Capable Student Loans Review 2025: Sallie Mae’s New Look, Same Terms

Great for Repayment Flexibility

4.8 _/5

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By Sallie Mae

Our take: Capable student loans offer the same terms as Sallie Mae but with a fresh look and modern branding. There’s nothing new feature-wise (yet), but eligible borrowers may find Capable appealing for its repayment flexibility and potential for future updates.

Private Student Loans

• Covers up to 100% of school-certified costs
• Apply for cosigner release after 12 on-time payments
• No origination fees
• Accepts students with less than half-time enrollment
• Optional 12-month interest-only repayment plan for qualified borrowers
• Loans for undergraduate, graduate, and career-training programs

• No differentiators from Sallie Mae’s student loans
• Limited information available on its website
• No soft credit check to prequalify

Rates (APR)	3.19% – 16.99%
Loan amounts	$1,000 – 100% of certified costs
Repayment terms	10 – 15 years

Capable student loans are powered by Sallie Mae, one of the biggest names in private student lending. While the branding is new, the product itself mirrors Sallie Mae’s core loans when it comes to rates, terms, and eligibility.

Capable may eventually stand out with more flexible tools or borrower features, but for now, it’s essentially a fresh look on the same foundation. If you’re eligible for Sallie Mae, you’ll likely qualify for Capable, too, with the potential for benefits as the platform matures.

Table of Contents

1. Why does Sallie Mae offer Capable student loans?
2. Rates and terms
3. Eligibility
4. Repayment
5. How to apply
6. Alternatives

Why does Sallie Mae offer Capable student loans?

Capable seems to be Sallie Mae’s way of reaching a wider audience with a more modern, user-friendly brand. Sallie Mae is well known in the student loan world, but that name can carry baggage, especially for younger borrowers who want something that feels fresh and easy to navigate.

By launching Capable, Sallie Mae has room to test new tools, features, and benefits without changing its core product. While Capable doesn’t yet offer anything different from Sallie Mae loans, its branding and positioning suggest it could evolve into a more flexible, personalized borrowing option over time.

Capable rates and terms

Since Capable student loans are powered by Sallie Mae, they come with the same rates and terms you’d find under Sallie Mae’s main brand: You can choose between fixed and variable interest rates, and your exact rate will depend on your credit, loan type, and whether you have a creditworthy cosigner.

While the terms aren’t unique to Capable, they’re competitive, especially if you qualify for rate discounts by setting up autopay. Just keep in mind that fees can apply for late payments, so it’s worth setting reminders or automating your due dates.

Fixed rate (APR)	3.19% – 16.99%
Variable rate (APR)	4.37% – 16.49%
Rate discounts	0.25% for automatic payments
Loan amounts	$1,000 – 100% of certified costs
Repayment terms	10 – 15 years
Grace period	6 months
Cosigner release?	Yes; after 12 on-time payments
Fees	Late payments

Eligibility

Capable uses the same eligibility criteria as Sallie Mae, so if you qualify for one, you’ll likely qualify for the other. To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (non-residents can apply with a creditworthy U.S. cosigner)
• Meet credit and income requirements or apply with a qualified cosigner

Capable loans are open to undergrad and grad students at approved schools, including those in career-training programs. Like Sallie Mae, it excludes for-profit and unaccredited institutions.

Most undergrads will need a cosigner. Capable offers cosigner release after 12 on-time payments, pending credit and income review.

How does repayment work?

Capable offers the same flexible repayment options as Sallie Mae, so you can decide how to manage your loan while you’re still in school. You can choose from:

• Deferred repayment: Make no payments until six months after graduation
• Fixed repayment: Pay $25/month while in school to reduce interest
• Interest-only repayment: Pay only the interest each month to avoid balance growth

After school, a six-month grace period applies before full payments begin. Repayment typically lasts 10 to 15 years, depending on your loan type and term.

Capable also offers:

• Autopay discount: 0.25% off your rate with automatic payments
• Cosigner release: Available after 12 on-time payments
• Hardship forbearance: May help if you’re facing financial stress

How to apply

You can apply for a Capable student loan at capablestudentloans.com.

The process is straightforward: Fill out a full application, share your school details, and provide income or cosigner info if needed. If you’re approved, your school will certify the loan amount, and funds will be sent to the institution.

It’s nearly identical to applying for a Sallie Mae loan, just under a different brand name.

Capable alternatives

Because Capable’s rates and terms match Sallie Mae’s, it’s worth exploring other private lenders that may offer better perks depending on your credit or cosigner situation. Here are a few standout options:

• College Ave: Flexible loan terms with parent loan and career-specific options
• Earnest: No fees and more control over your repayment schedule
• SoFi: Career coaching, unemployment protection, and competitive rates

If you’re mainly interested in Capable because of its Sallie Mae backing, compare both before deciding.

• Sallie Mae: A better fit if you prefer the original brand and don’t expect unique features from Capable

How we rated Capable student loans

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best student loans. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Capable to several student loan lenders, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and designation, recapped below.