Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Student Loans Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner in 2025: Options for Students With No Credit or Cosigner Updated May 14, 2025 10-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Methodology Methodology 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. Written by Sarah Sheehan, MAT Written by Sarah Sheehan, MAT Expertise: Tax planning, retirement planning, debt management Sarah 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. Learn more about Sarah Sheehan, MAT Reviewed by Erin Kinkade, CFP® Reviewed by Erin Kinkade, CFP® Expertise: Insurance planning, education planning, retirement planning, investment planning, military benefits, behavioral finance Erin Kinkade, CFP®, ChFC®, works as a financial planner at AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust. Erin prepares comprehensive financial plans for military veterans and their families. Learn more about Erin Kinkade, CFP® Getting a student loan without a cosigner can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate student, or international student with no credit, several lenders offer no-cosigner student loans based on factors like academic progress or future earnings. In this guide, we’ll show you how to qualify for a student loan without a cosigner in 2025, which lenders to consider, and how to improve your chances of approval. Company Best for… Rating (0-5) 4.7 View Rates Best for undergraduates 4.7 View Rates 4.6 View Rates Best for international students 4.6 View Rates 4.4 View Rates Best for deferred repayment 4.4 View Rates 3.9 View Rates Best for income-based repayment 3.9 View Rates Table of Contents Can you get a private student loan with no cosigner? Best lenders for students with no credit or cosigner Funding U MPOWER Ascent Edly How no-cosigner loans differ from other student loans Who qualifies for a student loan with no cosigner? How to apply for a student loan without a cosigner How repayment works How to improve your approval odds FAQ Can international students get student loans without a cosigner? What if I don’t qualify? Can you get a private student loan with no cosigner? Yes, but your options are more limited. Most private lenders rely on credit and income to assess risk. Without a cosigner, you’ll need to qualify based on other factors, like GPA, major, or future salary potential. Best lenders for students with no credit or cosigner These lenders specialize in offering private student loans without cosigners in 2025. Unlike traditional lenders, they consider your academic record, degree program, or future earning potential to determine eligibility. Best for undergraduates: Funding U Best for international students: MPOWER Best for deferred repayment: Ascent Best for income-based repayment: Edly Funding U Best for Undergraduates 4.7 /5 View Rates Why Funding U is one of the best Funding U specializes in offering student loans without a cosigner. It created a unique eligibility model that excludes your credit history because many students haven’t yet built one up. Eligibility is determined by your academic success in college, your likelihood to graduate on time, your projected total student debt, and your projected earnings based on your major. Funding U will consider the historical data of other students who attend your school if this information is limited. Academic success rather than credit score is a large factor in eligibility All loans have fixed interest rates 0.50% rate discount for making interest-only payments Funding U assigns a Loan Officer to help you get your funds Checking your rate doesn’t affect your credit score Must be enrolled full-time at an eligible school Only available in 38 states (see below) Rates (APR)5.59% – 16.99%Loan amounts$3,001 – $20,000Repayment terms10 yearsExcluded states: AK, ID, KY, ME, MS, MT, NV, NH, ND, RI, SD, WY. Eligibility requirements Funding U has minimum GPA and graduation rate thresholds determined by various factors. Generally, students with a GPA lower than 2.5 won’t be approved for a loan. Must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident over the age of 18 Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in a bachelor’s degree program at a Title IV-eligible four-year college (for-profit school not eligible) Eligible states Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Repayment terms All loans have a repayment term of 10 years with no prepayment penalty for paying off the loan early. In-school payment options include a $20 monthly fixed payment or interest-only payments. A full repayment schedule will begin six months following graduation; the monthly payments will include interest and principal. MPOWER Best for International Students 4.6 /5 View Rates Why MPOWER is one of the best MPOWER offers student loans for students studying at certain schools in the U.S. and Canada. These loans are available to international students and U.S. citizens. Not only does MPOWER not require a cosigner, but it doesn’t require a credit history. Instead, MPOWER focuses on your future earnings potential to determine whether you’ll be approved. Its loans are available to students from over 190 countries, and borrowers can pay online from any location with any currency. Provides Visa and career development support Accepts borrowers enrolled half-time Payments can be made from anywhere around the world Checking your rate doesn’t affect your credit score All borrowers get the same high interest rate Must make interest-only payments while enrolled Rates (APR)16.99%Loan amounts$2,001 – $100,000Repayment terms10 years Eligibility requirements Undergraduate or graduate students within two years of graduating or about to begin a one- to two-year program Attend one of 350+ MPOWER partner schools International students, DACA recipients, U.S. citizens, refugees, or asylum-seekers Repayment terms Students must make interest-only payments while in school, which helps build a U.S. credit history. Upon graduation, a six-month grace period applies before full principal and interest payments begin. Ascent Best for Deferred Repayment 4.4 /5 View Rates Why Ascent is one of the best Ascent is a student loan lender offering multiple types of loans with a 1% cash-back reward at graduation. The Ascent Non-Cosigned Future Income-Based Loan is available to juniors and seniors without a cosigner. If you don’t meet the credit or income requirements, Ascent will use alternative factors to determine eligibility. These factors can include your school, program, graduation date, major, and cost of attendance. 1% cash back upon proof of graduation Up to 1% rate discount for enrolling in automatic payments Choose from 5 repayment terms Option to defer payments until after school 9-month grace period Accepts borrowers enrolled half-time Checking your rate doesn’t affect your credit score Only available to juniors and seniors Rates (APR)3.69% – 16.20%Loan amounts$2,001 – $200,000Repayment terms5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years Eligibility requirements Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, DACA recipient, or U.S. temporary resident Be a junior or senior 2.9 GPA or higher and meet your school’s SAP requirements At least 18 years old Repayment terms With the Ascent Non-Cosigned Future Income-Based loan, borrowers can choose between 5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 years for their repayment term. However, if you choose a fixed rate, the only repayment term available is five years. You can pay off your loan early with no prepayment penalty. Tip: The variable-rate term repayment will result in fluctuating payments, which can be challenging when planning and maintaining your budget. With the non-cosigned loan, you can defer repayment up to six months after leaving school. You can also request to enroll in the Graduated Repayment plan, which allows borrowers to start with lower payments after graduation that slowly increase to fulfill the loan term. Edly Best for Income-Based Repayment 3.9 /5 View Rates Why Edly is one of the best Edly is a newer company offering income-based repayment loans designed to be more accessible than traditional student loans. Edly has no credit, income, or cosigner requirements to be eligible. Eligibility is based on your school and program. This type of loan prevents borrowers from beginning repayment with insufficient income, which could lead to late or missed payments. $30,000 minimum income before repayment begins In-school repayment is not required Accepts borrowers enrolled half-time Checking your rate doesn’t affect your credit score Borrowing limits are restricted to a high minimum and low maximum High-income earners could face higher payments It’s unclear how the percentage of your income is calculated Rates (APR)Based on incomeLoan amounts$5,000 – $15,000Repayment terms7 years Eligibility requirements Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident Juniors, seniors, or grad students at supported schools Repayment terms Repayment is tied to your income rather than a predetermined interest rate. This model allows borrowers to hold off on repayment until they can afford to make payments. The minimum annual gross salary for repayment to begin is $30,000. You won’t need to repay the borrowed amount if you can’t find a job over this minimum. Payments aren’t required in school or during the four-month grace period after graduating or leaving school. The total amount you repay Edly will be capped at 2.25 times the borrowed amount or an amount that translates to a 23% APR. How no-cosigner loans differ from other student loans FeatureStandard loansNo-cosigner loansApproval factorsCredit, incomeAcademics, program, GPACosigner required?OftenNoAvailable in all states?UsuallySometimes limitedEligible borrowersMost studentsOften juniors and seniors These lenders may charge higher interest rates, but they can be a lifeline for students without access to a creditworthy cosigner. Who qualifies for a student loan with no cosigner? Requirements vary by lender, but eligibility is often based on: Your GPA or academic progress Your graduation timeline The school and program you attend Your projected earnings Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or an international student Some lenders, like Funding U, lend only to undergraduates. Others, like MPOWER, lend to international students. Always check a lender’s eligibility rules before applying. How to apply for a student loan without a cosigner Max out federal loans first. Complete the FAFSA and explore grants, scholarships, and federal loan options. Prequalify with lenders. Use soft credit checks to preview rates with no impact on your score. Review eligibility criteria. Know GPA, enrollment, or income requirements. Compare rates and repayment terms. Check for fixed vs. variable rates, in-school payment options, and total cost. Apply and submit documents. You’ll typically need proof of enrollment and academic standing. How repayment works Most lenders offer flexible repayment options, including: Deferred repayment: No payments until after graduation Interest-only: Pay just interest while in school Immediate repayment: Start full payments right away Income-driven: Payments based on your income (Edly) Choose a plan based on your budget and job outlook. Many lenders also offer six- to nine-month grace periods after graduation. How to improve your approval odds To increase your chances of approval without a cosigner: Check eligibility before applying to avoid unnecessary denials Apply after becoming a junior or senior Maintain strong grades and progress toward graduation Reduce your loan needs by applying for grants/scholarships FAQ Are interest rates higher for student loans without a cosigner? Yes, generally. Lenders take on more risk when you apply alone, so rates may be higher, but some offer competitive fixed rates. Can international students get student loans without a cosigner? Yes. MPOWER and Prodigy Finance offer private loans without requiring a U.S. cosigner. What if I don’t qualify? Explore federal loans, grants, payment plans, or consider waiting until you meet a lender’s requirements. How we selected the best private student loans without a cosigner Since 2015, LendEDU has evaluated 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 data points are organized into broader categories, which our editorial team weights and scores based on their relative importance to readers. 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. Higher star ratings are ultimately awarded to companies that create an excellent borrower experience. This includes offering online eligibility checks, cost transparency, competitive interest rates with no fees, flexible repayment plans, and unique benefits that support borrowers throughout repayment. List of student loan companies we evaluated A.M. Money Ascent Citizens Bank College Ave Credible Custom Choice Earnest Edly EDvestinU ELFI Funding U INvested ISL Education Lending LendKey MEFA MPOWER Navy Federal Nelnet Bank PNC Prodigy Finance RISLA Sallie Mae SoFi Sparrow Union Federal Recap of the best student loans without a cosigner Company Best for… Rating (0-5) 4.7 View Rates Best for undergraduates 4.7 View Rates 4.6 View Rates Best for international students 4.6 View Rates 4.4 View Rates Best for deferred repayment 4.4 View Rates 3.9 View Rates Best for income-based repayment 3.9 View Rates