Best Private Student Loans in 2024. Select Your School to Get Started!

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.

This information is for 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.

 

 

1. Interest is charged starting at disbursement, during school and the separation/grace period, and until the loan is paid in full. 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. Payments may be required during the grace/separation period depending on the repayment option selected. Variable rates may increase over the life of the loan. Advertised variable rates reflect the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Advertised APRs assume a $10,000 loan to a freshman with no other Sallie Mae loans. Borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction benefit. This benefit applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month and may be suspended during periods of forbearance or deferment, if available for the loan.

2. Although we do not charge you a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as provided in your promissory note: First to UnpaidFees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

3. This promotional benefit is provided at no cost to borrowers with new loans that first disburse prior to April 30, 2021. Borrowers who reside in, attend school in, or borrow for a student attending school in Maine are not eligible for this benefit. No cash value. Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit Chegg.com/studystarter/termsandconditions for complete details. This offer expires one year after issuance.

4. Loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received as certified by the school. Sallie Mae reserves the right to approve a lower loan amount than the school-certified amount.

5. Based 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, 2018 through September 30, 2019.

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

Information valid as of 12/28/2020.

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.

©2020 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.

Lowest APRs shown for Discover Student Loans are available for the most creditworthy applicants for undergraduate loans, and include an interest-only (https://www.discover.com/student-loans/interestonly) repayment discount and a 0.25% interest rate reduction while enrolled in automatic payments. The interest rate ranges represent the lowest and highest interest rates offered on the Discover Undergraduate Loan. The fixed interest rate is set at the time of application and does not change during the life of the loan. The variable interest rate is calculated based on the 3-Month LIBOR index plus the applicable margin percentage. For variable interest rate loans, the 3-Month LIBOR is 0.250% as of January 1, 2021. Discover Student Loans may adjust the rate quarterly on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 (the “interest rate change date”), based on the 3-Month LIBOR Index, published in the Money Rates section of the Wall Street Journal 15 days prior to the interest rate change date, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent (0.125% or 0.00125). This may cause the monthly payments to increase, the number of payments to increase or both. Our lowest APR is only available to customers with the best credit and other factors. Your APR will be determined after you apply. It will be based on your credit history, which repayment option you choose and other factors, including your cosigner’s credit history (if applicable). Learn more about Discover Student Loans interest rates at DiscoverStudentLoans.com/Rates.

* Auto Pay discount: If you make monthly payments by an automatic, monthly deduction from a savings or checking account, your rate will be reduced by one quarter of one percent (0.25%) for so long as you continue to make automatic, electronic monthly payments. Not all borrowers will qualify for our lowest rates, and your rate will be based on creditworthiness at time of application.

** Earnest 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 towards the forbearance limits outlined in your loan agreement. 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.

*** Not available for borrowers who choose Earnest’s Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.

Before applying for a private student loan, Citizens and Cognition Financial recommend comparing all
financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and both federal and private student loans.

The Union Federal® Private Student Loan is made by Citizens (“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 COGNITION FINANCIAL CORPORATION 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) 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 for applications received on or after 3/01/21. The variable interest rate for each
calendar month is calculated by adding the One-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or a
replacement index if the Lender, in their sole discretion, deems LIBOR to be substantially altered or if LIBOR
is no longer based on newly reported rates from its reporting banks, plus a fixed margin assigned to each
loan. The LIBOR is published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition). The
LIBOR index is captured on the 25th day of the immediately preceding calendar month (or if the 25th is not a
business day. The current LIBOR index is 0.11% on 3/01/21. The variable interest rate will increase or
decrease if the LIBOR index changes or if a new index is chosen. 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 and auto
pay discounts.

APRs assume a $10,000 loan with one disbursement. The high variable rate APR assumes a 7-year term with the Full
Deferment option, a 19 month deferment period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment.
The high fixed rate APR assumes a 15-year term with the Full Deferment option, a 31 month deferment
period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment. The low APRs assume a 7-year term, no
deferment and payments beginning 30-60 days after the disbursement via auto pay from a bank
account. See footnote 5 for auto pay details.

In order to provide you with a range of rates you prequalify for, Citizens will perform a soft credit
inquiry, as authorized by you. Soft credit inquiries do not affect your credit score. If you prequalify, the rates
and loan options offered to you are estimates only. Once you choose your loan options and submit your
application, Citizens will perform a hard credit inquiry. Loan approval, options, and final rates depend
on the verification of information provided on your application, and information obtained from the hard
credit inquiry (and any cosigner’s hard credit inquiry).

The 0.25% interest rate reduction will automatically be applied if the first 36 consecutive monthly
payments during the repayment term are received by the Servicer within 10 calendar days after their due date. Payments made prior to the start of the repayment term do not count toward the number of required
monthly payments.

Earn a 0.25% interest rate reduction for making automatic payments of principal and interest from a bank
account (“auto pay discount”) by completing the direct debit form provided by the Servicer. The auto pay discount will be applied
after the Servicer validates your bank account information and will continue until (1) three automatic
deductions are returned for insufficient funds during the life of the loan (after which the discount cannot be
reinstated) or (2) automatic deduction of payments is canceled. The auto pay discount is not available when
reduced payments are being made or when the loan is in a deferment or forbearance, even if payments are
being made.

Any applicant who applies for a loan the month of, the month prior to, or the month after the student’s
graduation date, as stated on the application or certified by the school, will only be offered the Immediate
Repayment option. The 15-year term and the Flat Payment Repayment option are only available on loans of
$5,000 or more.

Union Federal is a registered trademark of Cognition Financial Corporation. Union Federal Private Student
Loans are not offered in connection with any lender other than Citizens. or the federal
government. Cognition Financial Corporation is not an affiliate of Citizens Bank, N.A.

Citizens is a brand name of Citizens Bank, N.A. (NMLS ID# 433960). Member FDIC.

Before applying for a private student loan, Citizens and Cognition Financial recommend comparing all
financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and both federal and private student loans.

The Custom Choice Loan® is made by Citizens (“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 COGNITION FINANCIAL CORPORATION 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.

1. 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 for applications received on or after 3/01/21. The variable interest rate for each calendar month is
calculated by adding the One-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or a replacement index if the Lender, in their sole discretion, deems LIBOR to be substantially altered or if LIBOR is no longer based on newly reported rates from its reporting banks, plus a fixed margin assigned to each loan. The LIBOR is published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition). The LIBOR index is captured on the 25th day of the immediately preceding calendar month (or if the 25th is not a business day. The current LIBOR index is 0.11% on 3/01/21. The variable interest rate will increase or decrease if the LIBOR index changes or if a new index is chosen. 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 auto pay discount.

2. APRs assume a $10,000 loan with one disbursement. The high variable rate APR assumes a 7-year term with the Full Deferment option, a 19 month deferment period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment. The high fixed rate APR assumes a 15-year term with the Full Deferment option, a 31 month deferment period, and a six-month grace period before entering repayment. The low APRs assume a 7-year term, no deferment and payments beginning 30-60 days after the disbursement via auto pay from a bank account. See footnote 5 for auto pay details.

3. In order to provide you with a range of rates you prequalify for, Citizens will perform a soft credit inquiry, as authorized by you. Soft credit inquiries do not affect your credit score. If you prequalify, the rates and loan options offered to you are estimates only. Once you choose your loan options and submit your application, Citizens will perform a hard credit inquiry. Loan approval, options, and final rates depend on the verification of information provided on your application, and information obtained from the hard credit inquiry (and any cosigner’s hard credit inquiry).

4. Earn a 0.25% interest rate reduction for making automatic payments of principal and interest from a bank account (“auto pay discount”) by completing the direct debit form provided by the Servicer. The auto pay discount will be applied after the Servicer validates your bank account information and will continue until (1) three automatic deductions are returned for insufficient funds during the life of the loan (after which the discount cannot be reinstated) or (2) automatic deduction of payments is canceled. The auto pay discount is not available when reduced payments are being made or when the loan is in a deferment or forbearance, even if payments are being made.

5. The principal reduction is based on the total dollar amount of all disbursements made, excluding any amounts that are reduced, cancelled, 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.

6. Any applicant who applies for a loan the month of, the month prior to, or the month after the student’s graduation date, as stated on the application or certified by the school, will only be offered the Immediate Repayment option. The 15-year term and the Flat Payment Repayment option are only available on loans of $5,000 or more.

Custom Choice Loan^®is a service mark used under license.

Citizens is a brand name of Citizens Bank, N.A. (NMLS ID# 433960). Member FDIC.