Top 10 Private Student Loan Companies of 2022 (2023)

while federalstudent loansThey tend to have the lowest interest rates and most payment options, and they also have limits on the total amount you can borrow each year.

If you need more money for school, you may have to resort toprivate student loans, which do not have the same borrower protections that federal loans do. That's why it pays to take a step back, consider your financial needs, and choose the best private student loan company for your needs.

The best private student loan companies

Regardless of their flexibility or advantages, private student loan options are credit-based, unlike federal student loans. You have to have good credit to qualify. Also, the interest rate you can get depends on your credit profile.

This makes things difficult for younger college students who haven't yet established a credit history. This is one of the many differences betweenLoans for Undergraduate vs Graduate Students🇧🇷 Therefore, college students may be required to apply with aco-signer.

If you don't know your credit history,check your credit scorebefore applying for a loan.

Please note that annual percentage rates (APRs) and lender terms are subject to change. Always check lenders' websites for the latest information.

Also, while a lower interest rate will help you save money, it's not the only loan term to look for when comparing private loan offers. The best lenders let you defer payments while you're in school, have flexible payment options, and no origination fees, prepayment penalties, or excessive late fees. They also offer perks like automatic payment discounts.

These options help you save money and qualify for the best rates. That said, these lenders get the highest marks for their lowest rates and widest range of options.

1. Credible

• types of loans: Credible's partner lenders offer loans to undergraduate and graduate students.
• loan options: Choose between variable rate and fixed rate loans.annual percentage rates(APR) vary by lender.
• Payment options: Access loan terms from five to 20 years, depending on the lender you connect with through Credible.
• Availability: US citizens who are students can apply. International students can apply for loans with Credible partner lenders as long as they have a creditworthy co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: Options for co-signer release (the ability to remove your co-signer from the loan after a set period) depends on the terms of the loan, which vary by lender.
• To evaluate: You pay no fee to use Credible. (Lenders pay fees to acquire customers through Credible.) However, you may have to pay fees such as application fees and origination fees, depending on your lender. You are not required to apply for or accept a loan offer from a lender offering a pre-qualified rate.
• discounts and rewards: Some lenders may offer discounts, such as an automatic payment discount on your interest rate. Availability of discounts varies by lender.
• No tough credit checks– By using the market to view prequalified interest rates, you can search for the best lenders without signing up with each lender, which would result in multiplecredit queries(which can lower your credit score). Once you have a pre-qualified offer, you can apply with the lender with a better idea of ​​your chances of being approved, thus reducing your risk of being rejected after a tough credit check.
• Prequalification in minutes: To see rates, you answer a series of questions through Credible's comparison engine. You'll see your loan options side by side on your Credible dashboard in just a few minutes. If you don't want to wait for all the fees to come in, Credible can email, call, or text you when they're ready.

Technically,credibleIt is not a lender, but a lenders marketplace where you can search and compare pre-qualified rates for various types of loans, including private student loans, personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, and home and student loan refinancing. It has partnered with several lenders who offer private student loans.

Credible may be the best option if you have never applied for a loan or credit before and are not sure what types of loans your credit profile might qualify for. You can experiment with entering your information yourself and then entering information with a co-signer to see your options before requesting and submitting a hard credit check.

Ultimately, the best student loan for you is the one with the lowest interest rate and the best possible terms. But it's hard to know which one is the best without comparing the offers. This makes a marketplace like Credible a useful option.

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2. Loan Key

• types of loans: LendKey offers undergraduate and graduate student loans and student loan refinancing.
• loan options: LendKey offers loans with APRs as low as 2.14% variable or 3.99% fixed. You can borrow up to 100% of your school's cost of attendance, an amount that your school's financial aid office indicates based on tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, and other educational expenses.
• Payment options: Loan terms are five, 10 or 15 years.
• Availability: To apply, you must be enrolled at least part-time in a degree program at an approved school and be a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: If you apply with a co-signer, you may be eligible to release you from your loan obligations later on as your credit improves. To qualify, you must make the required number of consecutive loan payments on time (as stated in your loan agreement), provide proof of income, pass a credit check, and have no bankruptcies, foreclosures, or loan defaults.
• To evaluate: Pay no application or origination fees when applying for a loan through LendKey, regardless of the lender behind the loan.
• discounts and rewards: Lower your interest by 0.25 percentage points when you set up automatic payments on your loan.

LendKeyit is also a market for creditors. Unlike Credible, however, its lenders are mostly credit unions and community banks. Partner with these non-profit organizations to offer private student loans, student loan refinancing andhome improvement loans.

Also, although LendKey is not the lender, it services the loans (handles all payments and collections). It also originates all loans for its lending partners, who work with LendKey through its digital platform.

LendKey's lending options are pretty typical for the space without a lot of financial perks to set it apart from the competition. However, it is a good option if you prefer to support and work with small non-profit credit unions or community banks rather than large for-profit institutions.

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3. RISLA

• types of loans: RISLA offers student loans for undergraduate, graduate and education certificates for parents and borrowers. They also offer student loan refinancing.
• loan options: Loans come with fixed interest rates between 4.99% and 6.74% APR. There are no variable interest rate loans. You can borrow from $1,500 to $45,000 per year, up to the total annual cost of attending your school capped at a lifetime maximum of $150,000.
• Payment options: Loan terms are 10 or 15 years. If you choose the right type of loan, you can defer your RISLA student loan payments while you are enrolled and during a six-month grace period. Also, you can forgive your loans for up to 24 months. And RISLA offers an income-based payment plan, capping payments to 15% of income over a 25-year period.
• Availability: To apply, you must be enrolled in a Title IV non-profit public school and be a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: You can apply to release your co-signer after making 24 consecutive monthly payments on time. Periods during which you are on an income-based repayment plan do not qualify.
• To evaluate: Pay no application or origination fees.
• discounts and rewards: Internships can earn you $2,000 in student loan forgiveness. Nurses pay 0% interest for 48 months after graduation. And all borrowers can save 0.25% on their interest rate when they sign up for automatic payments.

RISLA, which stands for Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, is a non-profit organization based in Rhode Island. Despite its name, it is loaned to students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

One factor that sets it apart is its relatively low rates, with an interest rate cap of 6.74% for all borrowers.

Another standout feature is the income-based payment plan. RISLA is one of the only private lenders to offer an income-based plan, a useful safety net for borrowers struggling to pay off their loans after graduation.

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4. Ascension

(Video) 10 Best Private Student Loan Websites (2022) Watch First!

• types of loans: Ascent offers student loans to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as those pursuing an MBA, medical, dental, law, or doctoral degree.
• loan options: Loan of up to 100% of the cost of care, up to $200,000. Choose between variable rate and fixed rate loans. Junior and senior college students who do not previously qualify for a credit-based loan can apply for a loan of up to $20,000 per year through an underwriting that considers alternative factors such as future income potential, their school, degree program, date graduation, specialization and qualification. average. (Note: This is a typical student loan with a payment term and interest. It is not arevenue sharing agreement.)
• Payment options: Choose a repayment term of five, seven, 10, 12 or 15 years for credit-based loans, with no prepayment penalty.
• Availability: Any student who is a US citizen and attends an eligible institution can apply. Outside the United States, citizens may register with a credible co-signer who is a United States citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: Apply for release from your co-signer after making 24 consecutive on-time loan payments. Guarantor Release is not available for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals students or students who are not US citizens.
• To evaluate: Pay no application or origination fees when applying and applying for an Ascent loan.
• discounts and rewards: Ascent offers an autopay interest rate discount of 0.25 points. Upon graduation, you can apply for a cash reward of 1% of your loan principal balance. You must graduate within five years and set up automatic payments to be eligible.

riseis a student loan program created by financial technology company Goal Structured Solutions and lender Bank of Lake Mills. It offers tons of features, including some that its competitors don't, like exclusive subscription considerations and a cash back reward.

Therefore, Ascent is a good choice for students who need more flexibility than most private lenders offer, especially if you can't apply with a co-signer but don't have a strong credit history. It is also a unique option that offers greater opportunities to cover professional degrees, including degrees and doctorates in business, medicine, dentistry and law.

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5. SoFi

• types of loans: SoFi offers private loans for undergraduate and graduate students, including loans for law schools, MBAs, and parents. Like the Federal Parent Loan PLUS, SoFi Parent Loans allow parents to borrow in their name to pay for their child's education and avoid student debt.
• loan options: SoFi's student loan options allow you to choose between a fixed APR between 3.22% and 11.16% or a variable APR between 1.10% and 11.68%. Finance up to 100% of the cost of attending your school, with a minimum loan amount of $5,000.
• Payment options: Available loan terms are five, 10 or 15 years. SoFi offers deferral and forbearance options for borrowers who are experiencing job loss or financial difficulties. through yourUnemployment Protection Program, you can ask for monthly payments to be suspended for three months (up to 12 months during the term of the loan) if you lose your job through no fault of your own.
• Availability: Any student, including US citizens, permanent residents and visa holders, can apply. Non-US citizens must apply with a credible co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: You can apply for release of a loan co-signer after 24 months after completing loan payments on time.
• To evaluate: Don't pay application or origination fees to get a loan, as well as late fees or early payment penalties.
• discounts and rewards: Lower your interest rate by 0.25 percentage points by setting up automatic loan payments. Pay off your student loans with reward points.
• No difficult credit inquiry– Get pre-qualified on the SoFi website and see an interest rate quoted for your loan before submitting an official application and passing a tough credit check.

sofiis one of the leading online lenders known for private student loans and refinances. SoFi borrowers become SoFi "members" for free and have access to banking, investing, financial planning, career training, member events and rewards.

And their new SoFi Points program lets you earn rewards for using all of SoFi's financial tools, including saving, spending, and managing your credit with your SoFi Check, Savings, and Credit Card. You can use points to pay off eligible SoFi loans.

Customers tout SoFi's customer support, so it's a smart choice if that's important to you. SoFi is also a good choice if you want to use financial management tools to get started with banking or investing, as well as school loans.

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6. serious

• types of loans: Undergraduate and graduate students residing in the US are eligible to apply.
• loan options: Choose between a variable rate loan with rates starting at 1.74% or a fixed rate loan with rates starting at 2.99%. Borrow between $1,000 and up to 100% of the cost of care.
• Payment options: Loan terms range from five to 20 years. If you choose to defer your payment until after you leave school, you have a nine-month grace period before your first monthly payment is due (interest continues to accrue). After at least six consecutive months of on-time payments, you can request to delete one payment every 12 months. Interest continues to accrue and your payment term is extended by the number of missed months, which can result in a higher total cost. Choose whether loan payments are due monthly or every two weeks. Paying every other week can reduce the amount of interest you earn over the life of your loan.
• Availability: Cash loans are available anywhere in the US except Nevada. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents or apply with a co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: Earnest does not offer guarantor release and instead encourages borrowers to refinance a guarantor loan in their own name.
• To evaluate: Pay no origination fees or application fees to obtain a loan, or pay late or prepayment fees during checkout.
• discounts and rewards: Receive an automatic payment interest rate reduction of 0.25 points.

Seriousis a student loan service technology company offering benefits focused on flexibility and borrower success.

This company accounts for college students who need the flexibility of a lender when they start their careers after school. It might be a good fit for students in fields that don't promise high pay or job security right after graduation.

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7. University Avenue

(Video) Best Private Student Loans Of 2022 In USA

• types of loans: College Ave offers student loans to undergraduate and graduate students, including those at medical, dental, or law schools and those pursuing an MBA. A parent can also take out a loan in her name to pay for her child's education, and parents can choose to take $2,500 of the loan directly to have more control over how it is used.
• loan options: College Ave offers loans for up to 100% of the cost of attending your school, with a minimum loan of $1,000, with a fixed interest rate between 3.24% and 12.99% APR or a variable rate between 0. 94% and 11.98%.
• Payment options: Choose a loan term of five, eight, 10 or 15 years. While in school, you can choose to defer payments, make a $25 monthly payment, make interest-only payments, or make full payments. Parent loans come with the same flexible repayment options as student loans (minus the deferment at school).
• Availability: International students with a US Social Security number are eligible to apply for loans with College Ave. Most private student loans are only available to students who attend school at least part-time, but College Ave offers loans to students who attend full-time, part-time. time, or less than half the time in eligible schools.
• Co-signer release options– You can apply for release from your co-signer of the loan after half of the payment period has passed, you have made 24 consecutive payments on time, you have passed a credit check, and you have income for the last two years that is more than the twice your outstanding balance.
• To evaluate:Don't pay application or origination fees to get a College Ave loan.
• discounts and rewards: Students enrolled in an associate's, bachelor's, or graduate degree program at select universities and community colleges can apply for College Ave's Rewarded Success Career Loan and receive a $150 discount upon graduation.

college avenueis another major lender that specializes in student loans and student loan refinancing. Borrowers have access to several loan options and there is even a monthly grant competition.

College Ave can be a good choice for students who attend community colleges or only take one or two classes at a time, as it offers special benefits for these types of students. It can also be a great option for graduate students and professionals, offering low-interest graduate student loan options, as well as extended terms for things like medical residencies and scholarships or legal internships.

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8. Citizen Bank

• types of loans: Citizens Bank offers private student loans to undergraduate and graduate students. Your Parental Loan allows a parent to obtain a loan in their name to finance their child's education.
• loan options: Citizens Bank offers student loans with a minimum loan amount of $1,000, up to a maximum of $150,000 for the additional costs of your college education. Loan amounts for parents, graduates, and professional students range from $1,000 to $350,000. Get loans with a fixed APR of 3.47% to 9.35%. Citizens does not offer variable rate student loans.
• Payment options: Choose a payment term of five, 10 or 15 years. Loans for parents come with terms of five or ten years. Both students and parents can make full or interest-only payments while the student is in school or defer payments while the student is in school for up to eight years.
• Availability: Available to US citizens or permanent residents enrolled at least part-time in a degree program at an eligible institution. International students can apply for a loan with a trusted co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: You can request to release your co-signer after 36 consecutive on-time payments.
• To evaluate: Pay no application, origination, or disbursement fees to apply for or receive your loan.
• discounts and rewards: Get a 0.25 percentage point reduction on your interest rate for setting up automatic loan payments, and an additional 0.25 percentage point reduction if you or a co-signer have an existing Citizens Bank account.
• multi-year approval: Rather than reapplying every year or term, get approved once at the start of your freshman year to see how much you can borrow over your college career. In subsequent years, Citizens Bank only performs a mild credit check for a faster approval process with no impact on your credit score. Interest rates can fluctuate, so your new loan rate will be set each new year.

Citizen Bankis a traditional bank with branches in New England and online banking available to anyone in the US.

Although their offerings are pretty standard in the student loan market, this company is a good choice for those who prefer to work with a traditional institution, especially if you live in the Northeast and want access to physical branches.

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9. Discover

• types of loans: In addition to loans for undergraduate and graduate students and their parents, Discover offers residency loans and bar exam loans for medical and law school graduates.
• loan options: Choose from variable rate loans with rates between 1.79% and 11.24% APR or fixed rate loans with rates between 4.49% and 13.34% APR for undergraduate loans. Borrow between $1,000 and up to 100% of the cost of care with 15-year terms.
• Payment options: Your loan may be eligible for an additional three month deferment if it is still within the grace period or within the first three months of the amortization period. Discover offers flexible options for those who are having trouble making payments, including the ability to clear a delinquent loan by making three consecutive payments, lowering your minimum monthly payment by at least six months, and lowering your interest rate by at least six months. 🇧🇷
• Availability: To apply, you must be enrolled at least part-time in a degree program and have satisfactory academic progress (as defined by your school). US citizens and permanent residents can apply, and non-citizens can apply with a co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident. Students who are at least 16 years old can apply, a younger limit than most lenders, who often require applicants to be 18 years old (or the age of majority in their state).
• Co-signer release options: Discover does not offer a guarantor release option.
• To evaluate: Don't pay application or origination fees, late fees, or prepayment penalties.
• discounts and rewards: Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive a 1% cash reward on their disbursed loan balance, provided their GPA for any period covered by the loan is 3.0 or higher. Incoming freshmen can earn the reward for a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. Set up automatic loan payments to receive an interest rate deduction of 0.25 percentage points on any Discover student loan. Earn a 2% reward on your outstanding main balance when you graduate.
• multi-year option: Apply with a co-signer and you could qualify for a multi-year approval, which means you can see how much you can borrow for your entire education. In subsequent years, you and your co-signer apply with pre-filled forms and a flexible credit check.

To discoveris a decades-old financial institution best known for its credit cards. It has rapidly expanded its capabilities in consumer banking and lending over the last 15 years.

Discover is a smart choice for borrowers who want assistance and motivation to establish sound finances. Its products support the construction or reconstruction of credit. And its flexible options let you stay on track, even if you make a mistake or run into financial difficulties after school.

The bank also offers a Discover it refundstudent credit cardwith 5% cashback at places where students often shop, such as Amazon, grocery stores, and restaurants. And their free online checking account with cashback is a good option that can travel with students during and after school.

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10. Sallie Mae

(Video) What Are the Best Private Student Loans?

• types of loans: In addition to student, graduate, and parent loans, Sallie Mae offers law school and medical residency loans. Or borrow to pay for professional training and business certification courses at a non-degree school, such as a culinary school or technical school. Parents can apply for a loan in their name to pay for their child's higher education. They can also apply for a family education loan to pay for their children's K-12 private school with a three-year repayment term.
• loan options: Sallie Mae offers loans ranging from $1,000 up to 100% of the cost of attending her school. Choose from variable rate loans with rates between 1.87% and 11.97% APR and fixed rate loans with rates from 3.75% to 12.85% APR.
• Payment options: Choose from terms of five, 10, or 15 years.
• Availability: Students can apply regardless of whether they are attending the school full-time, part-time, or less part-time. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents or apply with a co-signer who is a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Co-signer release options: You can request to release your co-signer after making 12 consecutive payments on time.
• To evaluate: Pay no application or origination fees. Sallie Mae charges a 5% late fee, up to $25.
• discounts and rewards: Set up automatic loan payments to get a 0.25 percentage point deduction from your interest rate. Undergraduate borrowers receive four free months of Chegg Study, a personalized online homework help service. It offers a cash rewards credit card that you can use to pay off your student loans.

sallie maeis a private student loan lender that has been around since 1972. Since its founding, it has gone through iterations, which may confuse some borrowers into thinking it is a government or government-affiliated lender.

In its current iteration, Sallie Mae simply offers private student loans. In the past, it originated federally guaranteed loans and federal student loans, but it no longer does either.

This lender is the best choice for anyone looking to borrow for education that most lenders don't cover, including K-12 and trade schools.

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last word

Before applying for any loan, look foruniversity scholarships and grantsthat couldfinance part of your education without debt.

As part of your grant research, always fill out yourFree application for federal student aid(FAFSA) to see your help options. The form gives you access to more than just federal student loans. It also ensures that you receive any federal or institutional grants for which you qualify.

Submit your FAFSA ASAPas soon as possible to ensure the widest access to help. Institutional aid is often granted in advance on a first-come, first-served basis. The FAFSA opens for submission each year on October 1st, and you must submit it by June 30th of the academic year you need help with.

After exhausting all free or cheap options for college funding, including federal student loans, private student loan lenders can fill in any gaps.

When you compare private student loan companies, most will promote their financial appeal: the lowest interest rates and no fees. You need to dig deeper to make the best decision for your (or your child's) future finances.

Almost any lender you come across can offer low interest rates if your credit looks good. And most have eliminated fees to stay competitive. What sets them apart are their unique benefits and programs. Please review them carefully to find the lender that will best prepare you forfinancial success after college.

For example, SoFi's built-in financial services and community allow you to understand and manage your finances in one place. Earnest explains the job search and early career hurdles you might face after school. Discover offers rewards and payment assistance to support borrowers with low or unstable incomes. Find benefits and programs that fit your lifestyle and financial needs.

Once you graduate, it's always worth seeing if you can get an even lower rate and better terms. Fortunately, you can refinance your student loans whenever you get approved. if you are lookingrefinancing options, benefits and payment flexibility are just as crucial as new loans.

But remember: whenrefinance a federal student loanWith a private lender, you can save money at a lower interest rate. But you also lose tons ofpayment options and loan forgivenessthat come with federal loans.