Student Loans / Private Student Loans

Private Student Loans

Many times, scholarships and federal loans are not enough to cover the expenses of college, and you may need private student loans to bridge the gap. Private student loans are used to pay for college expenses but are provided by a private-sector lender such as a bank, credit unions and other financial institutions rather than the federal government. The loan is the best option for students and parents who still can’t meet financial obligations for attending college, even with money available through federal loans.

There are two types of private student loans

Private Student Loans

Private student loans are available to any student. A parent or another creditworthy individual often cosign student loan.

Parent Loans

Parent loans are another way to find the money for college. A parent or other creditworthy individual takes out the loan to help their student pay for college expenses.

If you are planning for a college but know that getting a degree can become an expensive prospect due to the direct and indirect costs of attending college which makes educational costs out of your reach, then you can go for a private student loan. A private student loan is a credit-based loan offered by lending institutions, such as banks and credit unions to get money in financing your college education. Based on how much you borrow and for how long, you will have to pay interest on the loan and eventually pay the borrowed amount back.

A private student can be used to cover all school-certified expenses like tuition, academic fees, housing, meals, transportation, books, even computers and electronics and other education-related expenses.

You can apply for a private student loan at any time throughout the year when you experience any unforeseen expenses partway through the semester. But, don’t apply for a private student loan with days or weeks before tuition is due. Keep in mind while some private student loans can be easily approved in minutes, some might take up to two months. With so many tasks and deadlines to meet college expenses, it is better to give yourself plenty of time to get the money and until the last minute to apply for any loan.

Although specific criteria vary from lender to lender, these are the five most common requirements private lenders consider before approving you a loan. To get approved for a student loan, you have to be a student at eligible school, need to meet age, education and citizenship requirements, plan to use the loan to cover your educational expenses, meet credit and income criteria and apply with a creditworthy cosigner. Most private student loan borrowers will need to apply with a cosigner as they lack credit.

Picking the right student loan from the right private student loan lender can make a big difference when it comes time to repay your loan. If you are unsure what type of loan to choose, a good rule of thumb is to compare private loans from multiple lenders and choose one that offers a low-interest rate, multiple repayment options with terms and borrower protections.

Process 1: Research your student loan options and understand interest rates and repayment terms.

Process 2: Apply for a private student loan by filling out an application and provide information and all the documents your lender requires to sanction a loan.

Process 3: After submitting your loan application, the reviews process begins to evaluate your credit history among other criteria and to determine if you’re an eligible candidate for a loan or not. This decision can produce one of three results: approved, denied or eligible with a creditworthy cosigner.

Process 4: If you are approved for a loan, Congratulations! It’s time to accept and sign your loan terms with your lender.

Process 5: Once you’ve signed your loan documents, you’ve almost completed your responsibilities to avail loan. Your lender will send your loan application to your school to confirm several things, and all you can do is to wait for school certification.

Process 6: Once your loan is certified from your school, your lender will disburse funds to you.

Final Process: Based on your loan repayment terms, you’re required to repay your loan.

Private loans for school or college are worth considering as they are for fulfilling your dreams, not emptying your bank account. As you compare private student loans from multiple lenders, you could consider these lenders- College Ave, Sallie Mae, Ascent, Earnest, Discover, CommonBond and Citizens Bank for offering competitive rates and additional benefits. You can go with one of these or find another lender that’s a better fit for you. Make sure to shop around to get the best deal available for your situation.

Year of Establishment 2005 2001 2013
Student Loan Size $22.9 Billion $26 Billion $4.5 billion
Loan types Undergraduate, Career Training, Parent Loans, K12 Loans, MBA, Medical School, Medical Residency, Dental School, Dental Residency, Law School, Bar Study, Graduate All Graduate/Undergraduate studentswith atleast half-time enrolled in a degree program at an eligible institution. Undergraduate, graduate, MBA, law, dental, medical, international, refinancing, parent refinancing
Rate types Fixed and Variable Fixed and Variable Fixed and variable
Interest Rates* "Variable: 2.75% - 10.65%, Fixed :4.74% - 11.85%" Variable: 3.14% - 11.88%*, Fixed:4.09%- 13.03% * Variable: 2.74% ( Starting), fixed : 4.39% ( Starting)
Loan terms (Years) 5, 10, 15 5, 10, 15 5, 10, 15
Loan amounts $1000 up to the cost of attendance $2,000 to $200,000 $5,000 to school-certified cost of attendance
Application or origination fees No Fees No Fees No Fees
Discounts Autopay Autopay Autopay
Repayment Options - In-school interest only - in-school fixed -in-school deferment - immediate repayment "In-School Interest Only, Pay Deferred Repayment Minimum Payment ($25)" Yes, options available
Deferment or forbearance hardship options Available Available Available
Co-signer release ( Months plus timely payment) 12 Months 24 Months No Cosignor release
BBB rating A+ A+ A+

*As per last Update on 3/13/2020