Education
Best Student Loans for Undergraduates
Private loans should fill the gap after federal aid, not replace it. Once you have maxed federal loans, these are the private lenders we rank highest for undergraduate borrowing.
Top matches
College Ave Student Loans
- ✓Borrow up to 100% of the cost of attendance
- ✓Wide choice of repayment terms
- ✓Undergraduate, graduate, and professional loans
Sallie Mae Student Loans
- ✓Loans for college, grad, health professions, bar study, and more
- ✓Multi-year approval option
- ✓Free credit score tracking
Earnest Private Student Loan
- ✓Nine-month grace period
- ✓Skip one payment every 12 months in good standing
- ✓Up to 12 months of hardship forbearance
Ascent Student Loans
- ✓Outcome-based loan reviews grades, major, and school
- ✓Easier to qualify without a cosigner
- ✓Cash-back graduation reward
How we ranked these: We ranked every undergraduate-tagged lender in our database by our overall methodology score, which weighs rates and fees, approachability, and repayment flexibility.
Last updated June 2026
Questions, answered
Should I take federal loans before a private loan?
Almost always yes. Federal loans come with income-driven repayment, deferment options, and potential forgiveness that no private lender matches. Private loans only make sense for the gap that remains after grants, scholarships, and federal loan limits.
Do I need a cosigner for an undergraduate loan?
Most undergraduates do, since lenders want income and credit history that students rarely have. A cosigner usually unlocks better rates. A few lenders offer no-cosigner approval based on academics and major, at somewhat higher rates.
Fixed or variable rate for a student loan?
Fixed, for most borrowers. A student loan is a long commitment, and a variable rate that looks cheaper today can climb well past the fixed offer over a decade of repayment. Variable only makes sense if you plan to pay the loan off fast.
How much should I borrow in total?
Keep total student debt below your expected first-year salary. Borrow for tuition and required costs, not lifestyle. And remember: every dollar borrowed costs roughly $1.30 to $1.70 by the time you finish repaying it.