loans submitted on or after 6/1/2025 and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions and conditions apply. Loan features and information advertised are intended for college student loans and are subject to change at any time. 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. Variable rates may increase after consummation. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. Ascent applicants and borrowers that agree to the AscentUP Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, as well as students associated with an Ascent parent loan application, have access to the AscentUP platform.
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.
- 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., 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. 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 current as of 4/22/2025 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
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- 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.
- No application fees, origination fees, or late payments
- Prequalify in minutes
- Lone terms available from 5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years
- Reduce your rate by up to 0.50% for building a good payment history
- Early cosigner release
Before applying for a private student loan, DR Bank and Monogram recommend exhausting all financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans.
The AbeSM student loan is made by DR Bank, Member FDIC (“Lender”). All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to Lender’s underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. LENDER AND MONOGRAM LLC EACH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates): Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates) depend upon (1) the student’s and cosigner’s (if applicable) credit histories, (2) the repayment option and repayment term selected, (3) the expected number of years in deferment, (4) the requested loan amount and (5) other information provided on the online loan application. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate applicable to your loan. Rates and terms are effective as of 12/01/2024. The variable interest rate for each calendar month is calculated by adding the 30-Day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, or a replacement index if the SOFR index is no longer available, plus a fixed margin assigned to each loan. The SOFR index is published on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The current SOFR index is 4.750% as of 12/01/2024. The variable interest rate will change if the SOFR index changes or if a new index is chosen or if you automatically qualify for In-School Default Protection (see footnote below for details). The applicable index or margin for variable rate loans may change over time and result in a different APR than shown. The fixed rate assigned to a loan will never change except as required by law or if you request and qualify for the on-time payment discount or auto pay discount, or automatically qualify for In-School Default Protection (see footnote below for details).
APRs displayed as a range: APRs assume a $10,000 loan with one disbursement. The high APRs assume a 5-year term with the Interest-Only Repayment option, a 37 month deferment period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment. The low APRs assume a 7-year term, and the Immediate Repayment option with payments beginning 30-60 days after the disbursement via auto pay. See auto pay footnote for details.
Loan Terms: The 15- and 20- year terms are only available for loan amounts of $5,000 or more. Making interest only payments during deferment will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. Payment examples (all assume a 14-month deferment period, a six-month grace period before entering repayment, no auto pay discount, and the Interest Only Repayment option): 5 year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 5-year repayment term (60 months) and a 9.60% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $210.51. 7- year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 7-year repayment term (84 months) and a 8.82% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $159.98. 10-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with a 10-year repayment term (120 months) and a 8.57% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $124.36. 15-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with, a 15-year repayment term (180 months) and a 8.48% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $98.36 20-year term: $10,000 loan, one disbursement, with, a 20-year repayment term (240 months) and a 8.62% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $87.54.
Grad Reward: The principal reduction is based on the total dollar amount of all disbursements made, excluding any amounts that are reduced, canceled, or returned. To receive this principal reduction, it must be requested from the Servicer, the student borrower must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and proof of such graduation must be provided to the Servicer. This reward is available once during the life of the loan, regardless of whether the student receives more than one degree.
Autopay Discount: Earn a 0.25% interest rate reduction for making automatic payments from a bank account (“auto pay discount”) by completing the direct debit form provided by the Servicer. The auto pay discount is in addition to other discounts. The auto pay discount will be applied after the Servicer validates your bank account information. Automatic payments and the associated discount will be temporarily discontinued (1) if you elect to stop automatic deduction of payments and (2) during periods when you are not required to make payments. The discount will be permanently discontinued in the event three automatic deductions are returned by the financial institution for any reason.
On-Time Payment Discount: The 0.05% interest rate reduction will automatically be applied for every 6 consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest made during the repayment term within 10 calendar days after their due date up to a maximum interest rate discount of 0.25%. During any period of deferment or forbearance the interest rate will increase by any previously received On-time Payment Benefit reduction(s). The interest rate will return to the reduced interest rate following such period. Use of a deferment or forbearance will reset the number of consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest made to zero. A late payment will disqualify the loan from receiving any additional interest rate reductions for on-time payments.
Cosigner Release: A cosigner may be released from the loan upon request to the Servicer, provided that the student borrower has met certain credit and other criteria, and 12 consecutive monthly principal and interest payments or lump sum payments equal to 12 monthly principal and interest payments have been received by the Servicer during any 12-month period. While a loan is in a reduced repayment plan or while a request for a reduced payment plan is pending, borrowers are not eligible to apply for cosigner release.
In-School Default Protection: Borrowers with Interest Only loans that reach at least 120 days delinquent during an in-school deferment period will automatically have their repayment option transitioned from the Interest Only repayment option to the Full Deferment repayment option. Under these circumstances, the interest rate on the loan will automatically increase to match the interest rate associated with the corresponding Full Deferment loan. For an Interest Only loan, the interest rate will increase by one percentage point (1.00%). Credit reporting prior to the transition of a loan to the Full Deferment repayment option will remain on your record. Any unpaid accrued interest at the end of an in-school deferment period may be capitalized in accordance with the Credit Agreement.
Loan Amounts: The minimum loan amount is $1,000, except for (a) student applicants who are permanent residents of Iowa in which case the minimum loan amount is $1,001, (b) student applicants or cosigners who are permanent residents of Massachusetts in which case the minimum loan amount is $6,001 and (c) student applicants or cosigners who are permanent residents of New Hampshire in which case the minimum loan amount is $10,001. The maximum loan amount to cover in-school expenses for each academic year is determined by the school’s cost of attendance, minus other financial aid, such as federal student loans, scholarships, or grants, up to $99,999. The loan amount must be certified by the school. The loan amount cannot cause the aggregate maximum student loan debt (which includes federal and private student loans) to exceed $225,000 per applicant (on cosigned applications, separate calculations are performed for the student and cosigner).
Monthly Payment During School: This is the estimated monthly payment that will be made during the time you remain enrolled at your school certifies, subject to the initial deferment period maximum of 66 months from the first disbursement date. Immediate Repayment: Starting 30-60 days after your first disbursement date the first monthly payment of principal and interest will be due. The monthly payments of principal and interest will be generally stable for twelve months and will be recalculated once each year and reset annually on the anniversary of your most recent repayment start date so as to pay the loan in full over the remaining repayment period. Full Deferment: Principal and interest payments will be deferred from your first disbursement date through your initial deferment period end date. Starting 30-60 days after the initial deferment period, the first monthly payments of principal and interest will be due unless you qualify for and request an additional type of deferment. Interest Only Repayment: Principal payments will be deferred from your first disbursement date through your initial deferment period end date. Starting 30-60 days after your first disbursement date you will pay interest-only monthly payments that are equal to the accrued interest on the outstanding principal balance throughout the initial deferment period.
Monthly Payment After Graduation:
Immediate Repayment: This is the estimated combined monthly principal and interest payment amount following the final disbursement of your loan The monthly payment amount shown in the estimate will increase or decrease if the interest rate increases or decreases and will be computed based on the interest rate applicable at the time repayment begins. Your monthly payment amount may also be recalculated (a) after any deferment or forbearance period, (b) after you ask the servicer to change the monthly payment due date or (c) if the minimum monthly payment is not enough to cover the interest accrued during that month.
Full Deferment, and Interest Only Repayment during school: The Estimated Monthly Payment after Graduation is the combined principal and interest payment amount following the initial deferment period. The first year of principal and interest repayment generally has the same monthly payment each month. After the first year of principal and interest payments, monthly payment amounts are recalculated once each year and reset annually on the anniversary of your most recent repayment start date so as to pay the loan in full over the remaining repayment period. The monthly payment amount shown in the estimate will increase or decrease if the interest rate increases or decreases and will be computed based on the interest rate applicable at the time repayment begins. For all repayment options, the minimum monthly payments of your loan’s combined principal and interest will be at least $50. Past Due Balances: Applications may be accepted up to the earlier of (a) eighteen calendar months after the Applicant’s academic period end date or (b) eighteen calendar months after the Applicant’s graduation date. Abe is a service mark of Monogram LLC.
Monogram LLC is not an affiliate of DR Bank.
Monogram LLC (NMLS #2542102)
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