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Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner
The best student loans without a cosigner can help borrowers get the funding they need without any help. Having access to these loans can be crucial for students who don't have a cosigner or don't want to get anyone else involved in their finances.
Written by:Holly Johnson
The best private student loans without a cosigner make it
possible to qualify without having a third party on the application. This can
be important for students who don't have anyone who wants to take on that
liability, as well as those who don't want to have another person entangled in
their financial affairs. Our team of financial experts reviewed and ranked more
than 30 online lenders to help you get funded, so read on to learn more.
Top Picks for The Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner
- College Ave Student Loans — Best Overall
- Credible — Best Loan Comparison Site
- SoFi — Best for Good Credit
- Ascent — Best Outcomes-Based Loans
- Stride — Best Income-Share Agreement
Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner for 2024 - Full Overview
When you're looking for the best way to get a student loan without cosigner, you should start your search with lenders that make it easy to get approved. We compared more than 30 online student loan companies in this space to find the best options out there, and the reviews below explain each provider's offerings as well as their pros and cons.
College Ave Student Loans — Best Overall
College Ave Student Loans offers exceptionally competitive loan rates and terms for their in-school student loans and student loan refinancing products. They also offer loans for any stage of higher education, from undergraduate student loans to graduate school loans, career loans, and parent loans. Individuals with good credit may be able to qualify with a cosigner, and applicants can gauge their approval odds and check their rate online before they apply.
Pros
Cons
College Ave Student Loans makes it possible for students to borrow up to 100% of the cost of attendance for college, which can help them graduate. However, borrowers without a cosigner will likely need a credit score in the mid-700's to qualify, and they will definitely need a minimum income of $35,000. This lender lets borrowers get prequalified with their free credit qualification tool, and there are four repayment plans to choose from.
The Bottom Line
If you have a good credit and an income you can prove, College Ave Student Loans offers some of the most competitive student loans without a cosigner on the market today.
Try CollegeAve
Read more in the full CollegeAve review.
Credible — Best Loan Comparison Site
Credible is not a direct lender, but it does make it easy to compare the best student loans without a cosigner from the comfort of your home. This company is a loan aggregator, so they let you enter your information once before comparing loan offers from multiple providers. Their student loan offerings are competitive whether you need loans for in school or student loan refinancing, and you can also check your rate without adding a hard inquiry to your credit report.
Pros
Cons
Credible makes it possible to compare student loans with no cosigner for both undergraduate and graduate degree students. However, the fact this company is a loan aggregator site means that the rates and terms of their loan options vary. At the moment, the company is advertising variable APRs from .94% to 12.99% and fixed APRs of 3.20% to 14.54%. Minimum qualification requirements will also vary by lender.
The Bottom Line
Consider offers from Credible if you want to compare several student loans that don't require a cosigner in one place. Also note that this provider lets you compare loan offers without a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Try CredibleRead more in the full Credible review.
SoFi — Best for Good Credit
SoFi is another company that offers a range of student loan and student loan refinancing products, including some of the best private loans without a cosigner. SoFi student loans don't have any origination fees or hidden fees, and their advertised variable and fixed rates are some of the most competitive on the market today. SoFi even offers a career services department that can help you get a job after you graduate with your degree.
Pros
Cons
SoFi may let borrowers without a cosigner take out enough student loans to cover 100% of the cost of attendance at school. Repayment terms can last for five, seven, 10 or 15 years, and loans come with a six-month grace period if you don't make payments during school. Interest rates from SoFi include variable APRs of 2.59% to 13.17% and fixed APRs from 4.60% to 12.55%. SoFi does not disclose their minimum credit score requirements, yet you may be able to qualify with no cosigner if you have a good credit score, or any score of 670 or higher.
The Bottom Line
Consider SoFi if you have a good credit score and you want to borrow for school or refinance without help from a cosigner. Like other lenders in our ranking, SoFi even lets you check your rate without any impact on your credit score.
Try SoFiRead more in the full SoFi review.
Ascent — Best Outcomes-Based Loans
While Ascent offers several different types of student loans, including credit-based loans with and without a cosigner, they offer an outcomes-based student loan that comes with no credit score requirement and no minimum income requirement. This type of student loan bases your qualification on the income they expect you to have when you graduate. Interest rates are higher for their outcomes-based loans, but they can help you get the funding you need to graduate from school.
Pros
Cons
Students who need help funding college without a credit score or a cosigner can turn to Ascent for help. This lender lets borrowers take out up to $20,000 in student loans without any credit requirements or income requirements, and they can repay their loans over five, seven, 10, 12 or 15 years. Interest rates currently include variable APRs of 9.16% to 11.56% and fixed APRs from 12.18% to 12.85% for outcome-based loans with no cosigner.
The Bottom Line
Ascent lets you get funding for college when you don't have a credit score, your own income, or a cosigner. However, loan limits are low and interest rates are higher than other lenders charge.
Try AscentRead more in the full Ascent review.
Stride — Best Income-Share Agreement
Stride Funding is a company that offers income-share agreements (ISAs) instead of student loans. This means they ask you to guarantee your loans with a percentage of your future income, but that you can get qualified for funding with no credit score, minimum income, or cosigner required. While your payment will vary, ISAs typically require you to repay 2% to 9.5% of your gross income during the repayment period.
Pros
Cons
Stride Funding lets you use your future income to guarantee your student loans, and you can borrow up to $25,000 during each year of school. Just remember that you may or may not qualify based on your school and your specific degree program, and that you'll owe a percentage of your income for 60 months of payments after you graduate. Fortunately, there are no credit or income requirements for these loans, nor do you need a cosigner to qualify.
The Bottom Line
Consider Stride Funding if you plan to have a substantial income after you graduate, and if you need up to $25,000 in funding per year of college without having to get a cosigner involved.
Try StrideRead more in the full Stride review.
Laurel Road — Best Refinance Loans with No Cosigner
Laurel Road offers a robust student loan refinancing program with more repayment options than other lenders. Interest rates are competitive, and borrowers with good credit may be able to refinance their loans to get better rates and terms without a cosigner. This lender also offers lower rates for applicants who are willing to open a Laurel Road checking account and set up qualifying direct deposits. Borrowers can also check their rate with no hard inquiry or impact to their credit scores, so there's no risk to see if you can qualify.
Pros
Cons
Laurel Road offers studentrefinance loans with variable APRs of 1.64% to 5.95% and fixed APRs of 3.24% to 6.05%. Borrowers can repay their loans over five, seven, 10, 15, or 20 years, and interest rates can adjust slightly based on the repayment plan chosen. Be aware that advertised interest rates include an auto-pay discount, and that the best rates and terms also go to those who open a Laurel Road checking account and set up qualifying direct deposits.
The Bottom Line
If you want to refinance your student loans without a cosigner, Laurel Road is worth checking out. This lender even lets you check your rate without any impact to your credit, so you have nothing to lose.
Try Laurel RoadRead more in the full Laurel Road review.
Education Loan Finance — Best for No Fees
Education Loan Finance (ELFI) is a top lender to consider if you're looking for the best student loans with no cosigner and you don't want to pay any fees. This student lender offers loan products with no origination fees and no hidden fees, and there are myriad repayment plans to choose from that can help you get a monthly payment you can afford. Education Loan Finance also clearly discloses their qualification requirements, so you will have a full picture of what you need to qualify without a cosigner.
Pros
Cons
Education Loan Finance makes it possible to borrow up to the cost of attendance for a bachelor's degree program or a graduate degree, and with variable rates that start at 1.30% or fixed rates that start at 3.20%. Applicants can repay their student loans for school over five to 15 years, and student loan refinancing products offer repayment options that span from five to 20 years. Minimum qualification requirements include a credit score of 680, at least 36 months of credit history, and a minimum income of $35,000.
The Bottom Line
Consider student loans from Education Loan Finance if you have a credit score of at least 680, at least 36 months of credit history, and an income of $35,000 or more. This lender also lets you check your rate and approval odds with no impact on your credit score.
Try ELFIRead more in the full ELFI review.
Discover — Best Forbearance Options
While the vast majority of student loan companies do not have any programs in place for borrowers experiencing economic hardship, Discover offers several forbearance options you can lean on for help. Discover student loans also come with no origination fees and no hidden fees, and borrowers can qualify for a one-time cash reward of 1% of the loan amount if they maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher (or equivalent). Interest rates for Discover student loans are also highly competitive, so you're bound to get a good deal if you can get approved.
Pros
Cons
Discover makes it possible for students to borrow up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance with their chance to repay loans over 15 years. Advertised rates include variable APRs of 1.79% to 11.24% and fixed APR of 4.49% to 13.34%, and these loans come with no origination fees and no hidden fees. Discover does not disclose their minimum qualification requirements, but you can get approved without a cosigner if your credit and income are sufficient.
The Bottom Line
If you have good credit and you want a private student loan that comes with forbearance options, consider Discover. Their rates and terms are highly competitive, and you may be able to qualify with good credit and a sufficient income.
Try DiscoverRead more in the full Discover review.
How to Choose the Best Student Loan Without a Cosigner?
When you're looking for the easiest student loans to get without cosigner, there are a range of important factors to consider. Our experts ranked each of the places to get student loans without a cosigner based on the following criteria.
- Loan Features: Borrowers should consider major loan features such as loan limits and repayment plans, as well as any published limitations on how funding can be used.
- Interest rates and fees: It's also important to compare loan rates and fees for the best student loans without a cosigner, including any hidden fees that may be listed deep within the fine print.
- Application process: Look for lenders that let borrowers get prequalified without a hard inquiry on their credit reports, as well as those who make it possible to complete the entire loan application online.
- Qualification process: Check for minimum qualifications that might apply, including minimum credit score or income requirements.
- Customer support: Check to see whether lenders offer ample customer service and support options, including phone support, email support, and online chat.
- Online user reviews: Read over online user testimonials for each company on platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot with the goal of finding companies that have mostly positive reviews.
- Perks and Bonuses: Finally, check for student loan companies that offer discounts or perks for borrowers, which may include auto-pay discounts or good grade rewards.
Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner - Feature Comparison
| Company Name | Estimated APR | Minimum credit score | Loan Amounts | Loan Terms |
| College Ave Student Loans | Variable APR of .94% to 12.99%
Fixed APR of 3.22% to 13.95% | mid-700's | Up to 100% of the cost of attendance | 5, 8, 10, or 15 years |
| Credible | Variable APR of .94% to 12.99%
Fixed APR of 3.20% to 14.54%. | Varies by lender | Up to 100% of the cost of attendance | Varies by lender |
| SoFi | Variable APR of 2.59% to 13.17%
Fixed APR of 4.60% to 12.55% | Not disclosed | $5,000 up to 100% of the cost of attendance | 5, 7, 10, or 15 years |
| Ascent | Variable APR of 9.16% to 11.56%
Fixed APR of 12.18% to 12.85% | None | Up to $20,000 for outcome-based loans without a cosigner | 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years |
| Stride | Not applicable | None | Up to $25,000 for each year of school | 5 years of payments over 10 years |
| Laurel Road | Variable APR of 1.64% to 5.95%
Fixed APR of 3.24% to 6.05% | 640 | None | 5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years |
| Education Loan Finance | Variable APR from 1.30%
Fixed APR from 3.20% | 680 and at least 36 months of credit history | Up to 100% of the cost of attendance | 5 to 15 years |
| Discover | Variable APR of 1.79% to 11.24%
Fixed APR of 4.49% to 13.34% | Not disclosed | Up to 100% of the cost of attendance | 15 years |
What Is a Student Loan Cosigner?
A student loan cosigner can be any individual who is willing to be legally responsible for repaying your student loans. While a cosigner isn't always required, students can often get better rates and terms on their private student loans if they can secure a cosigner with a good credit score and a long credit history.
Do You Need a Cosigner for a Student Loan?
If you have a strong credit history and a credit score that's in the "good" range, which includes FICO scores of 670 and above, you may be able to get approved for the best student loans without a cosigner. That said, having a cosigner can help you increase your approval odds, as well as your chance to qualify for loans with the best rates terms.
How Can You Get a Student Loan Without a Cosigner?
Getting a student loan without a cosigner works similarly to applying with one. The following steps can help you start the process:
- Step 1: Compare lenders that offer student loans based on their loan limits, rates and fees.
- Step 2: Check each lender's minimum qualification requirements, including income and credit score requirements.
- Step 3: Check your rate with at least three or four lenders in order to gauge your approval odds.
- Step 4: Compare loan offers among lenders who preapproved you in order to determine which one offers the best loan for your needs.
- Step 5: Move forward with the student loan application by providing full details such as your contact information, your school and degree program, your Social Security number, and more.
- Step 6: Be prepared to send your school additional information or documentation they request, such as pay stubs or your tax return.
- Step 7: Wait to find out if your loan application is approved, which could take hours or several days.
- Step 8: Wait for your lender to send your loan funds directly to your school.
- Step 9: Begin repaying your student loans during school or after based on the loan agreement and repayment schedule you agreed to.
Who’s Eligible for Student Loans that Don’t Require Cosigners?
Companies that offer the best private student loans without a cosigner typically have unique minimum approval requirements, so you may be able to get approved with some lenders and not others. That said, most student loans with no cosigner come with the following minimum requirements:
- Good credit score (minimum FICO score of 670)
- Lengthy credit history (usually at least 24 months)
- Minimum income (usually $35,000 or more)
- Must be in pursuit of a bachelor's degree or higher
Since requirements among different lenders can vary so much, you should take the time to check your rate and approval odds with a few different lenders before you apply. Doing so can help you see which places to get student loans without a cosigner might approve you with the best possible rates and terms.
Where Can You Get a Private Student Loan Without a Cosigner?
Several different types of financial institutions offer private student loans with no cosigner required, including the following:
- Traditional banks: Many traditional financial institutions offer private student loans with exceptional rates and terms. However, their minimum credit score and income requirements vary.
- Credit unions: Students can also reach out to a credit union for help with loans for school, although credit union membership is required. These institutions may offer better rates and terms for student loans than other companies.
- Online lenders: An array of online student loan companies also offer financing for college, and often with the best rates and terms.
Pros and Cons of Student Loans with No Cosigner
Getting a private student loan without a cosigner comes with its own share of pros and cons. Consider the advantages and disadvantages below before you apply.
Pros:
- You may be able to borrow up to 100% of the cost of attendance for school.
- Good credit can help you qualify for loans with the best rates and terms.
- Not having a cosigner can help make the loan process less complicated.
- Without a cosigner, you can pick the repayment plan and terms that suit you best.
Cons:
- Having a cosigner could help you qualify for better rates and loan terms.
- You won't have anyone to share the responsibility for repaying your loans.
- Some lenders may not be able to approve you without a cosigner on your application.
- You'll have fewer lenders to choose from if you don't have a credit score or an income when you apply.
Tips for Improving Your Student Loan Options
If you want access to the best possible student loan options, including the best student loans without a cosigner, there are steps you can take to improve your chances.
- Take steps to improve your credit score. Moves like paying down debt, paying off old debts in default, and paying all your bills on time can help improve your credit score in the short-term.
- Check your credit reports for errors. If you find errors on your credit reports and dispute them with the credit bureaus, your credit score can improve in a hurry. Fortunately, you can check your credit reports with all three credit bureaus for free with the website AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Boost your income before you apply. If you have a minimal income right now but you are going to earn more in the near future, it can help to put off applying for private student loans until then.
- Get a cosigner. Finally, getting a cosigner with a long credit history and good credit score can help you qualify for better loan rates and terms.
Conclusion
The best student loans without a cosigner make it easy to qualify if you have good credit and a sufficient income. However, loan companies all have their own minimum qualification requirements, so you'll want to do some research to find out what you'll need to qualify with each one.
As you search for the best places to get student loans without a cosigner, your best bet is starting with the lenders on this list. Each one offers loan options you may be able to qualify for on your own, and with the best rates and terms of all lenders on the market today.
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Holly Johnson
I’m a professional writer who is obsessed with money, travel, and budgeting.
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