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Home Student Loans Private Student Loans Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans
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  • Should I Get a Private Student Loan?
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Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans

Photo of Elaine Rubin
By Elaine Rubin
Updated on September 23, 2022
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Going to college is an exciting endeavor that will open-up career opportunities not otherwise available. Paying for college can sometimes present financial challenges and borrowing money is necessary to fund the effort. Federal student loans limit the amount a student can borrow in a given school year, making private student loans a desirable option to fill in the gaps.

As with anything, there are both pros and cons to private student loans. However, when compared to the benefits of a college degree, many decide the loan is well worth the expense as they pursue their educational dreams. Investigating your finance options is the best way to make an informed decision. Edvisors is here to help you understand your choices and guide you in the borrowing process. We encourage you to compare lenders and determine which one is right for you.

Should I Get a Private Student Loan?

Taking out any form of student loan is a commitment, and this decision should not be taken lightly. Whether you are borrowing federal or private student loans, this is money that will need to be paid back with interest. Should you decide to pursue a private student loan there are benefits (such as interest rate options and added benefits) and drawbacks (including the need for strong credit or a cosigner and limited hardship assistance)to consider before you borrow. We recommend you review the pros and cons of private student loans to help you determine what type of loan is right for you.

 

Compare Featured Lenders

College Ave Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Interest Rates

Variable rates as low as: 4.74% APR1

Fixed rates as low as: 4.74% APR1

Repayment Terms

5, 8, 10 or 15 years2

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College Ave Student Loans
  • Competitive fixed and variable APRs starting at 4.74%1
  • Multiple repayment options including: full principal and interest, interest-only, deferred, and flat payment
  • Flexible payment terms ranging from 5, 8, 10, and 15 years2
  • Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum)3
  • No origination, application and processing fees, no fees for early repayment
  • Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision

College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.

1Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. Variable rates may increase after consummation.

2This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.

3As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.

Information advertised valid as of 03/01/2023. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.

Cosigner Recommended

Sallie Mae Private Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Interest Rates

Variable Rates: 5.49% APR - 15.83% APR1

Fixed Rates: 4.50% APR - 14.83% APR1

Repayment Terms

10-15 Years6

(undergraduate)

Apply Now More Info
Sallie Mae Private Student Loans
  • Variable Rates: 5.49% APR - 15.83% APR. Fixed Rates: 4.50% APR - 14.83% APR. Lowest rates shown include 0.25% interest rate discount with auto debit payments.1
  • Apply online in minutes and receive an instant credit result2
  • Multiple repayment options from in-school payments to deferred.1 No origination fee or prepayment penalty3
  • Last year, students were 4x more likely to be approved with a cosigner4 and it may help you get a better rate.
  • Borrow up to 100% of school-certified expenses, whether you're online or on campus5

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.

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.

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

3Although 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.

4Based on a comparison of approval rates for Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loans for Undergraduate Students who applied with a cosigner versus without a cosigner during a rolling 12-month period from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. 

5 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. 

6 Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44.  For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. 

Information advertised valid as of 02/27/2023

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

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

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

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

Discover Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Undergraduate and Graduate Loans
Interest Rates

Variable: 5.87% APR - 16.72% APR*

Fixed: 5.49% APR-15.99% APR*

Repayment Terms

15-Year (undergraduate) repayment term; 20-Year (graduate) repayment term

Apply Now More Info
Discover Student Loans
  • Fixed rates: 5.49% APR - 15.99% APR*; variable rates: 5.87% APR - 16.72% APR*    
  • Borrow up to 100% of school-certified costs, including tuition, housing, books and more. Aggregate loan limits apply.
  • Choice of fixed or variable interest rate.
  • No fees. No application, origination or late fees.
  • Apply in minutes.
  • Got good grades? Get paid. You can qualify for a one-time cash reward on each new Discover student loan if you get at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) in college or graduate school.**
  • 0.25% interest rate reduction while enrolled in automatic payments.***

Discover® Disclaimers

 

*APR ranges vary by loan type and the lowest available APR may be higher than what is shown here. Lowest APRs are available to the most creditworthy applicants, and include an interest-only repayment discount and Auto Debit Reward. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may improve your likelihood for loan approval and you may receive a lower interest rate.

The fixed interest rate is set at the time of application and does not change during the life of the loan unless you are no longer eligible for one or more discounts. The variable interest rate and corresponding APR may increase over the life of the loan. The variable interest rate is calculated based on the 3-Month CME Term SOFR index plus the applicable margin percentage less any applicable discounts. The 3-Month CME Term SOFR index value for variable interest rate loans is 4.625% as of January 1, 2023. 3-Month CME Term SOFR is administered by CME Group and is published by CME Group on its website (cmegroup.com/termsofr). Discover Student Loans may adjust the variable interest rate quarterly on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 (each an “interest rate change date”), based on the 3-Month CME Term SOFR rate available for the day that is 15 days prior to the interest rate change date, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent (0.125% or 0.00125), or 0%, whichever is greater. This may cause the monthly payments to increase, the number of payments to increase or both. If the 3-Month CME Term SOFR rate is less than zero percent, then the index will be deemed to be zero percent (as stated in the promissory note) for purposes of calculating your interest rate. Your variable interest rate (index + margin - applicable discounts) will not exceed 18%. Our lowest APRs are only available to applicants with the best credit. The APR will be determined after an application is submitted. It will be based on credit history, the selected repayment option and other factors, including a cosigner’s credit history (if applicable). If a student does not have an established credit history, the student may find it difficult to qualify for a private student loan on their own or receive the lowest advertised rate. Learn more about Discover Student Loans interest rates.

**Students who get at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) may qualify for a one-time cash reward of 1% of the loan amount on each new Discover undergraduate and graduate student loan. Reward redemption period is limited. Visit DiscoverStudentLoans.com/Reward for reward and redemption terms and conditions.

***Visit DiscoverStudentLoans.com/AutoDebitReward for terms and conditions.

Ascent offers loans that power bright futures

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Interest Rates

Variable rates as low as: 5.86% APR1

Fixed rates as low as: 4.62% APR1

Repayment Terms

5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 years

Apply Now More Info
Ascent offers loans that power bright futures
  • AFFORDABLE variable rates starting at 5.86% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
  • 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
  • NON-COSIGNED option may be available for undergraduate juniors and seniors.
  • PAY AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL – Customize your loan with flexible repayment options – start payments after graduation.
  • FORGET FEES – No application, origination or disbursement fees. No prepayment penalty if you choose to pay your loan off early.
  • 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, Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs

Rates are effective as of 3/01/2023 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Rates

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner.  Lowest APRs require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.  

Earnest Private Student Loan

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Interest Rates

Graduate Rates

Fixed: 4.45% - 14.15% APR1

Variable:4.99% - 12.29%APR1 

Undergraduate Rates

Fixed: 4.45% - 14.60%APR1

Variable: 4.99% - 14.40%APR1 

Repayment Terms

5, 7, 10,15 or 20 years

Apply Now More Info
Earnest Private Student Loan
  • Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
  • Flexible repayment options you can choose from
  • No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
  • Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4
  • Will cover up to 100% of the school's certified cost of attendance
  • 9-month grace period (3 months more than most lenders)2

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 4.70% APR to 14.85% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.24% APR to 14.65% 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 03/08/2023. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice.

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

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

 

 

Sallie Mae Private Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Interest Rates

Variable rates as low as: 4.99% APR (with autopay)*

Fixed rates as low as: 4.49% APR (with autopay)*

Repayment Terms

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

Apply Now More Info
Sallie Mae Private Student Loans
  • Variable Rates: Starting variable rates range from 4.99% APR - 13.13% APR (with autopay)*, and will never exceed 13.95% (sometimes lower in certain states as required by law)
  • Fixed Rates: Fixed rates range from 4.49% APR to 13.98% APR (with autopay)*
  • Easy online application!
  • No origination fees, late fees, and no insufficient fund fees. Period
  • Up to four repayment types (including no payments while in school) and multiple repayment terms help you find the loan that fits your budget
  • 0.25% discount when you set up autopay*

*UNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.49% to 13.98% annual percentage rate ("APR") (with autopay), variable rates from 4.99% to 13.13% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 5.25% to 13.60% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 5.49% to 13.07% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 6.50% to 13.98% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 6.32% to 13.13% APR (with autopay). For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. Interest rates for variable rate loans are capped at 13.95%, unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the repayment option you select, the term and amount of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Information current as of 01/30/2023.

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

 

Advantages of Private Student Loans

Fill the Financial Gap

It’s recommended to pursue a federal student loan first, however, this loan may not cover the entire cost of attendance throughout the school year. If you need to borrow additional funds, private student loans can help. You can borrow up to your school’s certified cost of attendance. COA (cost of attendance) is the average cost to attend your school for one year and includes costs like, tuition, books, fees, school supplies, housing, and transportation. Private student loans may be used to help with more than just tuition alone. You can use these funds for living expenses, transportation, books, fees, qualifying childcare, technology needs (such as a laptop), and more.

>>More: Best Private Student Loans for March 2023

Potential Lower Interest Rates

Federal student loans come with a fixed interest rate for all borrowers regardless of credit history. The interest rate for private student loans is determined by the creditworthiness of you and your cosigner (if applicable). With most private student loans, you may choose from fixed or variable rates which may be lower than the fixed rate offered by the government. If you or your cosigner have excellent credit, it would be advantageous to shop around and compare rates.

Instantly Compare Lenders

Fixed or Variable Rates

With a private student loan, you will likely have the option of choosing between a fixed or a variable rate. Fixed rates often start out slightly higher than variable rates but stay the same for the life of the loan. A variable rate may start out lower than a fixed rate, but will fluctuate with market changes, possibly going up or down—you’ll be given your interest rate range when you begin the application process. This means the amount of interest that accrues on your student loan could increase or decrease over time. You want to make sure you can afford your payments at the highest interest rate of your range, just in case your interest rate increases to that amount.  For the best possible rate, apply with a cosigner with a strong credit history.

>>More: How Does Student Loan Interest Work?

Higher Borrowing Limits

Federal Direct Stafford loans have both annual and cumulative (total) borrowing limits. These loan limits can create a financial aid gap when you’re trying to pay for college. If you are attending college out of state or an expensive private school, your financial aid may not be enough to cover all your financial needs. If you qualify, private student loan lenders may allow you to borrow up to your cost of attendance minus other financial aid received. While private student loan lenders may limit your borrowing based on your credit or borrowing history, but if you are eligible private student loans can be used to help you cover your college costs.

 >>More: Federal Student Loan Limits

Unique Lender Benefits

Private student loans are issued by private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. These lenders may offer additional benefits to their borrowers, such as access to services like Chegg, grace periods, and interest rate deductions for enrolling in automatic payments.

Apply Anytime, Year-Round

You may apply for a private student loan at any time, even during the current school year. Should you underestimate how much funding you need to complete your course of study, a private student loan can help. For example, if you need additional funds to complete the Spring semester, a private student loan is an option. Most private student loans have low borrowing minimums, allowing you to borrow only what you need and keep your overall costs down.

Cosigner Release Options

Most traditional college students (typically those entering school right out of high school) will not qualify for a private student loan on their own, due to lack of employment and credit history and will likely require a cosigner. Many private student loans offer a cosigner release option, allowing the borrower to request the cosigner be released from responsibility for the loan once the borrower meets the lender’s criteria. While each lender has their own criteria, lender’s will typically require the borrower to demonstrate their ability to repay by making 24 to 48 months of on-time payments.

Disadvantages of Private Student Loans

Must Have Good Credit

If the borrower is just beginning to establish credit and has insufficient or poor credit, they will likely need a cosigner to qualify for a private student loan. A cosigner is someone with a strong established credit history who is equally responsible for the loan. This is typically a parent, family member, or other trusted adult with stable employment and a positive credit history.

Limited Hardship Assistance

Unlike federal student loans that come with generous periods of forbearance(allowing a borrower to pause payments on their student loan for a variety of reasons), private student loans do not. Forbearance benefits for private student loans will vary by lender but are typically shorter in duration and only extended to borrowers in cases of extreme hardship.

Fewer Repayment and Forgiveness Options

Federal student loans have a variety of repayment options, including public service loan forgiveness (PSLF) and income-based repayment plans. Private student loans may offer flexible repayment options, but your options may be more limited. In addition, most private student lenders don’t offer student loan forgiveness options like PSLF, while some may offer discharge options for total and permanent disability or death of the borrower.

Private Student Loan Tips

Borrow Only What You Need

Try to utilize as many resources as possible before deciding to borrow any money. The cost of college can be offset by grants, scholarships or by working while in school. Some employers even offer tuition assistance that can help cover your expenses. Investigating all your options and borrowing only what you need will keep you student loan balance down and put you in a better position to pay it off once you have graduated.

Apply with a Cosigner to Get a Better Rate

Most traditional college students (recent high school graduates) will not have the employment or credit history needed to qualify for a private student loan on their own. Applying with a cosigner with a strong credit history increases chances of approval and may also help you qualify for a lower interest rate (saving you money in the long run)

>>More: Student Loan Cosigners

Be Mindful that Variable Interest Rates May Change

Private student loans typically give the borrower the choice of a fixed or variable interest rate. The lowest variable interest rates are typically lower than the lowest fixed interest rates, however, while a fixed interest rate stays the same for the life of the loan, a variable rate may change with market fluctuations. This could impact the interest that accrues on your loan. It will also have an impact on loan repayment, as changes to the rate could increase or decrease your minimum payments. When you borrow a loan with a variable interest rate, make sure you can afford your payment at the highest interest rate (the top of your range) listed in your loan’s term and conditions. If you are looking for consistency, then a fixed interest rate will ensure the same payment amount over the life of the loan.

Pay Your Loans While In School if You Can

Some private student loans will not require you to make payments while still in school, however it is wise to make payments on your student loans as soon as you can. This will help minimize the overall amount of interest you accrue over the life of your loan and help keep your balances down. By paying on your loan while in school, you will have less student loan debt to repay upon graduation.

  

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