As of December 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. EST, PNC is no longer accepting new student or education refinance loan applications. Check out our lists of the best student loans and best student loan refinance lenders for our selected alternatives.
Private Student Loans
- Offers loans for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees
- Cosigner release available after 48 consecutive, on-time payments
- 0.5% rate discount for setting up automatic payments
- No prequalification or soft credit check option to see rates
- Doesn’t offer parent loans or international student loans
- Customer service reviews across PNC as a whole are largely negative
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.43% – 16.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 5.59% – 16.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $50,000 per year (undergrad), $65,000 per year (grad/professional); maximum $225,000 total (federal + private loans combined) |
| Repayment terms | 5, 10, or 15 years |
Refinance Student Loans
- No graduation requirement to refinance
- Deferment option for up to 36 months if you return to full-time school
- Refinance up to $200,000 in loans (depending on degree attained)
- No refinancing options for Parent PLUS loans separately
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.43% – 16.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 5.59% – 16.99% |
| Loan amounts | $10,000 – $200,000 (depending on degree attained) |
| Repayment terms | 5, 10, 15, or 20 years |
Table of Contents
PNC student loan alternatives
PNC private student loan review
PNC offers private student loans for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Borrowers can choose among flexible repayment options and apply for cosigner release after 48 months.
While PNC doesn’t offer niche perks like career coaching or hardship assistance, it can be a solid choice if you’re looking for a traditional private loan from a major national bank.
PNC private student loan details
| Feature | Details |
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.43% – 16.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 5.59% – 16.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 – $50,000 per year (undergrad), $65,000 per year (grad/professional); maximum $225,000 total (federal + private loans combined) |
| Repayment terms | 5, 10, or 15 years |
What else to know:
- No application or origination fees
- 6-month grace period after graduation
- In-school deferment and interest-only payment options
- Cosigner release after 48 consecutive, on-time payments
Pros and cons of PNC student loans
Pros
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Competitive fixed and variable rates
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Flexible repayment terms (5, 10, or 15 years)
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Cosigner release after 48 months
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0.5% autopay discount
Cons
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No soft credit check to preview rates
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No parent loans or international student loans
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No specialized borrower benefits
Best PNC student loan refinance alternatives
PNC private student loans refinance review
PNC also refinances both private and federal student loans. One standout feature: you can refinance with PNC even if you didn’t graduate. That makes PNC a rare option for borrowers who didn’t finish their degrees.
Graduates can qualify for larger loan amounts, longer terms, and potentially lower rates compared to borrowers who didn’t graduate.
PNC student loan refinance details
| Feature | Details |
| Fixed rates (APR) | 4.43% – 16.99% |
| Variable rates (APR) | 5.59% – 16.99% |
| Loan amounts | $10,000 – $200,000 (depending on degree attained) |
| Repayment terms | 5, 10, 15, or 20 years |
What else to know:
- Available even if you didn’t graduate
- Deferment up to 36 months if you return to school full-time
- Cosigner release after 48 consecutive, on-time payments
- No application or origination fees
Pros and cons of PNC student loan refinance
Pros
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Available to borrowers without a completed degree
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High maximum loan amounts ($200,000)
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Deferment option if returning to school
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Cosigner release option
Cons
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Higher maximum rate compared to some competitors
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No hardship programs or forbearance beyond deferment
If you’re comparing multiple refinance lenders, Credible lets you check prequalified rates from several top lenders in minutes with no impact on your credit score.
Who is eligible for PNC student loans?
To qualify for a private student loan or refinance loan from PNC, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 18 years old (or 17 with a cosigner)
- Be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school or in an eligible program
- Meet minimum credit and income requirements
For refinancing:
- Graduation not required (but graduates may qualify for better rates)
- Demonstrate payment history if no degree was obtained
How to repay PNC student loans
PNC offers three repayment options:
- Immediate repayment: Start paying principal and interest right away.
- Interest-only repayment: Pay only interest while in school.
- Deferred repayment: No payments until six months after leaving school.
Choose fixed or variable rates based on your budget and risk tolerance. Keep in mind:
- Fixed rates provide predictability.
- Variable rates may start lower but can increase over time.
How to apply for a PNC student loan
Applying online is simple:
- Choose your loan type.
- Complete the eligibility check.
- Create a PNC account.
- Submit your application and any required documents.
- Consent to a hard credit check.
If approved, PNC will send funds to your school (for private loans) or pay off your current loans (for refinancing).
PNC customer service and support
Unlike some private lenders, PNC services its own loans. That means you’ll work with PNC and PNC alone from the time you apply for a loan to the time you pay it off.
To that end, PNC’s customer service team is distributed throughout multiple states and available across multiple channels. PNC’s lending specialists can assist you with applying, making payments, setting up online access—you name it. Here’s how to reach them:
- Online: Fill out this contact form to get in touch with a PNC student lending specialist.
- Phone: 1-800-762-1001 is PNC’s dedicated student loan support number. Representatives are available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
- Branch: PNC has 2,300 locations in 28 states and Washington, D.C. Find a branch near you for in-person assistance.
But as you can see, many PNC customers report that the company’s customer service is lacking:
| Source | Customer rating | Number of reviews |
| Trustpilot | 1.3/5 | 1,508 |
| 1.4/5 | 70 | |
| Better Business Bureau | 1.1/5 | 442 |
PNC is a legitimate lender with an A+ BBB rating, but it doesn’t hold BBB accreditation. Companies must submit an application and pay a fee for accreditation, so it’s possible PNC isn’t accredited because it didn’t apply.
Despite its high BBB rating, PNC’s customer reviews reflect a negative experience. Many unhappy customers describe difficulties with the online payment system or less-than-stellar customer service at branches or over the phone. Those poor reviews are worth noting, but customer reviews can involve any of PNC’s service offerings at any of its 2,300 branches or virtual customer service departments and with any of its 56,000 employees.
Furthermore, few reviews address PNC’s student loan products. In other words, the frustrations expressed in these reviews may not be the typical PNC customer experience, at least not when it comes to student loan products.
FAQ
Does PNC offer private or federal student loans?
PNC only offers private student loans. You can defer payments on your PNC student loans like you can with federal student loans. PNC student loans aren’t eligible for federal repayment or forgiveness programs, though, and may have higher interest rates.
Does PNC require a cosigner?
PNC only requires a cosigner for students under age 18. But if you have poor credit, a limited credit history, or a lower income, a cosigner could strengthen your application and help you qualify for a better interest rate.
How long does it take to receive funds from PNC?
When you receive your funds depends on the type of student loan you take out, though PNC doesn’t give an expected timeline. Medical residency and bar study loan funds are disbursed to the borrower, whereas PNC sends all other student loan funds to the borrower’s university.
That extra step means you’ll have to wait for your school to apply your loan funds to your tuition balance before you receive any excess. Reach out to your financial aid office for more information.
Is PNC responsible for paying off my current student loans?
PNC’s website isn’t clear about its student loan refinance process. Typically, the lender you refinance with will pay off your current student loans. Then you’ll start making payments to your new lender.
This doesn’t happen overnight, and you’re still responsible for paying your former loan servicer until the new one takes over. Ask your PNC lending specialist how long they expect the process to take and how you’ll know it’s completed so you don’t miss any payments in the meantime.
Recap of PNC student loan alternatives
About our contributors
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Written by Sarah Sheehan, MATSarah Sheehan is a writer, educator, and analyst who focuses on the impact of health, gender, and geography on financial equity. Her ultimate goal? To live beyond the confines of chasing the next dollar—and to teach everyone else how to do the same.
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Edited by Kristen Barrett, MATKristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their pack of senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.