Can you get student loans with bad credit? Yes, you can borrow federal student loans with bad credit. But getting private student loans with bad credit will be tough if you don’t have a cosigner.
Let’s take a closer look at your options for student loans even with a subpar (or nonexistent) credit history.
- You can take out federal student loans (even with bad credit)
- Private student loans can fill a funding gap
- A cosigner could help you get private student loans with bad credit
- Private student loans are different from federal ones
- Be careful about taking on too much debt
You can take out federal student loans (even with bad credit)
Federal student loans were designed to help all students get the aid they need to pay for a college education. These loans don’t take your past financial activity into account, so you could qualify for federal student loans with bad credit.
In fact, you don’t need to go through a credit check at all to take out federal student loans. You do, however, need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form collects information about your and your family’s financial situation to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Some colleges also require you to submit a form called the CSS Profile to be eligible for institutional aid. Based on the information you provide, your college’s financial aid office will offer need-based or non-need-based federal student loans.
Note that you’re not obligated to take out the full amount of aid that you’re offered. Before accepting a loan, review the terms and conditions, and use a student loan calculator to estimate your future monthly payments. By taking the time to understand your loans, you can make sure you don’t take on too much debt.
Once you start paying off your federal student loans, your on-time payments will help build your credit score.
Private student loans can fill a funding gap
Federal student loans should almost always be your first choice when borrowing for school. With a federal student loan, you’ll get a relatively low interest rate, as well as a variety of flexible repayment plans and protections.
But federal student loans don’t always cover the full cost of school, and you might need additional funding. If that’s the case, it’s worth exploring your options for private student loans.
Unlike the Department of Education, private lenders do take your credit score into account before approving you for a private student loan. So you won’t find bad credit student loan options at a private company.
A cosigner could help you get private student loans with bad credit
All hope is not lost if you’re pursuing private student loans with bad credit. To get around the credit requirement, you can apply with a creditworthy cosigner, like a parent or other relative.
Your cosigner’s strong credit will make up your weak credit, thereby possibly making you eligible for a loan. That said, your cosigner will be just as responsible for the debt as you are.
If you fail to repay the loan, your cosigner will be on the hook for your debt. So before entering a loan agreement with your parent or another person, make sure to discuss expectations around repaying the loan.
By having a straightforward discussion about who will pay back the money and when, you can prevent future conflicts.
Private student loans are different from federal ones
Note that private student loans have different terms and conditions than federal student loans. You probably won’t have as many repayment plans, like income-driven repayment. And the interest rate you get will depend on your cosigner’s creditworthiness, along with other factors.
Plus, you can choose between a fixed interest rate, which stays the same over the life of the loan, and a variable rate, which can fluctuate along with prevailing market rates.
Because private lenders offer different terms, make sure to shop around for your best rates before choosing a loan. By doing your research, you can find the private student loan with the best terms and conditions for your situation.
Be careful about taking on too much debt
When it comes to borrowing for college, you won’t find bad credit student loans. But you can take out federal student loans, which don’t require a credit check at all. And if you need even more money, you might qualify for private student loans, as long as you can apply with a cosigner.
That being said, you should be cautious before taking on too much debt. Besides student loans, explore other options, such as:
- Grants and scholarships
- A part-time job to earn extra money
- A budget that helps you cut your expenses and live well on less by being frugal
It’s well worth exploring ideas and creative solutions and making the effort to take out as few loans as possible. Once you do enter repayment on your loans, make sure to keep up with your monthly bills.
By making on-time payments, you can build up your credit score into a good or even excellent range. Then, if you need another loan or mortgage in the future, you’ll be able to qualify for your best rates on your own.
Kali Hawlk contributed to this article.
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How Student Loan Hero Gets Paid
Student Loan Hero is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). Student Loan Hero does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Student Loan Hero Advertiser Disclosure
Student Loan Hero is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products.
Lender | Variable APR | Degrees That Qualify | More Info |
---|---|---|---|
1.04% – 11.98%1 | Undergraduate Graduate | ||
1.13% – 11.23%2 | Undergraduate Graduate | ||
1.24% – 11.99%3 | Undergraduate Graduate | ||
1.78% – 11.89%4 | Undergrad & Graduate | ||
1.05% – 11.44%5 | Undergraduate Graduate | ||
1.19% – 11.51%6 | Undergraduate Graduate | ||
2.46% – 12.98%7 | Undergraduate Graduate | ||
Learn more about private student loan lenders. Learn more about private student loan lenders. |