Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Student Loans Capital One Student Loans: Here Are Alternatives to Consider Updated Jun 21, 2023 | 5-min read Written by Zina Kumok Written by Zina Kumok Expertise: Student loans, credit scores, personal loans, banking, education planning Zina Kumok is a personal finance writer dedicated to explaining complex financial topics so real people can understand them. As a former newspaper reporter, she has covered everything from murder trials to the Final Four. Learn more about Zina Kumok Capital One is one of the largest banks in the U.S. in terms of deposits. But does Capital One offer student loans? They do not. If you’re in need of a student loan, we’ve reviewed several popular student loan lenders to help you find an alternative to Capital One. Capital One student loan alternatives Federal student loans are the best option for most students, but if you don’t qualify for federal loans or have maxed out your federal loans, then a private loan is your next best bet. Since Capital One is a private bank, we’ve reviewed several private lenders below. College Ave View Rates Editorial Selection: Best Overall Up to 100% of costs are coveredChoose between 20 different repayment schedulesApply in just 3 minutes College Ave is a private student loan lender with options for undergraduates and graduate students. Student loans from College Ave can cover up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, books, housing, and other costs. Here’s what to know about the College Ave undergraduate student loan: Fixed rates (APR): Between 3.24% and 13.95% APRVariable rates (APR): Between 0.94% and 12.99% APRLoan amounts: $1,000 to 100% of the school-certified costsRepayment terms: 5, 8, 10, or 15 yearsIn-school repayment options: Deferred payments, $25 monthly payments, interest-only payments, and full principal and interest paymentsGrace period: 6 monthsCosigner release: After making at least half of your scheduled payments, plus meeting other criteriaUnique benefits: You can apply and receive a credit decision within 3 minutes What makes College Ave a good alternative to Capital One College Ave offers student loans with a variety of repayment terms and in-school repayment options. Borrowers can also release a cosigner after 24 months of on-time payments and when they are halfway through the repayment term. College Ave partners with Payce Rewards, which provides cash back that you can put toward your student loans or any other financial goals. To qualify, you have to create an account with Payce Rewards, link a credit or debit card, and shop at one of the approved stores. These include retailers like Walmart.com, Kohls.com, and Sephora.com. Sallie Mae View Rates Editorial Selection: Best for Cosigners Shortest cosigner release periodAvailable to undergraduates, graduates, and for career training Sallie Mae is one of the largest student loan companies in the marketplace, offering loans for undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree-seeking students. Even students attending college less than part-time are still eligible for Sallie Mae student loans. Its interest rates are relatively low, and they have several in-school repayment options. Fixed rates (APR): Between 3.75% and 13.72% APRVariable rates (APR): Between 2.00% and 12.35% APRLoan amounts: $1,000 to 100% of the school-certified costs of attendanceRepayment terms: 15 yearsIn-school repayment options: Interest-only payments, $25 payments, and deferred paymentsGrace period: 6 monthsCosigner release: After 12 on-time payments and if you meet credit requirements What makes Sallie Mae a good alternative to Capital One Sallie Mae’s cosigner release program is one of the best, with only 12 months of on-time payments required. Earnest View Rates Editorial Selection: Best for No Fees No origination, late payment, or application feesSkip one payment per year, if neededCheck your rate without impacting your credit Earnest is an online lender offering private student loans with competitive rates. They provide more flexibility and a better user experience to borrowers who need to supplement federal student loans. Fixed rates (APR): Between 3.24% and 12.78% APRVariable rates (APR): Between 1.34% and 11.44% APRLoan amounts: $1,000 to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendanceRepayment terms: 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 yearsIn-school repayment options: $25 monthly payments, interest-only payments, deferred payments, and full principal and interest paymentsGrace period: 9 monthsCosigner release: Not availableUnique benefits: Can set up biweekly payments What makes Earnest a good alternative to Capital One Earnest offers a nine-month grace period, so borrowers have more time before repayment begins. This can be especially useful for borrowers who have trouble finding a job. Borrowers can also skip one payment each year, which is another benefit for borrowers who need more wiggle room in their budget. Ascent View Rates Editorial Selection: Best for Eligibility Select undergraduates can gain access to a free, exclusive coaching programGet 1% cash back upon proof of graduationCheck your rate without impacting your credit Ascent offers two main types of loans: those for borrowers with a cosigner and those without a cosigner. Ascent is one of the only options for students who don’t have a cosigner for their loan. International students will need a cosigner to qualify for a loan, while DACA students will not. Fixed rates (APR): Between 3.22% and 13.61% for cosigned loansVariable rates (APR): Between 0.98% and 10.04% APR for cosigned loansLoan amounts: $2,001 to $200,000Repayment terms: 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 yearsIn-school repayment options: Interest-only payments, $25 fixed payments, and deferred paymentsGrace period: 9 monthsCosigner release: 12 consecutive on-time payments and must meet credit requirementsUnique benefits: Students can get a 1% cash back bonus after graduation What makes Ascent a good alternative to Capital One Students can get a cash back bonus worth 1% of the loan principal when they graduate. Ascent also offers $1,000 scholarships for certain students, so borrowers can potentially minimize how much they need to borrow. Discover View Rates Editorial Selection: Best Good Grades Reward Receive a cash reward for earning good gradesNo feesU.S.-based student loan specialists Discover offers undergraduate and graduate school student loans with relatively low interest rates. However, they only offer one repayment term, while other lenders have a variety of repayment terms. Discover also does not provide a cosigner release option for Discover-originated loans. Fixed rates: Between 4.99% and 13.99% APRVariables rates: Between 2.99% and 12.59% APRRate reduction: 0.25% interest rate discount for automatic paymentsLoan amounts: $1,000 to 100% of the cost of attendanceRepayment terms: 15 yearsFees: No prepayment, origination, or late feesCosigner release: Not availableIn-school repayment: $25 fixed payments, interest-only payments, and deferred paymentsGrace period: 6 months What makes Discover a good alternative to Capital One Discover does not charge late fees, which is unique among all the other lenders on this list. They also provide a 1% cash back bonus for students who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. Students can use this bonus for any purpose, like buying a new laptop, paying for a spring break trip, or putting toward their student loans.