Student Loans
Whether you’re gearing up for college, navigating life after graduation, or somewhere in between, we’re here to make student loans less confusing—and way more manageable.
I need to...
Take Out Student Loans
Whether you're an undergraduate, graduate student, or preparing for career training, we'll help you understand every step of the student loan process. Discover how federal and private loans work, how much you can borrow, and what to expect from different lenders before committing.
FAFSA
- FAFSA Guide 2026
- 2026 FAFSA Requirements: Documents, Eligibility, and What’s New
- FAFSA Deadlines
- How to File the FAFSA When You Don’t Live With Your Parents
- How to Report Parents’ Cash, Checking Accounts, and Savings on the FAFSA
- How to Edit the FAFSA Form After Submitting: Q&A Guide
- How to Add More Than 20 Schools to the FAFSA
FAFSA FAQ
- How Long Does the FAFSA Take to Complete & Process?
- How Much Does FAFSA Give? What to Expect in 2026
- What Should You Do If FAFSA Doesn't Cover Everything?
- What Is the Student Aid Index (SAI), and How Does It Work on the FAFSA?
- How Often Do You Need to File the FAFSA?
- Should You Include Your Spouse's Income on the FAFSA?
- Can You Complete the FAFSA Without a Driver’s License?
- FAFSA Independent Student: Real Loophole to Get More Financial Aid?
Financial Aid
- How Does Financial Aid Work?
- Am I Eligible for Financial Aid?
- How to Ask for More Financial Aid
- Can You Request More Financial Aid During the Semester?
- How to Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter
- What to Do If You Maxed Out Financial Aid
- Need-Based and Non-Need-Based Financial Aid Guide
- The Complete Guide to Financial Aid for International Students
Private Student Loan Lender Reviews
LendEDU's top-rated lenders:
Other lenders:
- Brazos Review
- PNC Review
- RISLA Review
- Prodigy Finance Review
- MPOWER Financing Review
- Earnest Review
- Edly Review
- Funding U Review
- A.M. Money Review
- EdvestinU Review
- Nelnet Bank Review
- Union Federal Review
- Bank of North Dakota Review
- NJCLASS Review
- Advantage Education Review
- INvestEd Review
- Climb Credit Review
- Custom Choice Review
- Credit Union Student Choice Review
- Sparrow Review
- ELFI Review
- LendKey Review
- Navy Federal Review
- CollegeFinance Review
- Purefy Review
- PenFed Review
Types of Private Student Loans
- Based on financial profile
- Based on institution
- Based on immigration status
- For non-traditional applicants
- Career training loans
- For parents
- For graduate students
- For health professions
The Best of the Best 🏆 See which lenders won
LendEDU's 2026 Awards for Best Private Student Loans
Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page.
Best Overall
Fixed APR
4.13% – 17.99%
Variable APR
4.13% – 17.99%
Funding
$1K – total costs
Min. Credit Score
Mid-650s
Best for Fast Cosigner Release
Fixed APR
4.13% – 17.99%
Variable APR
4.13% – 17.99%
Funding
$1K – total costs
Min. Credit Score
Mid-650s
Best for Outcomes-Based Loans
Fixed APR
3.39% – 14.46%
Variable APR
4.70% – 14.26%
Funding
$2K – $200K
Min. Credit Score
None
Repay Your Student Loans
Learn about repayment plans, forgiveness options, solutions for delinquent and defaulted student loans, and strategies to stay on track with repayment and get out of debt faster.
Plan Your Payoff Strategy
- How to Manage Your Student Loan Debt
- How to Pay Off $100K in Student Loans in 6 Steps
- How Long Will It Take to Pay Off Student Loans? Timelines for $10K – $200K
- How to Pay Off Student Loans Fast: 12 Strategies to Become Debt-Free Sooner
- How to Calculate Your Minimum Student Loan Payment
- Can You Make Principal-Only Payments on Student Loans?
- What "Do Not Advance Due Date" Means for Student Loan Repayment
- Student Loan Payments Too High? 7 Strategies to Lower or Pause Them
- Can You Pay Student Loans Off Early? What to Know Before You Decide
- 10 Reasons Your Student Loan Payment Increased (and What to Do About It)
- Student Loan Repayment Plan Denied? What to Know
Navigating Repayment Plans
- Is Student Loan Repayment Still Paused?
- Student Loan Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Calculator
- Student Loan Deferment & Forbearance Calculator
- How to Recertify Your IDR Plan
- Income-Driven Repayment Plans Guide
- What Is the Best Student Loan Servicer? Our Analysis
- The Complete List of Federal Student Loan Servicers
- What to Do If Your Student Loans Were Sold to Another Company
- Your Student Loan Balance Says Paid in Full? Here’s the Real Reason
- How to Check My Student Loans
Delinquency and Default
Refinance Your Student Loans
Looking to save on interest or simplify your payments? Refinancing could be the solution. Learn how refinancing works, when it makes sense, and which lenders offer the most competitive rates.
How Student Loan Refinance Works
- What Is Student Loan Refinance, and How Does It Work?
- Does Refinancing Student Loans Hurt Your Credit?
- Does Refinancing Student Loans Save Money?
- How Much Does It Cost to Refinance a Student Loan?
- 10 Must‑Know Pros and Cons of Refinancing Student Loans
- Is It Ever a Good Idea to Refinance Federal Student Loans?
- Can You Refinance Student Loans More Than Once?
- How Many Times Can You Refinance a Student Loan?
The Best of the Best 🏆 See which companies won
LendEDU's 2026 Awards for Student Loan Refinance Companies
Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page.
Best for Comparing Refinance Options
Fixed APR
3.99% – 11.09%
Variable APR
4.31% – 12.05%
Terms (Yrs.)
Varies
Refinance Amounts
Varies
Best Direct Refinancing Lender
Fixed APR
4.49% – 9.99%
Variable APR
5.99% – 9.99%
Terms (Yrs.)
5 – 20
Refinance Amounts
$5K+
Best for Customer Service
Fixed APR
4.88%+
Variable APR
4.86%+
Terms (Yrs.)
5 – 20
Refinance Amounts
$10K+
Best for Defaulted Private Loans
Fixed APR
1.0% – 6.0%
Variable APR
N/A
Terms (Yrs.)
3 – 20
Refinance Amounts
$5K – $250K
All student loan articles
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