Student Loans
Whether you’re gearing up for college, navigating life after graduation, or somewhere in between, we’re here to make student loans less confusing—and way more manageable.
I need to...
Take Out Student Loans
Whether you're an undergraduate, graduate student, or preparing for career training, we'll help you understand every step of the student loan process. Discover how federal and private loans work, how much you can borrow, and what to expect from different lenders before committing.
FAFSA
- FAFSA Guide 2025 – 2026
- 2025 – 2026 FAFSA Requirements: Documents, Eligibility, and What’s New
- FAFSA Deadlines
- How to File the FAFSA When You Don’t Live With Your Parents
- How to Report Parents’ Cash, Checking Accounts, and Savings on the FAFSA
- How to Edit the FAFSA Form After Submitting: Q&A Guide
- How to Add More Than 20 Schools to the FAFSA
FAFSA FAQ
- How Long Does the FAFSA Take to Complete & Process?
- How Much Does FAFSA Give? What to Expect in 2025
- What Should You Do If FAFSA Doesn't Cover Everything?
- What Is the Student Aid Index (SAI), and How Does It Work on the FAFSA?
- How Often Do You Need to File the FAFSA?
- Should You Include Your Spouse's Income on the FAFSA?
- Can You Complete the FAFSA Without a Driver’s License?
- FAFSA Independent Student: Real Loophole to Get More Financial Aid?
Financial Aid
- How Does Financial Aid Work?
- Am I Eligible for Financial Aid?
- How to Ask for More Financial Aid
- Can You Request More Financial Aid During the Semester?
- How to Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter
- What to Do If You Maxed Out Financial Aid
- Need-Based and Non-Need-Based Financial Aid Guide
- The Complete Guide to Financial Aid for International Students
Private Student Loan Lender Reviews
LendEDU's top-rated lenders:
Other lenders:
- Brazos Review
- PNC Review
- RISLA Review
- Prodigy Finance Review
- MPOWER Financing Review
- Earnest Review
- Edly Review
- Funding U Review
- A.M. Money Review
- EdvestinU Review
- Nelnet Bank Review
- Union Federal Review
- Bank of North Dakota Review
- NJCLASS Review
- Advantage Education Review
- INvestEd Review
- Climb Credit Review
- Custom Choice Review
- Credit Union Student Choice Review
- Sparrow Review
- ELFI Review
- LendKey Review
- Navy Federal Review
- CollegeFinance Review
- Purefy Review
- PenFed Review
Types of Private Student Loans
- Based on financial profile
- Based on institution
- Based on immigration status
- For non-traditional applicants
- Career training loans
- For parents
- For graduate students
- For health professions
The Best of the Best 🏆 See which lenders won
LendEDU's 2025 Awards for Best Private Student Loans
Repay Your Student Loans
Learn about repayment plans, forgiveness options, solutions for delinquent and defaulted student loans, and strategies to stay on track with repayment and get out of debt faster.
Plan Your Payoff Strategy
- How to Manage Your Student Loan Debt
- How to Pay Off $100K in Student Loans in 6 Steps
- How Long Will It Take to Pay Off Student Loans? Timelines for $10K – $200K
- How to Pay Off Student Loans Fast: 12 Strategies to Become Debt-Free Sooner
- How to Calculate Your Minimum Student Loan Payment
- Can You Make Principal-Only Payments on Student Loans?
- What "Do Not Advance Due Date" Means for Student Loan Repayment
- Student Loan Payments Too High? 7 Strategies to Lower or Pause Them
- Can You Pay Student Loans Off Early? What to Know Before You Decide
- 10 Reasons Your Student Loan Payment Increased (and What to Do About It)
- Student Loan Repayment Plan Denied? What to Know in September 2025
Navigating Repayment Plans
- Is Student Loan Repayment Still Paused in September 2025?
- Student Loan Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Calculator
- Student Loan Deferment & Forbearance Calculator
- How to Recertify Your IDR Plan in 2025
- Income-Driven Repayment Plans Guide
- What Is the Best Student Loan Servicer? Our 2025 Analysis
- The Complete List of Federal Student Loan Servicers for 2025
- What to Do If Your Student Loans Were Sold to Another Company
- Your Student Loan Balance Says Paid in Full? Here’s the Real Reason
- How to Check My Student Loans
Delinquency and Default
Refinance Your Student Loans
Looking to save on interest or simplify your payments? Refinancing could be the solution. Learn how refinancing works, when it makes sense, and which lenders offer the most competitive rates.
How Student Loan Refinance Works
- What Is Student Loan Refinance, and How Does It Work in 2025?
- Does Refinancing Student Loans Hurt Your Credit?
- Does Refinancing Student Loans Save Money?
- How Much Does It Cost to Refinance a Student Loan?
- 10 Must‑Know Pros and Cons of Refinancing Student Loans
- Is It Ever a Good Idea to Refinance Federal Student Loans?
- Can You Refinance Student Loans More Than Once?
- How Many Times Can You Refinance a Student Loan?
The Best of the Best 🏆 See which companies won
LendEDU's 2025 Awards for Student Loan Refinance Companies
All student loan articles
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What Happens If You Don’t Pay a Cosigned Loan on Time? Consequences for Borrower and Cosigner
Cosigners can make a huge difference for borrowers with poor credit (or no credit at all). But cosigning a loan also invites severe risk: If the borrower can’t make payments,…
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What Happens to Student Loans When You Die?
Student loans may be discharged or forgiven when you pass away but there are some differences in the way federal and private loans are handled.
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What Happens When You Refinance a Student Loan?
When you refinance student debt, you replace existing student loans with a new one. Student loan refinancing is offered by private lenders, including traditional banks and online loan companies. It…
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What Is a 529 College Savings Plan?
Figuring out how to cover the cost of college for yourself or a loved one can be challenging. If you’re looking for a way to specifically set aside funds for…
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![[Q&A] What Is Student Loan Default? What It Means and What to Do About It](https://lendedu.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Q-A-What-Is-Student-Loan-Default-What-It-Means-and-What-to-Do-About-It.jpg?w=640)
What Is a Defaulted Student Loan, and What Can You Do About It?
Student loan default happens when you fail to repay your loan as agreed, typically after missing several months of payments. Defaulting can trigger serious consequences, including damage to your credit…
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What Is a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, and Who Qualifies? 2025-2026 Guide
If regular financial aid isn’t enough, you have one more option: The Direct PLUS loan. This loan can help bridge the gap between financial need and the cost of attendance…
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What Is a Reaffirmation Letter for Student Loans?
We’ve researched when you might need to get a reaffirmation letter for student loans. Here are the steps you need to take.
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What Is a Student Loan Grace Period?
Most student loans offer a grace period. We outline what loans qualify, how to find out whether yours does, and what you should be doing during your grace period.
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What Is a Student Loan Master Promissory Note?
Find out all about master promissory notes and why understanding your student loan agreement is essential before you borrow money for your education.
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What Is Capitalized Interest on Student Loans?
Capitalized interest occurs when unpaid interest is added to the principal balance of your student loan. This often happens after grace, deferment, or forbearance periods end. Once interest is capitalized,…