Best Student Loans Without a Cosigner in 2025: Options for Students With No Credit or Cosigner

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.

Table of Contents

1. Can you get a private student loan with no cosigner?
2. Best lenders for students with no credit or cosigner
   1. Funding U
   2. MPOWER
   3. Ascent
   4. Edly
3. How no-cosigner loans differ from other student loans
4. Who qualifies for a student loan with no cosigner?
5. How to apply for a student loan without a cosigner
6. How repayment works
7. How to improve your approval odds
8. FAQ
   1. Can international students get student loans without a cosigner?
   2. 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

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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 – $20,000
Repayment terms	10 years

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

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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 – $100,000
Repayment terms	10 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

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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 – $200,000
Repayment terms	5, 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.

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Tip:

The variable-rate term repayment will result in fluctuating payments, which can be challenging when planning and maintaining your budget.

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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

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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 income
Loan amounts	$5,000 – $15,000
Repayment terms	7 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

Feature	Standard loans	No-cosigner loans
Approval factors	Credit, income	Academics, program, GPA
Cosigner required?	Often	No
Available in all states?	Usually	Sometimes limited
Eligible borrowers	Most students	Often 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

1. Max out federal loans first. Complete the FAFSA and explore grants, scholarships, and federal loan options.
2. Prequalify with lenders. Use soft credit checks to preview rates with no impact on your score.
3. Review eligibility criteria. Know GPA, enrollment, or income requirements.
4. Compare rates and repayment terms. Check for fixed vs. variable rates, in-school payment options, and total cost.
5. 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.

Recap of the best student loans without a cosigner