Student Loans for Low GPA

A low GPA in high school won’t affect an incoming freshman’s student loan eligibility, but college students can be denied a student loan due to poor academic performance. The Department of Education and private lenders require college students to meet their school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to be approved.

Every school sets its own standards, so check your financial aid department’s website or call the office before applying. If you meet your school’s standards, here are top-rated student loan lenders for a low GPA.

Lender	Our rating	Eligibility check
Dept. of Education	Not rated	Varies by loan
College Ave	5/5	Hard credit check
Sallie Mae	4.8/5	Hard credit check
Earnest	4.7/5	Soft credit check
ELFI	4.5/5	Soft credit check

Lenders offering student loans for low GPA

It’s generally a good idea to borrow federal student loans before private ones, since federal loans come with a host of borrower-friendly perks. However, they also come with borrowing limits, so you may need additional funding for school. 

That’s where a private student loan can help. Here are our top picks for private student loans for students with a low GPA.

College Ave

Sallie Mae

Earnest

ELFI

Other student loan eligibility requirements

Grades aren’t the only important factor in qualifying for student loans. Borrowers must meet several requirements to be eligible for federal or private student loans.

Citizenship and residency requirements

To qualify for all federal student loans and most private loans, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a Social Security number.

Some private student loan companies allow DACA or international students to apply for student loans, but they usually require a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to cosign the loan. A few lenders will allow DACA or international students to qualify for a loan without a cosigner. 

Credit and income requirements

Private student loan companies will also run a credit check on borrowers and may have specific credit score requirements, often around 650. Most require the borrower to have a source of income. 

You’ll likely need a cosigner if you don’t meet those requirements. The cosigner must meet the lender’s credit score and income requirements and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Federal student loans don’t require a cosigner.

Attendance requirements

Another important requirement for federal student loans is that students must at least be attending school on a half-time basis. Private student loans may also require students to attend school part-time or full-time. The exact credit-hour requirement depends on the lender.

School requirements

To qualify for a federal student loan, the college you attend must be a Title IV institution that awards a degree or certificate. Before you apply, verify that your school is listed in the Title IV directory. Being a Title IV institution will also make you eligible for other types of federal financial aid, including grants and work-study.

Other requirements 

Students must also have a high school diploma or GED to be eligible for federal and private student loans. If you default on any outstanding federal student loans, you may not be eligible for additional student loans. 

What to do if you have a low GPA

Most schools require you to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale as an undergraduate to maintain SAP, which equates to a C grade or 73% to 76%. You also generally need to successfully pass at least 67% of the courses you take per year. Depending on the school’s policy, you may be required to complete your program within 150% of its typical duration. 

If your GPA or credit fulfillment drops below the minimum for satisfactory academic progress, you can’t get federal student loans for college until you get back on track. The best option may be to find a private student loan to hold you over until your grades improve if the lender allows it. 

Examples of college SAP requirements

Each college sets its own policy for satisfactory academic progress, but the standards are often the same across schools. Here are a few examples: 

College	GPA requirement for SAP (undergraduate)	Minimum completion rate of attempted credits per year
Arizona State University	2.0	67%
Michigan State University	2.0	67%
New York University (NYU)	2.0	67%
Ohio State University	1.80 for first-year students, 2.0 after that	67%
Pennsylvania State University	2.0	67%
Purdue University	2.0	67%
Rutgers University	1.40 – 2.0, depending on how many credits you’ve already completed	50% – 75%, depending on how many credits you’ve already completed
Texas A&M University	2.0	67%
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	2.0	67%
University of Central Florida	2.0	67%

If you don’t qualify for a private student loan, you’ll have to come up with the money yourself. The most common ways to accomplish this are finding a job or borrowing money from a family member or friend.

Ask the expert

Chloe Moore

CFP®

If you’re having trouble meeting SAP requirements, consider why you’re struggling in school and how you can improve your situation before you take on more loans. This could mean taking a break, transferring to another school/program, or changing to a different degree field. A worst-case scenario is taking out more loans and continuing to struggle or possibly failing out. Once you have a good plan to improve your academic progress and you’re confident that you will be able to graduate, I recommend looking at federal student loans first, then private loans.

FAQ

Can I get federal financial aid with a 1.9 GPA?

Yes, you can get federal financial aid with a 1.9 GPA, but you must meet SAP requirements set by your school, which often includes maintaining a minimum GPA. If you fall below this GPA, you may be placed on academic probation or need to appeal to retain your aid.

What is the minimum GPA for loans?

There is no specific minimum GPA for federal student loans, but maintaining SAP, which typically requires a GPA of 2.0 or higher, is necessary to remain eligible. Private lenders may have their own GPA requirements.

Can I get grants and scholarships with a low GPA?

Getting grants and scholarships with a low GPA is more challenging as many are merit-based. However, some need-based grants and scholarships do not consider GPA, so it’s still possible to receive some aid. 

Additionally, some scholarships focus on other criteria such as community service, leadership, or specific talents.

How we chose the best student loans for low GPA

LendEDU evaluates student loan lenders to help readers find the best student loans. Our latest analysis reviewed 725 data points from 25 lenders and financial institutions, with 29 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Recap of student loans for low GPA

Lender	LendEDU rating
Dept. of Education	Not rated
College Ave	5/5
Sallie Mae	4.8/5
Earnest	4.7/5
ELFI	4.5/5