Ashley Harrison has over six years of finance experience and is an expert on credit and loans. Her work has been featured by Fox Business and Yahoo Money.
Updated October 1, 2024
Editorial disclosure: Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as “Credible.”
Because credit unions are nonprofit organizations, they sometimes offer lower rates and more favorable terms on loans compared to banks. This might make a credit union a good choice if you need to take out a student loan.
3 credit unions that offer student loans
If you’re looking for a credit union student loan, it’s generally a good idea to start your search with credit unions in your area. But there are also national credit unions that offer student loans.
Keep in mind: You’ll have to join the credit union to take out a student loan. Each credit union has its own eligibility requirements for membership — for example, you might need to live in a certain area, work in a specific field, or join an associated organization.
Here are three national credit unions to consider. Keep in mind that none of these lenders are Credible partners.
Lender
Loan terms
Allows cosigners?
Discounts
BECU
10 years
Yes
Autopay discount: 0.25%
Navy Federal Credit Union
10 years
Yes
Autopay discount: 0.25%
PenFed Credit Union
5 to 15 years
Yes
Autopay discount: 0.25%
BECU
Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) offers 10-year student loans with fixed rates — this means your rate and monthly payment will stay the same throughout your entire repayment term. You can also get a 0.25% rate discount by signing up for automatic payments.
Rates: Fixed
Loan terms: 10 years
Loan amounts: Check with lender
Cosigners accepted: Yes
Cosigner release: Applications accepted after 24 months of on-time, consecutive payments
Discounts: 0.25% autopay discount
Navy Federal Credit Union
With Navy Federal Credit Union, you might be able to borrow up to your school’s cost of attendance. You can choose between a fixed or variable rate and will have 10 years to repay the loan. Additionally, you can get a 0.25% rate discount by signing up for automatic payments.
Rates: Fixed or variable
Loan terms: 10 years
Loan amounts: Up to your school’s cost of attendance
Cosigners accepted: Yes
Cosigner release: Applications accepted after 24 months of on-time, consecutive payments
Discounts: 0.25% autopay discount
PenFed Credit Union
Unlike some other credit unions, PenFed doesn’t issue student loans itself. Instead, it has partnered with other lenders — such as Sallie Mae — that offer student loans to PenFed members. These loans are available for $1,000 up to your school’s cost of attendance and come with terms ranging from five to 15 years.
Rates: Fixed or variable
Loan terms: 5 to 15 years
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your school’s cost of attendance
Cosigners accepted: Yes
Cosigner release: Applications accepted after 12 months of on-time, consecutive payments
Discounts: 0.25% autopay discount
Before you take out a student loan, it’s important to consider how much that loan will cost you so you can prepare for any added expenses.
Credit union loans vs. online loans
Credit unions are quite similar to online lenders when it comes to getting a student loan. Both types of lenders can offer a variety of student loans — such as undergraduate and graduate student loans, law school loans, and more.
Credit unions
Online lenders
For profit
No
Yes
Physical branches available
Yes
No
Location
Local or nationwide
Nationwide
How to apply
Might be able to apply online
Some credit unions might require in-person application
Can only apply online
Membership or previous account required
Yes
Typically no
Type of organization: Credit unions are nonprofit organizations while online lenders are for-profit companies. Because of this, credit unions sometimes offer better rates and terms than online lenders.
Physical branches: Credit unions generally have brick-and-mortar locations available, which can be helpful if you’re someone who prefers to apply for loans in person. Online lenders, on the other hand, are only available online.
Location: Some credit unions are small and local while others large and available nationwide. In comparison, online lenders work with borrowers across the country.
Application process: Some credit unions offer online applications while others require you to visit a branch in person. With online lenders, you can only apply via their website.
Membership required: To take out a student loan with a credit union, you must become a member of the credit union. Each credit union has its own membership requirements, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re eligible to join before you apply. With online lenders, you typically don’t need to worry about being a member or having a previous account.
If you decide to take out a private student loan, it’s important to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for you.
College Ave offers student loans for almost every type of degree program, with a range of repayment options, including a unique eight-year repayment term. Additionally, you can get extended grace periods of as long as 36 months on graduate, dental, and medical student loans.
It's also possible to get loan approval for multiple school years at one time. About 90% of undergraduates applying with a cosigner are approved for additional student loans. However, you must complete at least half of your repayment term before you can remove a cosigner for your loan. Some lenders allow cosigners to be released much sooner, after as few as one to two years of payments.
pros
Rate discount of one-quarter of a percentage point for using autopay
Does not charge origination or application fees
May qualify for multiyear approval
Grace periods between 9 and 36 months for graduate, MBA, law, dental, and medical school loans and 36 months
cons
Parents borrowers are required to pay at least the interest while the student is in school
Cosigners not eligible for release until at least half the repayment term of the loan is completed
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 8, 10, or 15 years for most borrowers (law, dental, medical, and other health profession students have up to 20 years)
Loan amounts
$1,000 minimum up to your school’s annual cost of attendance; lifetime limits depend on your degree and credit profile
Cosigner release
Available after more than half of the scheduled repayment period has elapsed and other requirements are met
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at an eligible institution. International students with a Social Security number and a qualified cosigner may also qualify. Applicants who can’t meet financial, credit, or other requirements may qualify with a cosigner.
Sallie Mae offers the Smart Option Student Loan for undergraduate students and a suite of loans for graduate students. You can borrow up to your school-certified cost of attendance and apply just once annually to get the funds you need for the entire academic year. Plus, applying for a Smart Option Student Loan with a cosigner may help you get a better rate.
Through Sallie Mae, you can find a variety of loans designed for specific needs, including loans for MBA programs, law school, medical school, and health profession programs.
pros
Can borrow up to school-certified cost of attendance
No prepayment or origination fees
Loans available to noncitizens with an eligible cosigner
Cosigner release after 12 on-time payments
cons
No parent loan options
No option to check your rates through prequalification
Loan terms not disclosed until after you apply
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
10 to 15 years for the Smart Option Student Loan; 15 years for law school, MBA, and graduate school loans; 20 years for medical school loans
Loan amounts
$1,000 up to school-certified cost of attendance. Student must be listed as the borrower, and a parent may cosign.
Cosigner release
After you graduate, make 12 one-time principal and interest payments, and meet certain credit requirements
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident enrolled in an eligible program. Noncitizens residing and attending school in the U.S. may qualify by applying with a creditworthy cosigner, who must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and providing an unexpired government-issued photo ID.
ELFI a division of Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank, offers private student loans and refinancing for undergraduates, graduates, and parents. Borrowers can take out loans starting at $1,000, with options up to the full cost of attendance at their school.
ELFI student loans are available to students nationwide who are enrolled in a bachelor's degree program or higher. Borrowers can choose from multiple repayment terms and benefit from competitive interest rates and support from a dedicated Student Loan Advisor. However, ELFI doesn't offer cosigner release or rate discounts, which may limit flexibility for some borrowers.
pros
Receive support from a dedicated Student Loan Advisor
Transparent credit and income requirements
Flexible repayment terms
cons
Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program or higher
Cosigners can’t be released from the loan
No autopay rate discounts available
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
680
Minimum income
$35,000
Loan terms
5, 7, 10, or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,000 - Cost of attendance
Cosigner release
A cosigner may not be taken off a loan, but the borrower can apply for a new loan without their cosigner.
Eligibility
All 50 states as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
While Ascent provides traditional student loans for undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs, it also stands out with some options that are uncommon among private student loan lenders. For example, its Outcomes-Based Loan, which doesn't require established credit or a cosigner, is available to juniors and seniors. When assessing your application, Ascent considers factors including your school, major, and GPA to determine if you're eligible.
Ascent also offers its Progressive Repayment plan to qualified borrowers. It allows you to begin with smaller payments at the start of the repayment term and then gradually pay more each month over time. If you borrow with a cosigner, they can be released after you make as few as 12 monthly payments. However, cosigners for loans for international students do not qualify.
pros
Doesn’t charge application fees or origination fees
Offers discounts of 0.25 to 1 percentage points when using automatic payment
Can get a 1% cash-back reward after you graduate
Grace periods from 9 months to 36 months
cons
May find lower interest rates with some competitors
International students don’t have option to release cosigners
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 7, 10, 12, 15, or 20 years
Loan amounts
$2,001 minimum up to your school’s annual cost of attendance; lifetime limits of $200,000 for undergrads and $400,000 for graduates
Cosigner release
12 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or DACA student enrolled at least half time at an eligible institution. International students with a qualified cosigner may also qualify. Applicants who can’t meet financial, credit, or other requirements may qualify with a cosigner.
Citizens Bank offers private student loans for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as parents. With its multiyear approval option, you can apply for a loan once, and as long as you qualify, you won't need to reapply each year. This means you can secure loans for future academic years without multiple hard credit checks.
Citizens borrowers can also take advantage of interest rate discounts. If you or your cosigner has an account with Citizens Bank, you can reduce your rate by 0.25 percentage points. Another 0.25 percentage points can be shaved off by enrolling in automatic payments, giving you the chance to lower your rate by up to 0.5 percentage points.
pros
Multiyear approval lets you secure funding for future school years
You can reduce your rate by 0.5 percentage points with autopay and loyalty discounts
International students can apply with a qualified cosigner
cons
Fewer repayment terms to choose from than some other lenders
Long wait time for cosigner release
Parents can’t defer payments while student is in school
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 10, or 15 years for student loans; 5 or 10 years for parent loans
Loan amounts
$1,000 minimum, up to a maximum of $225,000 for undergraduate and graduate degrees; $300,000 for MBA and law; and $225,000 or $400,000 for health care student loans, depending on the degree type
Cosigner release
36 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. International students can apply with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Citizens Bank offers private student loans for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as parents. With its multiyear approval option, you can apply for a loan once, and as long as you qualify, you won't need to reapply each year. This means you can secure loans for future academic years without multiple hard credit checks.
Citizens borrowers can also take advantage of interest rate discounts. If you or your cosigner has an account with Citizens Bank, you can reduce your rate by 0.25 percentage points. Another 0.25 percentage points can be shaved off by enrolling in automatic payments, giving you the chance to lower your rate by up to 0.5 percentage points.
pros
Multiyear approval lets you secure funding for future school years
You can reduce your rate by 0.5 percentage points with autopay and loyalty discounts
International students can apply with a qualified cosigner
Offers parent student loans
cons
Fewer repayment terms to choose from than some other lenders
Long wait time for cosigner release
Parents can’t defer payments while student is in school
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
7, 10, or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $99,999 per year (lifetime limit of $180,000)
Cosigner release
36 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at an eligible institution. You must also meet Custom Choice’s underwriting criteria for income and credit, or apply with a cosigner who does. Eligible noncitizens such as DACA residents can also qualify by applying with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
INvested is an Indiana company that offers affordable student loans exclusively to state residents. Loans are available to Indiana students and parents who can meet income and credit requirements, or who have an eligible cosigner. Borrowers can borrow as little as $1,001 or as much as the school-certified cost of attendance minus other aid.
INvested provides detailed information on eligibility so borrowers can quickly determine whether to apply for a loan — however, there’s no option to prequalify with a soft credit check. Cosigner release is also available after just 12 on-time payments, considerably shorter than many other lenders.
pros
Low minimum borrowing limits
Autopay discount of 0.25 percentage points
Short cosigner release requirements
Transparent qualification requirements
cons
Loans are available only to Indiana residents
No prequalification option to view your rates
No loan options for international students
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
670
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 10, or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,001 minimum, up to the school certified cost of attendance
Cosigner release
12 months
Eligibility
Loans are available to Indiana residents only. Borrowers must have a FICO score of 670 or higher, a 30% maximum debt-to-income ratio or minimum monthly income of $3,333, continuous employment over two years, and no major collections or defaults in recent years. Borrowers who do not meet income or credit requirements can apply with a cosigner.
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) offers student loans to borrowers with good credit. However, you won't be able to see your potential rate before applying.
The lender doesn't charge any fees and its rates are competitive, though MEFA only offers two repayment terms. You can add a cosigner to your loan if you're unable to qualify, but only one repayment plan allows you to release your cosigner.
pros
Doesn’t charge any fees
Low maximum rate compared with some lenders
Can borrow up to the school-certified cost of attendance
cons
No discounts for borrowers
Limited repayment terms
No prequalification available
Interest rates
Fixed
Minimum credit score
670
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
10 or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,500 minimum up to school-certified cost of attendance
Cosigner release
48 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled at least half time at a degree-granting, nonprofit institution, and must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Must have no history of default on an education loan and no history of bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past 60 months. Applicants who can’t meet the minimum credit and income requirements may apply with a cosigner.
College Ave offers student loans for almost every type of degree program, with a range of repayment options, including a unique eight-year repayment term. Additionally, you can get extended grace periods of as long as 36 months on graduate, dental, and medical student loans.
It's also possible to get loan approval for multiple school years at one time. About 90% of undergraduates applying with a cosigner are approved for additional student loans. However, you must complete at least half of your repayment term before you can remove a cosigner for your loan. Some lenders allow cosigners to be released much sooner, after as few as one to two years of payments.
pros
Rate discount of one-quarter of a percentage point for using autopay
Does not charge origination or application fees
May qualify for multiyear approval
Grace periods between 9 and 36 months for graduate, MBA, law, dental, and medical school loans and 36 months
cons
Parents borrowers are required to pay at least the interest while the student is in school
Cosigners not eligible for release until at least half the repayment term of the loan is completed
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 8, 10, or 15 years for most borrowers (law, dental, medical, and other health profession students have up to 20 years)
Loan amounts
$1,000 minimum up to your school’s annual cost of attendance; lifetime limits depend on your degree and credit profile
Cosigner release
Available after more than half of the scheduled repayment period has elapsed and other requirements are met
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at an eligible institution. International students with a Social Security number and a qualified cosigner may also qualify. Applicants who can’t meet financial, credit, or other requirements may qualify with a cosigner.
Sallie Mae offers the Smart Option Student Loan for undergraduate students and a suite of loans for graduate students. You can borrow up to your school-certified cost of attendance and apply just once annually to get the funds you need for the entire academic year. Plus, applying for a Smart Option Student Loan with a cosigner may help you get a better rate.
Through Sallie Mae, you can find a variety of loans designed for specific needs, including loans for MBA programs, law school, medical school, and health profession programs.
pros
Can borrow up to school-certified cost of attendance
No prepayment or origination fees
Loans available to noncitizens with an eligible cosigner
Cosigner release after 12 on-time payments
cons
No parent loan options
No option to check your rates through prequalification
Loan terms not disclosed until after you apply
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
10 to 15 years for the Smart Option Student Loan; 15 years for law school, MBA, and graduate school loans; 20 years for medical school loans
Loan amounts
$1,000 up to school-certified cost of attendance. Student must be listed as the borrower, and a parent may cosign.
Cosigner release
After you graduate, make 12 one-time principal and interest payments, and meet certain credit requirements
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident enrolled in an eligible program. Noncitizens residing and attending school in the U.S. may qualify by applying with a creditworthy cosigner, who must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and providing an unexpired government-issued photo ID.
ELFI a division of Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank, offers private student loans and refinancing for undergraduates, graduates, and parents. Borrowers can take out loans starting at $1,000, with options up to the full cost of attendance at their school.
ELFI student loans are available to students nationwide who are enrolled in a bachelor's degree program or higher. Borrowers can choose from multiple repayment terms and benefit from competitive interest rates and support from a dedicated Student Loan Advisor. However, ELFI doesn't offer cosigner release or rate discounts, which may limit flexibility for some borrowers.
pros
Receive support from a dedicated Student Loan Advisor
Transparent credit and income requirements
Flexible repayment terms
cons
Must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program or higher
Cosigners can’t be released from the loan
No autopay rate discounts available
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
680
Minimum income
$35,000
Loan terms
5, 7, 10, or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,000 - Cost of attendance
Cosigner release
A cosigner may not be taken off a loan, but the borrower can apply for a new loan without their cosigner.
Eligibility
All 50 states as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
While Ascent provides traditional student loans for undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs, it also stands out with some options that are uncommon among private student loan lenders. For example, its Outcomes-Based Loan, which doesn't require established credit or a cosigner, is available to juniors and seniors. When assessing your application, Ascent considers factors including your school, major, and GPA to determine if you're eligible.
Ascent also offers its Progressive Repayment plan to qualified borrowers. It allows you to begin with smaller payments at the start of the repayment term and then gradually pay more each month over time. If you borrow with a cosigner, they can be released after you make as few as 12 monthly payments. However, cosigners for loans for international students do not qualify.
pros
Doesn’t charge application fees or origination fees
Offers discounts of 0.25 to 1 percentage points when using automatic payment
Can get a 1% cash-back reward after you graduate
Grace periods from 9 months to 36 months
cons
May find lower interest rates with some competitors
International students don’t have option to release cosigners
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 7, 10, 12, 15, or 20 years
Loan amounts
$2,001 minimum up to your school’s annual cost of attendance; lifetime limits of $200,000 for undergrads and $400,000 for graduates
Cosigner release
12 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or DACA student enrolled at least half time at an eligible institution. International students with a qualified cosigner may also qualify. Applicants who can’t meet financial, credit, or other requirements may qualify with a cosigner.
Citizens Bank offers private student loans for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as parents. With its multiyear approval option, you can apply for a loan once, and as long as you qualify, you won't need to reapply each year. This means you can secure loans for future academic years without multiple hard credit checks.
Citizens borrowers can also take advantage of interest rate discounts. If you or your cosigner has an account with Citizens Bank, you can reduce your rate by 0.25 percentage points. Another 0.25 percentage points can be shaved off by enrolling in automatic payments, giving you the chance to lower your rate by up to 0.5 percentage points.
pros
Multiyear approval lets you secure funding for future school years
You can reduce your rate by 0.5 percentage points with autopay and loyalty discounts
International students can apply with a qualified cosigner
cons
Fewer repayment terms to choose from than some other lenders
Long wait time for cosigner release
Parents can’t defer payments while student is in school
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 10, or 15 years for student loans; 5 or 10 years for parent loans
Loan amounts
$1,000 minimum, up to a maximum of $225,000 for undergraduate and graduate degrees; $300,000 for MBA and law; and $225,000 or $400,000 for health care student loans, depending on the degree type
Cosigner release
36 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. International students can apply with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Citizens Bank offers private student loans for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as parents. With its multiyear approval option, you can apply for a loan once, and as long as you qualify, you won't need to reapply each year. This means you can secure loans for future academic years without multiple hard credit checks.
Citizens borrowers can also take advantage of interest rate discounts. If you or your cosigner has an account with Citizens Bank, you can reduce your rate by 0.25 percentage points. Another 0.25 percentage points can be shaved off by enrolling in automatic payments, giving you the chance to lower your rate by up to 0.5 percentage points.
pros
Multiyear approval lets you secure funding for future school years
You can reduce your rate by 0.5 percentage points with autopay and loyalty discounts
International students can apply with a qualified cosigner
Offers parent student loans
cons
Fewer repayment terms to choose from than some other lenders
Long wait time for cosigner release
Parents can’t defer payments while student is in school
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
Does not disclose
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
7, 10, or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $99,999 per year (lifetime limit of $180,000)
Cosigner release
36 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at an eligible institution. You must also meet Custom Choice’s underwriting criteria for income and credit, or apply with a cosigner who does. Eligible noncitizens such as DACA residents can also qualify by applying with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
INvested is an Indiana company that offers affordable student loans exclusively to state residents. Loans are available to Indiana students and parents who can meet income and credit requirements, or who have an eligible cosigner. Borrowers can borrow as little as $1,001 or as much as the school-certified cost of attendance minus other aid.
INvested provides detailed information on eligibility so borrowers can quickly determine whether to apply for a loan — however, there’s no option to prequalify with a soft credit check. Cosigner release is also available after just 12 on-time payments, considerably shorter than many other lenders.
pros
Low minimum borrowing limits
Autopay discount of 0.25 percentage points
Short cosigner release requirements
Transparent qualification requirements
cons
Loans are available only to Indiana residents
No prequalification option to view your rates
No loan options for international students
Interest rates
Fixed or variable
Minimum credit score
670
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
5, 10, or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,001 minimum, up to the school certified cost of attendance
Cosigner release
12 months
Eligibility
Loans are available to Indiana residents only. Borrowers must have a FICO score of 670 or higher, a 30% maximum debt-to-income ratio or minimum monthly income of $3,333, continuous employment over two years, and no major collections or defaults in recent years. Borrowers who do not meet income or credit requirements can apply with a cosigner.
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) offers student loans to borrowers with good credit. However, you won't be able to see your potential rate before applying.
The lender doesn't charge any fees and its rates are competitive, though MEFA only offers two repayment terms. You can add a cosigner to your loan if you're unable to qualify, but only one repayment plan allows you to release your cosigner.
pros
Doesn’t charge any fees
Low maximum rate compared with some lenders
Can borrow up to the school-certified cost of attendance
cons
No discounts for borrowers
Limited repayment terms
No prequalification available
Interest rates
Fixed
Minimum credit score
670
Minimum income
Does not disclose
Loan terms
10 or 15 years
Loan amounts
$1,500 minimum up to school-certified cost of attendance
Cosigner release
48 months
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled at least half time at a degree-granting, nonprofit institution, and must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Must have no history of default on an education loan and no history of bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past 60 months. Applicants who can’t meet the minimum credit and income requirements may apply with a cosigner.
If you’re ready to get a student loan, follow these four steps:
Fill out the FAFSA. If you need to pay for school, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is usually a good place to start. Your school will use your FAFSA information to determine what federal financial aid you might be eligible for. Your FAFSA results might also play a role in qualifying you for school-based scholarships and grants.
Apply for scholarships and grants. It’s a good idea to apply for as many college scholarships and grants as you can since these types of aid don’t have to be repaid, unlike student loans. This essentially makes scholarships and grants free money for school.
Apply for federal student loans. Your FAFSA information will also be used by your school to see what federal student loans are available to you. If you need to borrow money for school, federal student loans are usually the best place to start. This is mainly because they come with federal benefits and protections, such as access to income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, most federal student loans don’t require a credit check.
Take out private student loans to fill any gaps. If you’ve exhausted your scholarship, grant, and federal student loan options, private student loans can help fill any financial gaps left over. Be sure to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right private student loan for you — such as credit unions, online lenders, and banks.
Tip: You’ll typically need to have good to excellent credit to potentially qualify for a private student loan. While some lenders offer student loans for bad credit, these loans generally come with higher interest rates compared to good credit loans.
If you’re struggling to get approved, consider applying with a cosigner. Even if you don’t need a cosigner to qualify, having one could get you a lower interest rate than you’d get on your own.
Before you take out a private student loan, remember to consider as many lenders as possible to find the right loan for you.
Here the answers to a few commonly asked questions regarding credit union student loans.
Do credit unions offer student loans?
Not all credit unions offer student loans, but some do. If you want to take out a credit union student loan, it’s usually a good idea to start your search with local credit unions in your area before considering national credit unions.
Do you have to be a credit union member to take out a student loan?
Yes, to take out a student loan through a credit union, you’ll need to be a member.
However, keep in mind that you can often join the credit union at the same time that you apply for a student loan — just make sure that you’re eligible for membership beforehand.
How long does it take to get a credit union student loan?
The timeline for getting a credit union student loan will likely be longer compared to an online lender — especially since some credit unions don’t accept online applications and might require you to apply in person.
If you’re approved, your school will have to certify the loan, which could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
