Federal student loans are available through the US Department of Education, feature fixed interest rates, and offer several repayment options. Private student loans are education loans offered by banks or other lenders, are credit-based and have fixed or variable interest rates.
We recommend you first obtain as much money as you can from scholarships and grants since you do not have to pay back these types of financial aid. Once you have maximized these options, you will know how much money you still need for school.
Certified private student loan requires the school to verify the amount you are borrowing and tells the lender when to distribute the funds. This helps ensure you borrow only what you needed.
While you may apply on your own, most undergraduate students will need to apply with a creditworthy cosigner to meet our eligibility requirements, which include but are not limited to an established and satisfactory credit history. Even if you meet our requirements, you may still want to consider applying with a cosigner who has a stronger credit history and income to help you qualify for a lower interest rate.
