DID YOU KNOW? Students who compare 3+ lenders save an average of $14,000 over the life of their loan.
Rates starting at 2.89% APR1
1Undergraduate Loan - Fixed rates 2.89% - 17.49% APR* with auto debit discount.
Fixed rates starting at 3.23% APR1
Rates start at 3.50% Var. APR (with autopay) See Terms*1
Starting July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will significantly restrict federal borrowing for families and graduate students. This is a summary of the changes:
| Feature | Before July 1, 2026 | After July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Parent PLUS Limit (Undergraduate) | Covered up to full cost of attendance | $20k/year cap; $65k lifetime limit total |
| Grad PLUS Loans | Was available up to full cost of attendance | Eliminated (for new borrowers)* |
In terms of federal funding for graduate students, they will now have to rely on Unsubsidized Direct Loans, which also have new annual limits.
Most masters/grad programs will have an annual limit of $20,500 and some professional degrees like Law or Medicine will have a limit of $50,000.
The Gap: If your tuition exceeds these new limits, private student loans are a great alternative to bridge the gap as they offer flexible rates and terms.
Estimate how much you may need in private student loans
New OBBBA limits: up to ~$7,000/yr in direct loans + up to $20,000/yr Parent PLUS (capped)
You may need approximately
$112,000
in private student loans
This calculator provides estimates only. Actual loan amounts and rates will vary based on your individual circumstances.
Detailed reviews of our recommended lenders
Wide range of lending products including undergraduate, graduate, parent, and refinance loans. Funds can be applied toward tuition, housing, textbooks, and related expenses. Borrowers benefit from customizable repayment schedules and the choice between fixed or variable interest rates.
APRs begin at 2.84% when borrowers opt into autopay. Loan terms span 5 to 20 years with no application or origination charges. In-school and deferred payment options are available, plus a 0.25% rate reduction for automatic payments.
Streamlined digital application with rapid credit decisions for most borrowers. Co-signers can be added to strengthen approval odds and secure lower rates. Rate checks use a soft pull, so there’s no impact to your credit score.
Responsive service team reachable by phone, live chat, and email. Robust suite of online calculators and planning tools. Comprehensive guides help students and families navigate repayment with confidence.
Offers undergraduate, graduate, and career training loans. Parent loans available. Multiple repayment options including deferred, fixed, and interest-only plans during school.
Fixed and variable rate options available. Rates starting at 2.89% APR with auto debit discount. No origination fees or prepayment penalties.
Quick online application with instant credit decisions. Cosigner option available to improve rates. Free prequalification with no impact on credit score.
24/7 online account access. Dedicated customer support team. Extensive library of financial literacy resources and scholarship search tools.
Student loan refinancing and private student loans. Both undergraduate and graduate options available. No fees — no origination fees, no application fees, no late fees.
Competitive fixed and variable rates. Fixed rates starting at 3.23% APR. Flexible repayment terms from 5 to 20 years.
Fully online application process. Quick prequalification with soft credit check. Most applicants receive a decision within minutes.
Career coaching and financial planning included for members. Responsive customer service. Member events and community perks.
Marketplace comparing rates from multiple lenders at once. Both refinancing and private student loan options. Helps find the best rate across partner lenders.
Rates vary by lender — compare multiple offers. Variable rates starting at 3.50% APR. Terms range from 5 to 20 years depending on lender.
Single form to get prequalified with multiple lenders. Soft credit check — no impact on credit score. Side-by-side rate comparison makes choosing easy.
Helpful customer support for navigating lender options. Educational resources about student loan types. Streamlined process from comparison to application.
College Ave's student loan products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or BTG Pactual Bank, N.A., member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
¹ All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
Borrow Responsibly. Sallie Mae encourages 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.
Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school.
1 Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. 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. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount 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. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website may be subjected to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time.
2 Although Sallie Mae does not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note—first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.
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, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
3 Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend school in the U.S., apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident), and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID. Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.
College Finance is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Smart Option Student Loan customers.
Information advertised valid as of 12/26/2025
SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
© 2025 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
Interest Rates: Eligibility and Important Details. Fixed rates range from 3.23% APR to 15.99% APR with 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates range from 5.14% APR to 16.49% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates are capped at 17.95%. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 3/12/2026 and are subject to change at any time. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term and type of repayment option you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer (if applicable) and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Check out our eligibility criteria at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/. For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases.
Autopay Discount: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly payments as outlined in your loan agreement by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. When the autopay interest rate deduction is added or removed, the next time the loan is re-amortized (quarterly for fixed rate loans; monthly for variable rate loans), the principal balance of your loan will be spread over the remaining loan term, and your monthly payment amount will change. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment, grace period, or forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Not all repayment options may be available for all loans. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. View payment examples. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is current as of 3/4/2026 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
1APR Disclosure: Before making a decision, please read rates and terms at – https://www.credible.com/student-loans
2Prequalified rates are based on the information you provide and a soft credit inquiry. Receiving prequalified rates does not guarantee that the Lender will extend you an offer of credit. You are not yet approved for a loan or a specific rate. All credit decisions, including loan approval, if any, are determined by Lenders, in their sole discretion. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates from Lenders may differ from prequalified rates due to factors which may include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in your personal credit circumstances; (ii) additional information in your hard credit pull and/or additional information you provide (or are unable to provide) to the Lender during the underwriting process; and/or (iii) changes in APRs (e.g., an increase in the rate index between the time of prequalification and the time of application or loan closing. (Or, if the loan option is a variable rate loan, then the interest rate index used to set the APR is subject to increases or decreases at any time). Lenders reserve the right to change or withdraw the prequalified rates at any time.
Get $200 if you can find a better rate" (All bonus payments are by gift card). See terms.
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