Figuring out student loans is overwhelming. People start throwing out loan lingo left and right, and all the terms start to blend together. The term “cosigner” is one popular example of this loan lingo and often becomes a point of confusion. Understanding what a student loan cosigner is and when you may want to have …
Category Archives: Private Student Loans
Best Student Loan Rates of January 2025
The interest rate on your student loan(s) will drastically impact how much you pay over the life of the loan. Even a small increase in the interest rate could result in thousands of dollars more over your repayment term. Finding a low interest student loan should be of utmost priority when selecting the best option …
How to Get Student Loans with No Credit (December 2024)
Typically, it’s recommended that borrowers have a good credit score to access competitive student loan offers. But what if you have no credit at all? Don’t fret — there are a variety of student loan options for borrowers with no credit. Keep reading to learn how you can get student loans with no credit and …
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Best Parent Loans for College of January 2025
Given the rising cost of college, finding affordable college financing is more important than ever. As a parent, it’s both understandable and admirable to want to support your child through the process of paying for college. It’s essential that you have the tools to pick the best college loan. If you’re curious about your parent …
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Best Private Student Loans of 2025
The best student loan for you will always be the one that suits your individual needs best. However, it’s helpful to have a few strong options to start with so you can get a better idea of what your loan options will look like. Whether you’re pursuing an undergraduate degree, a law degree, or a …
Earnest Private Student Loans: 2024 Review
Earnest Snapshot Earnest offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing.1 Earnest’s student loans are available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. It is best if you are seeking competitive interest rates, unique borrower perks, and flexible repayment options that allow you to find a loan that matches your budget. Fixed APR Range: 4.42% to …
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Best Private Student Loans of 2025
The best student loan for you will always be the one that suits your individual needs best. However, it’s helpful to have a few strong options to start with so you can get a better idea of what your loan options will look like. Whether you’re pursuing an undergraduate degree, a law degree, or a …
SoFi Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
SoFi Snapshot SoFi began offering private student loans in 2019 and has quickly become a strong option for undergraduates, graduates, law and MBA students, and parents looking to fund the cost of their education. With competitive interest rates, a diverse set of repayment options, and exclusive member benefits, SoFi is a good fit for borrowers …
Average Student Loan Interest Rate in January 2025
An important factor when shopping for student loans is looking at the interest rate. But interest rates can be a little confusing. You may ask yourself questions like: Before you panic, don’t worry. We’ve got your back. To give you an idea of what to look for in interest rates, let’s go over the average …
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How and Where to Get Private Student Loans for Bad Credit
“Can I get a student loan even though I have bad credit?” The simple answer: yes. The more complicated answer: welllll, yes, but it’s going to be trickier. While most federal student loans don’t require you to have a good credit score, or any credit at all, most private student loans, on the other hand, …
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Best Student Loans Without Cosigner in December 2024
While a cosigner can help you qualify for loans and get you better repayment terms, that may not be an option for you. If you’re finding yourself without a cosigner, know that it’s okay. There are plenty of student loans you can get without a cosigner. So, let’s get into it. Compare Student Loans without …
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LendKey Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
LendKey Snapshot LendKey offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing. By connecting borrowers with a network of 100+ lesser-known credit unions and community banks, LendKey allows you to work with smaller lenders with low rates and good customer service, rather than traditional lending institutions. LendKey’s student loan refinance offering is available to graduates …
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Brazos Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Brazos Snapshot Brazos is a non-profit lender that offers private student loans and student loan refinancing. Since it was launched in 1975, Brazos has focused on bringing transparency and low-cost loans to Texas residents. While Brazos private student loans are only available to borrowers who are residents of, or students in, Texas, the non-profit lender …
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LendKey Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
LendKey Snapshot LendKey offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing. By connecting borrowers with a network of 100+ lesser-known credit unions and community banks, LendKey allows you to work with smaller lenders with low rates and good customer service, rather than traditional lending institutions. LendKey’s student loan offering is available to undergraduate and …
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EdvestinU Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
EdvestinU Snapshot EdvestinU is a student loan program from the nonprofit New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corp. They offer private student loans and student loan refinancing to students across the country. In order to qualify for EdvestinU’s student loan refinancing, you do not need to be from New Hampshire or even have graduated school. EdvestinU’s …
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5 Strategies: How to Pay for Grad School
Earning a graduate degree is a great way to increase your income potential. In fact, Indeed reported that, on average, the earnings increase from a bachelor’s to master’s degree is roughly 20%. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to understand how to pay for grad school. Graduate school can be expensive. According to FinAid.org, a graduate …
Are Student Loan Payments Tax Deductible?
If you’re a borrower, you may be wondering, “Are student loan payments tax deductible?” For qualifying borrowers, the answer is yes. Student loan payments ARE tax deductible. The student loan interest deduction is a federal tax break that lowers how much of your income is taxed. The federal government created this deduction to assist borrowers …
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Sallie Mae vs SoFi: Which is Better for Student Loans?
Sallie Mae and SoFi are two reputable lenders in the private loan industry, so you truly can’t go wrong with either. If you’re debating Sallie Mae vs SoFi, here’s what you should know about their private student loans before borrowing with either lender. Sallie Mae vs. SoFi: A Side-by-Side Comparison The table below offers an …
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Earnest vs SoFi: Who’s Better for Student Loan Refinancing?
Refinancing your student loans is a great way to lower the interest rate or monthly payment of your current loan. If you’re debating between Earnest vs SoFi, here’s what you should know about both lenders before picking one to move forward with. Earnest offers student loan refinancing with customizable repayment plans, letting you choose your …
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How Much Does Grad School Cost?
If you are considering going to grad school after college, you may be wondering, “How much does grad school cost?” Making the decision to attend graduate school is one thing, but paying for it is another issue. Whether you plan to take out graduate student loans, receive a scholarship, or pay out-of-pocket, being aware of …
What is the Average College Tuition?
With average college tuition costs rising every year due to inflation, it’s increasingly important to be aware of the costs associated with higher education. One aspect of this is understanding what exactly tuition is, along with how it differs across factors like geographical location and institution type. Tuition vs. Cost of Attendance Tuition and cost …
Can You Use Student Loans for Living Expenses?
Both federal and private student loans can be used for educational expenses. While that typically means costs like tuition and fees, there’s a variety of items that fall under the umbrella. In fact, you can use your student loans for living expenses, child support, and even study-abroad programs. Can I Get a Student Loan to …
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How Long Does It Take to Get a Student Loan?
If you need to take out student loans to pay for educational costs, you’re not alone. With rising college prices, it’s no surprise that one in seven Americans currently hold student loan debt. If you’re a first-time borrower, you may be wondering, “How long does it take to get a student loan after submitting an …
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Best Parent Student Loans of December 2024
Now that your student was accepted into their dream school, it’s time to figure out how to pay for their education (as if getting into college wasn’t difficult enough, eh?). From parent loans to student loans, you have a lot of options. Therefore, finding the most suitable way to afford educational costs can be difficult …
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Student Loan Default: What It Is and How to Financially Recover
According to the Education Data Initiative, around 15% of student loans are in default at any given time. If you are in student loan default, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. However, don’t lose hope. There are many ways to financially recover from it. Jump Ahead > What is Student Loan Default? • What Happens …
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What Can I Use Student Loans For?
Borrowing a student loan is a big decision. Figuring out how much to borrow, where to borrow from, and how to navigate getting the money where it needs to go can be confusing. Before anything else, you should consider what you intend to use the loan money for. While student loans need to be used …
How to Apply for Private Student Loans
Americans have borrowed more than $136 billion from private student lenders. Private student loans are a popular option because they can help fill the monetary gaps that federal student loans and financial aid do not. If you think borrowing private loans is the right option for you, keep reading. We’ll tell you everything that you …
Student Loan vs. Parent Loan: Which is Better?
Borrowing student loans is a common practice to afford educational expenses. That said, deciding which option is best can be a difficult decision to make. In the debate of student loan vs. parent loan, here’s what you should consider. What to Consider Before Pursuing Loans Before considering any loan, maximize all available financial aid. This includes …
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Which Type of Financial Aid Should You Accept First?
Now that you’ve been accepted into college, it’s time to figure out how you are going to pay for your education. As you sift through your financial aid packages, it may be confusing to differentiate between the different types of financial aid you were offered. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know …
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Best Student Loans for Parents with Bad Credit
So, your kid is going to college? That’s great! Yet, as great as it is, you are a little worried. How are you going to afford the college tuition? Or the living expenses? You want to take out a loan. If you have bad credit, this process can be more difficult. However, there are many …
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Complete Guide to Biden’s Student Loan Relief
On August 24th, 2022, President Biden released his comprehensive, wide-scale plan for student loan forgiveness. This student loan relief package has nearly $4 billion dollars in aid and is the largest student loan forgiveness package to date. The three-part package was designed to lift the financial burden of student loan debt for millions of Americans, …
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How to Talk to Your Child About Student Loans
Starting the conversation about paying for college isn’t always easy, especially if you anticipate being met with one big eye-roll. While tough to navigate, it’s an important discussion to have. If you’re not quite sure where to start, here’s a quick guide on how to have the student loan conversation with your child. Start the …
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Do Student Loans Affect My Credit Score?
If you’ve borrowed a student loan to fund your college education, you may be curious about the impact it could have on your credit score. Like other installment loans, student loans can both help and hurt your credit. If you’re diligent about making payments on time, it may give your score a boost. If you’re …
Should I Accept All of the Financial Aid Offered to Me?
College is expensive, but that doesn’t mean you should accept every last bit of financial aid. Now I know, that probably sounds counterintuitive. I mean, who wouldn’t use all the offered financial aid?! However, there are many instances where financial aid can actually be detrimental rather than helpful, so knowing when to decline certain financial …
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Parent PLUS Loans vs Private Loans: Which is Better?
Congratulations on your child’s admission to college! The journey isn’t quite over yet – now, it’s time to explore the options you have for paying for the education. Between federal student loans and private student loans, the decision can be difficult to make. Each loan type caters to different individuals, so it’s important to understand …
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How to Apply for Student Loans
After being accepted into college, it’s important to see what options you have for financing the cost of your education. While scholarships, grants, and federal work-study aid should always be accepted first, you may wind up considering student loans as well. Though the process may seem daunting, we’ve simplified it for you with a step-by-step …
Student Loan Servicers: Everything You Need to Know
If you’re a student loan borrower, you’ve probably heard the term “student loan servicer” before. But what exactly is a student loan servicer, and why does it matter? In this blog post, we’ll dive deeper into everything you need to know about student loan servicers, including how to find out who your servicer is, what …
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Average Student Loan Monthly Payment: How to Lower Yours
According to an Education Data report, the average student loan debt is around $39,351 per borrower. As a result, it can be hard to make the average student loan monthly payment. If you’re currently experiencing this and are trying to figure out how you can cut costs, you’re in the right place. Lucky for you, …
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Can You Pay Student Loans with a Credit Card?
Making student loan payments with a credit card may be tempting, especially if you don’t have the cash to do so — or if you want to earn extra rewards on your card. That said, it isn’t always possible, nor is it recommended in most cases. Before attempting to pay your student loans with a …
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How Do Student Loans Work?
In the United States, 48 million borrowers owe a cumulative total of $1.75 trillion in student loan debt. As we can see, while student loans can cover a significant portion of educational costs, it means that you’ll owe a significant portion as well. If you plan to take out student loans to pay for the …
Does Cosigning a Student Loan Affect My Credit?
Cosigning is a popular practice in the world of private student loans. Most students do not have sufficient enough credit histories to qualify for competitive private loans on their own, which is why a cosigner steps in to help. However, at this point you may be wondering, “does cosigning a student loan affect my credit?” If …
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What is Trade School? Is It Free?
Many people don’t talk about the different pathways that you can take after high school graduation, except the traditional four-year college route. Going to trade school is a viable option to consider if attending college is not for you. You may be wondering, ‘what is trade school’ and ‘is trade school free?‘ Trade school has a …
How to Apply for College | A Step by Step Guide
Once the summer wraps up, it’s the busiest time of the year for high school seniors: college application season. From juggling deadlines, to standardized tests, to finalizing your college list, the process of applying for college can become quite tumultuous and hectic. If you need a breakdown on how to apply for college, here’s seven …
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Best Private Lenders for Student Loans
Navigating the student loan process can be overwhelming. With so many student lenders to choose from, deciding which one you’d like to work with can be quite the challenge. Ultimately, the best student lender for you will be the one that suits you best. That said, it’s helpful to know a bit about each of …
Earnest Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Earnest Snapshot Earnest offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing.1 Earnest’s student loans are available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. It is best if you are seeking competitive interest rates, unique borrower perks, and flexible repayment options that allow you to find a loan that matches your budget. Fixed APR Range: 4.42% to …
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Earnest Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
Earnest Snapshot Earnest offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing.1 With competitive interest rates, customizable repayment plans, and a forward-looking eligibility criteria, Earnest is a good fit for borrowers who don’t have a cosigner but have a strong credit score.1 Fixed APR Range: 4.96% to 9.79%* (includes 0.25% auto pay discount) Variable APR …
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Best Places for Private Student Loans
The best student loan will always be the one that meets your needs best. That said, it’s helpful to start the process with a list of strong options to make navigating the process easier. Here are our top picks for the best places for private student loans. The loan options shared are in no particular …
What is a Student Loan and Is It Right for You?
College is on the horizon and you’ve never felt more excited. You’ve already got plans for what you’ll do to your dorm and what classes you’re going to take. But there’s just one little problem: student loans. You know you might need to take out some student loans for college, but you just don’t know …
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11 Ways to Pay for College Without Your Parents’ Help
According to Education Data, American parents save $5,143 annually for their kid’s college, on average. Without this parental support, paying for college can feel out of reach. However, each year, thousands of students pay for college on their own, successfully utilizing a variety of resources to support them. Here’s how you can pay for college …
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Best Private Student Loans for Undergraduates
Undergraduate students have a wide range of student loan options to choose from, making the selection process that much more important. Before agreeing to any one loan, it’s important to understand your options, the pros and cons of each, and how your student loan decision impacts your future. The following are our top picks for …
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ISL Education Lending Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
ISL Education Lending Snapshot ISL Education Lending is a nonprofit student loan lender offering both private student loans and student loan refinancing. ISL Education Lending refinance loans are best for borrowers who want to work with a nonprofit lender, want competitive interest rates, on-site loan servicing, or want to refinance without having a degree. Fixed …
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INvestED Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
INvestED Snapshot INvestED offers private student loans, parent loans, and student loan refinancing. INvestED’s student loan refinance offering is best if you are a resident of Indiana or student who attended school in Indiana seeking competitive interest rates and a variety of repayment options. Fixed APR Range: 5.85% to 9.48% Variable APR Range: 8.63% to …
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INvestED Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
INvestED Snapshot INvestED offers private student loans, parent loans, and student loan refinancing. INvestED’s student loan offering is best if you are a resident of or student in Indiana seeking competitive interest rates, a variety of repayment options, and a flexible repayment option. Fixed APR Range: 4.61% to 8.67% Variable APR Range: 7.88% to 12.34% …
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Sallie Mae Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Sallie Mae Snapshot Sallie Mae is one of the largest online private student lenders, offering borrowers competitive interest rates, a variety of repayment options, and a strong customer experience. Sallie Mae’s loan offering is available for a variety of programs such as undergraduate, graduate, MBA, law, medical, dental, and career training programs. Sallie Mae is …
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SoFi Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
SoFi Snapshot SoFi is one of the largest student loan refinance companies in the industry. With competitive interest rates, a diverse set of repayment options, and exclusive member benefits, SoFi is a good fit for borrowers with an associate’s degree or higher or borrowers with a high income and strong credit score. Fixed APR Range: …
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What is the Average Student Loan Debt?
As a college student, you’ll no doubt hear about the massive rise in the average student loan debt. Rightfully so, you might get scared and overwhelmed at the idea of incurring a lot of debt. However, the amount of debt you’ll incur is based on factors like the type of loan you take out, the …
MPOWER Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
MPOWER Snapshot MPOWER is an online lender that offers non-cosigned undergraduate and graduate student loans to international, domestic, and DACA students, as well as student loan refinancing. It is best for international students and DACA students who don’t have a credit history and can’t access a qualified cosigner. Fixed APR Range: up to 11.74% (12.69% …
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EdvestinU Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
EdvestinU Snapshot EdvestinU is a student loan program from the nonprofit New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corp that offers private student loans and student loan refinancing to students across the country. EdvestinU private student loans are available nationwide to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as international students with an eligible cosigner. It is best …
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Edly Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Edly IBR Student Loan, funded by FinWise Bank, Member FDIC Snapshot Edly Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Student Loans, originated by Edly’s lending bank FinWise Bank, Member FDIC, provide an alternative loan option for students. Degree-seeking students at an Edly-supported school currently have two loan options: the Edly IBR No Cosigner Student Loan (for university students without …
Ascent Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Ascent Snapshot Ascent is an online lender that offers three types of student loans: a traditional cosigned loan, a non-cosigned credit-based loan, and a non-cosigned outcomes-based loan. The traditional cosigned loan is best for students who have a qualified cosigner and want to pay off their debt fast. The non-cosigned loan is best for borrowers …
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Arkansas Student Loan Authority Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
Arkansas Student Loan Authority Snapshot The Arkansas Student Loan Authority (ASLA) is an Arkansas state entity that provides educational funding for all Arkansas students who wish to attend higher education institutions. ASLA offers three types of student loans: undergraduate and graduate loans, family loans, and student loan refinancing. While ASLA’s student loan refinancing is only …
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Arkansas Student Loan Authority Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Arkansas Student Loan Snapshot The Arkansas Student Loan Authority (ASLA) is an Arkansas state entity that provides educational funding for all Arkansas students who wish to attend higher education institutions. ASLA offers three types of student loans: undergraduate and graduate loans, family loans, and student loan refinancing. The traditional undergraduate and graduate student loans are …
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Best Student Loan Companies of 2024
In a sea of student loan companies, finding the best one for you may feel overwhelming. Each private student loan company will offer something different. Some elements may be right up your alley and others maybe not so much. While the best student loan company for you will ultimately be the one that suits your …
Custom Choice Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Custom Choice Student Loan Snapshot The Custom Choice Loan® is funded by Citizens. The Custom Choice Loan offers borrowers competitive rates, flexible repayment terms, and strong customer service. The loan is available for undergraduate and graduate students. It’s best if you want competitive interest rates, are seeking a flexible repayment term, and want strong borrower …
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How to Get a Good Student Loan Without Parents’ Help
Around 1 in 5 Americans hold student loans, which is hardly a surprise. After exhausting your scholarship, grant, work-study, fellowship, and financial aid options, student loans are a plausible option for filling in the gaps in your education costs. Given the nationwide student debt crisis, it’s more important than ever to secure a competitive student …
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How to Pay for College with No Financial Aid
Each year, college-bound students anticipate receiving their college financial aid award letters. Oftentimes, financial aid becomes a make-it-or-break-it factor in pursuing a higher education. If your financial aid award is too small, it could put attending that university out of the question. But what if you receive no financial aid at all? Before you throw …
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How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Ability to Get a Student Loan
Navigating adult life is easier with a good credit score. This three-digit number affects nearly every facet of your financial life, from paying for college, to renting an apartment, to buying a car. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about credit, focusing on how your credit score impacts your ability …
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Pros and Cons of Being a Cosigner
Whether you’re the parent, aunt, or friend of a student who is planning to pursue a higher education, chances are that the student will need a cosigner to be approved for a private student loan. Students usually don’t have long enough credit histories in order to be deemed reliable borrowers. So, most private student lenders …
Nelnet Bank Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Nelnet Bank Snapshot Nelnet Bank offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing. Nelnet Bank’s student loan offering is available to undergraduate, graduate, MBA, law, and health professional students. It’s best if you are seeking competitive rates, a variety of repayment terms, and a flexible forbearance policy. Fixed APR Range: 4.49% to 15.47%* Variable …
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MPOWER Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
MPOWER Snapshot MPOWER is an online lender that offers non-cosigned undergraduate and graduate student loans to international, domestic, and DACA students. It is best for international students and DACA students who don’t have a credit history and can’t access a qualified cosigner. Fixed APR Range: up to 13.74% (14.75% APR)* Variable APR Range: N/A Loan …
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Prodigy Finance Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Prodigy Finance Snapshot Prodigy Finance is an online lender that offers non-cosigned graduate student loans to international students. It is best for international students who don’t have a credit history and can’t access a qualified cosigner. Fixed APR Range: N/A Variable APR Range: 6.7%+ Loan Amounts: $10,000 ($35,000 in specific U.S. states) to $220,000 Minimum …
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College Ave Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
College Ave Student Loan Refinancing Snapshot College Ave offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing with competitive rates, flexible repayment terms, and strong customer service. College Ave’s student loan refinance offering is best if you are seeking a more flexible repayment term that allows you to find a loan that matches your budget. …
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College Ave Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
College Ave Snapshot College Ave offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing with competitive rates, flexible repayment terms, and strong customer service. College Ave’s student loan offering is available for undergraduates, graduate students, professional school students, career school students, and parents of students. It’s best if you are seeking a more flexible repayment …
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Can You Cosign a Private Student Loan with Bad Credit?
In the 2019-20 academic year, 92%1 of private, newly originated undergraduate student loans were cosigned. Agreeing to cosign a student loan is a great option to bolster a student borrower’s chances of receiving a student loan. It can also help the borrower secure more favorable terms, such as competitive interest rates, preferable repayment options, and …
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7 Things to Do If You’re Denied a Student Loan
There’s no doubt that college can get expensive, and a lot of times you may need a student loan to pay for it. But what if you’re denied a loan? Here’s what you can do. Why You’re Getting Denied a Student Loan There are many different reasons why your student loan applications might be getting …
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Nelnet Bank Student Loan Refinancing: 2024 Review
Nelnet Bank Snapshot Nelnet Bank offers both private student loans and student loan refinancing. Nelnet Bank’s student loan refinance offering is best if you are seeking competitive rates, a flexible forbearance policy, and the ability to refinance both private and/or federal student loans, including parent PLUS Loans. Fixed APR Range: 7.12% to 11.19%* Variable APR …
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Funding U Private Student Loans: 2025 Review
Funding U Snapshot Funding U is an online lender that focuses exclusively on undergraduate students with no cosigner. Rather than looking at your credit score or income, Funding U looks at non-traditional metrics such as your GPA and estimated future earnings to assess your creditworthiness. Funding U’s student loan is best if you are a …
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Brazos Student Loan Refinancing: 2025 Review
Brazos Snapshot Brazos is a non-profit lender that offers private student loans and student loan refinancing. Since it was launched in 1975, Brazos has focused on bringing transparency and low-cost loans to Texas residents. While Brazos student loan refinancing is only available to Texas residents, the non-profit lender offers competitive rates and flexible terms to …
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Best Student Loan Refinance Companies for Bad Credit
Whether you’re well-versed with student loans or know nothing about it, we all want to make the smartest, most cost-effective decision when it comes to our financial circumstances. Refinancing your student loan is a great financial decision and a feasible option for student borrowers, even if you have poor credit. Refinancing, in simple terms, is …
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How to Pay for Dental School: The Top 4 Strategies You Need to Know
Becoming a dentist has a variety of benefits, but getting there can be quite expensive. A 4-year dental school program could run you about $400,000 with all expenses included. That’s why it’s essential to understand how to best pay for dental school The return on investment with a dental degree is promising, with the average …
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5 Best Private Student Loans for Bad Credit
Your credit score is like the report card of adulthood, except it’s one number based on your creditworthiness, as opposed to letter grades. As a college student, having a bad credit score isn’t optimal when it comes to securing a private student loan. However, don’t lose hope just yet. You still have a variety of options …
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How to Pay for Law School: The Top 4 Strategies You Need to Know
According to the Law School Admission Council, a law degree can cost upwards of $150,000. While there are more affordable law programs, it isn’t uncommon for law school graduates to end up in a fair amount of student debt. If you’re headed to law school any time soon, the reality of how much it costs …
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Best Student Loans for Dental School
The average dental student’s debt is around $300,000. While this can be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. You can minimize your debt by making educated loan decisions and choosing the right loans for you. Let’s get into it. Can I Get Loans for Dental School? Yes. The two main loans you’ll hear about are …
Best Student Loans for Law School
The average lawyer earns about $148,000 per year. But the average law school debt is $160,000. It is important, then, that you understand law school loans and get the best ones. That way, when you graduate, your loans will be more manageable. Student Loan Options for Law School You have two main options when it …
Best Student Loans for Medical School
Medical school is really expensive. That’s why so many students opt to get student loans. Before you start applying though, let’s go over some things you need to know about medical school loans. How Do Medical School Loans Work? With medical school loans, you can take out a lot more than you’re probably used to. …
Best Graduate School Student Loans
The average graduate student borrower leaves school with $71,000 in student debt. This is on top of undergraduate student loans, bringing the average debt total for graduate students to $82,800. While an exciting new chapter of your life, financing your graduate education may feel overwhelming. Before selecting a loan to pay for graduate school, it’s …
Types of Student Loans: Which One is Right for Me?
When paying for college, there are two main types of student loans you will find: federal and private. Within these categories, there are several kinds of loans, each designed to cover a different academic program. Before taking out a student loan, it’s important to understand the broader landscape of your loan options. That way, you …
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How to Get Student Loans for Graduate School
First off, congratulations on graduate school! That’s an amazing accomplishment. Getting accepted to graduate school might mean having to go through the loan process. Again. Now, they’re graduate student loans, which can sound more intimidating. The good news is they don’t have to be. The better news? This article will help you on the topic …
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What is an Institutional Loan?
Okay, so you probably already know about federal and private student loans, right? Well, let us introduce you to another type of loan: the institutional loan. Like with any type of loan, institutional loans have their own little ins and outs that you need to know about. Before we go over them, though, let’s answer …
Best Student Loan without a Cosigner in December 2024
Qualifying for student loans on your own is already hard because chances are you have too limited of a financial history. Now, imagine that you don’t have a cosigner to help with that. It’s even harder. Let’s go through how to find the best student loan for people without a cosigner: What Is A Cosigner? …
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International Student’s Guide to Student Loans
Studying in the United States is an exciting opportunity. When it comes to funding this new chapter, there are various options including scholarships, grants, and student loans. While helpful, scholarships and grants may not cover your entire cost of attendance. If so, a private international student loan may be your next step. To get you …
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Can You Get an International Student Loan Without a Cosigner?
According to the Institute of International Education, 73% of international students in the United States depend on resources outside the country to pay for their college education. This sentiment is true when it comes to cosigners, too. Most international students only have access to a cosigner outside the U.S. However, many private student lenders require …
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Are International Students Eligible for Federal Student Aid?
As an international student, navigating the U.S. financial aid process can be tricky and stressful. You may have questions about whether, as an international student, you are eligible for certain types of aid. In this article, we’ll talk about federal student aid and the eligibility criteria for international students. Are International Students Eligible for Federal …
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How to Apply for International Student Loans
So, you’ve done your research on international student loans. You feel a little better knowing everything that you do now. All that’s left is to apply, but how do you do that? Let’s get into it. When to Apply for International Student Loans Before you can officially start applying, you need to have a couple …
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Are International Students Eligible for Student Loans?
As an international student, attending college in the U.S. can be exciting. It can also be expensive. Since many U.S. students take out student loans to pay for college, you might be wondering if you can too. In this post, we’ll dive into the student loan eligibility of international students and the availability of student …
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How to Get an International Student Loan Without an SSN
While studying in the United States can be incredibly exciting, paying for it as an international student without a Social Security Number (SSN) can be confusing. But don’t worry. In this article, we’ll break down the student loan process for international students with no SSN. That way, you can feel confident in your borrowing decisions. Jump …
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Student Loan Limits: How Much Can You Borrow in Student Loans?
Student loans cover the gap between the cost of college and what you’re able to pay out of pocket. While student loans can cover quite a bit, they do have limits. There are two main types of student loans: federal and private. The borrowing limit for each type of loan will depend on various factors. …
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Best Student Loans for International Students
Federal student loans are only available to United States citizens and eligible noncitizens. Thus, many international students have fewer student loan options when studying in the United States. For many international students, a private student loan is the best way to pay for college. Many lenders offer loans to international students, but most require a …
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What are International Student Loans?
There are about 20 million students in the U.S., including international students. When figuring out how to pay for your education, you’ll come across student loans. Yet, international student loans work differently than private student loans for students from the United States. Here’s your guide to navigating the world of international student loans. What Are …
Student Loan Eligibility: Private and Federal Loans
There are two types of student loans: private and federal. While private student loans are provided by private entities such as banks and financial institutions, federal student loans are provided by the federal government. If you think you may need a student loan to pay for college, check your student loan eligibility ASAP. How to …
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How Do I Compare Student Loans?
You’ve exhausted all of your scholarship, grant, and work-study options. Now, it’s time to start considering student loans to cover that last mile of financial need. When you look at your student loan options on paper, they may seem suspiciously similar. However, there are various elements to loans that can make them drastically different. In …
What is a Cosigner Release Policy? How Can It Protect You?
Every student’s biggest fear when it comes to private student loans is not qualifying. Having a cosigner can help prevent that. The thing is you may not want a cosigner for the entire life of the loan. In that case, you’ll want to check with different lenders to see who offers a cosigner release policy. …
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What is a Student Loan Grace Period?
Before even starting college, you’ll imagine all the things that you can do with your degree. But then it hits you: student loans. The great news is that student loans include grace periods that give you time to plan before it’s time to pay. In this article, we’ll dive into what a student loan grace …
What Credit Score is Needed for a Student Loan?
As you enter the student loan scene, you’ll hear the terms “credit” and “credit score” thrown around a lot. But what credit score is needed for a student loan, and why does it matter? All student loans have qualifications that you have to meet. For some, one of those qualifications is having good credit. That …
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Student Loan Interest vs APR: What’s the Difference?
Shopping around for loans is already hard enough. Then, you add in interest rates and APRs, and it’s like a whole new world. A difficult one. But it doesn’t have to be. So, what are interest rates? What is an APR? And is an APR the same thing as an interest rate? What Are Interest …
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Variable vs Fixed Interest Rate Student Loans: Which is Better?
Whether you’re just applying for a student loan or you’re trying to refinance your student loans as a way to pay them off, you’ll often get the choice between a variable vs a fixed interest rate. You might be asking yourself, “what does that mean?” In this article, we’ll take a look at what variable …
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How to Save Thousands on Student Loans with an Autopay Discount
Forgetting to pay a bill, especially your student loans, can be scary. Automating your payments is an easy way to help you keep track of your student loans and never miss a payment. However, did you know that autopay can also save you money? In this post, we’ll dive into what autopay is, the potential …
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Loans vs. Grants vs. Scholarships: What’s the Difference?
Figuring out how to pay for college is like walking through a minefield. You’re scared to even take a step because it may be the wrong one. But you don’t have to be! There are 3 big resources people use to help them pay for college: scholarships, grants, and loans. Let’s go over them. What …
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How to Compare Student Loan Interest Rates
Imagine you’re shopping around for student loans. You can’t seem to make a final decision on which to get because the interest rates are confusing. Understandably, you have a lot of questions. What are they? How does it affect your payments? And most importantly, what’s a good interest rate? Let’s go over it. What Is …
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How to Compare Student Loan Repayment Terms
If you’re considering taking out a private student loan to fund your education, it’s important to carefully review and compare the repayment terms offered by different lenders. Private student loan repayment terms can vary widely and can have a significant impact on the total cost of your loan, as well as your ability to manage …
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How We Select the Lenders We Partner With
Sparrow partners with financial institutions to provide students and their families with a streamlined search and comparison process that helps borrowers find the best private student loan offers in minutes. We believe transparency is key to earning and maintaining borrowers’ trust. That’s why we take who we partner with seriously. The lenders that borrowers choose …
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How to Pay for College
Let’s set the scene. You got accepted into your dream school. You’re so excited you can hardly contain it. A few days go by and the reality sets in. How am I going to pay for this? You log into your school’s payment portal and look at the total cost of attendance. Before you panic, …
When Should I Refinance My Student Loans?
With rising college costs, student loans are placing a strain on more and more people’s lives. Student loan refinancing can help with that. This is what you need to know about when to refinance your student loan: What is Refinancing? Refinancing is when a lender agrees to pay off your current loan(s) in their entirety. …
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The Top 10 Student Loan Mistakes You Might Be Making
The bad news: Unfortunately, there’s several mistakes we see students make when dealing with their student loans. The good news: We’ve compiled them into a list with steps on how to avoid those mistakes so you don’t make them. Here we go! 1. Borrowing Too Much Money These aren’t in any specific order, but this …
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What to Consider Before Refinancing Your Student Debt
Looking at your student loan balance is like biting into a chocolate chip cookie only to realize it’s actually oatmeal raisin. Tragic.
The Most Effective Tactics for Paying Off Student Debt Faster
The longer your loans sit, the more interest accrues. The more interest that accrues, the more your overall debt grows. The more your overall debt grows, the larger your payments. (You see where this is going…) Here’s a comprehensive list of things you can do to pay off your student debt faster, helping you save …
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4 Types of Financial Aid for College
You may be wondering what the difference is between scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans. The four main types of financial aid differ in terms of structure and eligibility. Here is the basic information you need to know about the different types of financial aid: The Basics: Comparing Financial Aid Options Which Type of Financial …
Student Loan Glossary | Complete List of Loan Vocabulary
An Annual Percentage Rate, or APR, is the interest rate applied on a student loan for the whole year. This number may differ from your interest rate because it takes into account any fees associated with your loan.
The Most Effective Debt Payoff Strategy You Need to Know
Even thinking about your student debt can be overwhelming, but knowing how you’re going to pay it off is important. Let’s review the 3 main strategies for paying off debt and their general effectiveness. 1. (Least Effective) The Shotgun Approach The Shotgun Approach is where you pay just a bit more than the minimum payment …
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Forbearance vs. Deferment vs. Forgiveness
Forbearance, deferment, and forgiveness all have some element of not making payments on your student loan. If deciphering the difference seems a bit challenging, read on as we break it down! What is Loan Forbearance? Loan forbearance provides you the opportunity to suspend loan payments temporarily for no more than 12 months at a time. …
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How Student Loan Interest Actually Works
You make a loan payment. The total debt goes down. Then you come back the next day. The loan amount is back up to where it was before your payment. Having some deja vu? This is because of interest. Let’s break down what interest is, how it works, and why your total loan balance may …
How to Get Lower Interest Rates on Student Loans
Finding ways to lower your student loan interest rate could lower your overall monthly payment and save you money over time. Here’s how to lower your student loan interest rate for both federal and private student loans.
Simple Hacks to Pay Off Student Debt Faster
Your student loan debt increases every single day because interest compounds daily. If you are looking to pay off your debt faster, making monthly payments won’t be most effective. Here’s two simple hacks that can help you pay off your student debt faster. You’re Paying Off Your Debt Inefficiently If you’re making monthly payments on …
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The Ultimate Guide to Refinancing Your Student Loans
Refinancing is actually surprisingly easy to understand: a lender will pay off your existing loans and give you a new one with a lower interest rate or shorter repayment plan. Typically, you can refinance both your federal and private student loans.
Everything You Need to Know About Student Loans
It’s no secret that the cost of education has increased dramatically over the last several decades. This increase in price has led to more and more students taking out student loans in order to afford their education.
The Real Impact of the Student Debt Crisis
At the end of 2020, the United States reached a new high of $1.7 trillion in student debt. It’s hard to conceptualize just how much $1.7 trillion is, but what we do know is that it’s really, really, really big. How Many People are Impacted by Student Debt? The $1.7 trillion in student debt is held …
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The 4 Big Differences Between Federal and Private Student Loans
A 2019 study showed that most Americans live with some financial regret. One of the highest-ranked regrets was related to choices surrounding student loans. Trying to figure out the difference between student loan options will leave you with gray hair by age 25. The truth is, there are tons of different options available, and it’s …
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The Best Repayment Plan for Private Student Loans
Let us all take a moment of silence to thank our student loans for getting us through college. How could we ever repay them?