Private Student Loans

A creditworthy cosigner can make all the difference when it comes to a private student loan application's chances for approval. Cosigners play a critical role in helping borrowers to secure the best private student loans and qualify for a lower loan rate. If you’re a creditworthy cosigner, you can help a student responsibly borrow funds for their education. And often for a rate well below one they could get on their own.

Being a cosigner helps make a college education possible for the borrower, but the responsibility does come with financial risks. If the student defaults on the student loan, the cosigner will be held liable for the remaining loan payments, and his or her credit history may be affected (in addition to the borrower’s). There are also certain requirements the cosigner must meet. The cosigner must have a good credit history and demonstrate certain income requirements.

Eligibility for federal, state and university funded financial aid is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students are strongly encouraged to apply for federal aid by completing the FAFSA, which can be obtained online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students can check their eligibility for a private student loan with LendKey and our network of private student loan lenders by starting a student loan application.

Going into debt for college is often necessary for many families to achieve the goal of a higher education. If not done responsibly, managing debt after graduation can become an overwhelming task. Certain loans, such as the subsidized Stafford loan and the Perkins Loan have interest paid for by the government while the student is enrolled in school. However unsubsidized Stafford loans and private student loans do accrue interest while the student is in school.

In-school payments allow the student to make a standard minimum monthly payment towards the loan. This develops healthy financial habits and can help reduce the amount of total interest expense. More importantly, it helps the student develop a credit history for future loans after graduation.

The ability to make a payment towards loans while in school has been available for both federal and private student loans, but generally not promoted by private student loan lenders, with most student borrowers electing to defer loan payments until after graduation. In-school student loan payments provide the ability to reduce the debt load students face after graduation.