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Fund school or refinance at a lower rate

Best Student Loans of 2026

Private student loans can fill the gap federal aid leaves behind, and refinancing can cut the rate on loans you already have. We compared lenders on rates, repayment flexibility, cosigner release and borrower protections.

6 lenders comparedLast updated July 2026How we rate
Student Loans — Finmatchly
At a glance

Top student loans compared

At-a-glance comparison of the top lender options
#ProviderRatingFixed APR rangeBest for
1
SSallie Mae logoSallie Mae
4.9
3.49%–15.49%Undergrads who want proven scaleSee Rates
2
CCollege Ave logoCollege Ave
4.8
3.59%–16.99%Borrowers who want to shape repaymentSee Rates
3
SSoFi logoSoFi
4.6
3.42%–15.86%Strong-credit students chasing low APRSee Rates
4
EEarnest logoEarnest
4.5
3.69%–16.49%Students who value repayment breathing roomSee Rates
5
AAscent logoAscent
4.3
3.79%–16.28%Students without a cosignerView Offer
6
EELFI logoELFI
4.2
4.24%–14.22%Grad students who want a personal advisorView Offer

Rates and terms shown are illustrative editorial examples — confirm current details on each lender’s site.

The full list

Our top-rated lenders, ranked

#1
SSallie Mae logo

Sallie Mae

The name in student lending

Best Overall

Best for Undergrads who want proven scale

Fixed APR range
3.49%–15.49%
Variable APR range
5.04%–15.70%
Loan amount
$1K–100% of costs
Cosigner release
After 12 payments
  • Borrow up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
  • No origination fee and no prepayment penalty
  • Four repayment plans, including interest-only while in school
  • Free quarterly FICO score and Chegg Study perks for students

Pros

  • Widest lineup of loans across undergrad, grad, and parent needs
  • Multi-year advantage smooths borrowing for later school years
  • Deferred, fixed, and interest-only in-school payment choices

Cons

  • Cosigner release requires 12 on-time principal-and-interest payments
  • Rates for weaker credit profiles land at the high end
#2
CCollege Ave logo

College Ave

Loans built around your schedule

Best for Flexible Terms

Best for Borrowers who want to shape repayment

Fixed APR range
3.59%–16.99%
Variable APR range
4.99%–16.85%
Loan amount
$1K–100% of costs
Cosigner release
Halfway through term
  • Choose a repayment term anywhere from 5 to 15 years
  • Three-minute application with a soft-pull rate check
  • No application, origination, or prepayment fees
  • Loans for undergrad, grad, parents, and career programs

Pros

  • Unusually granular control over term length and payment size
  • Fast decisions with a preview of your actual rate
  • 0.25% autopay discount lowers the effective APR

Cons

  • Cosigner release needs about half the loan term paid down
  • No published rate-match or loyalty discount
#3
SSoFi logo

SoFi

Zero fees, member perks included

Lowest Rates

Best for Strong-credit students chasing low APR

Fixed APR range
3.42%–15.86%
Variable APR range
4.64%–15.99%
Loan amount
$5K–100% of costs
Cosigner release
After 24 payments
  • No origination, application, or late fees on any loan
  • 0.25% autopay discount stacks on already-low rates
  • Free 1-on-1 career coaching and financial planning
  • Unemployment protection can pause payments if you lose a job

Pros

  • Among the lowest starting APRs for qualified borrowers
  • Genuinely fee-free, including no late fees
  • Member benefits extend well beyond the loan itself

Cons

  • Best rates need strong credit or a well-qualified cosigner
  • Cosigner release only after 24 consecutive on-time payments
  • No loans for parents borrowing on a student's behalf
#4
EEarnest logo

Earnest

Nine-month grace, no fees

Best for Skipping a Payment

Best for Students who value repayment breathing room

Fixed APR range
3.69%–16.49%
Variable APR range
5.24%–16.20%
Loan amount
$1K–100% of costs
Cosigner release
Not offered
  • Nine-month post-graduation grace period
  • Skip one payment per year with no fee
  • No origination, late, or prepayment fees
  • Precision pricing sets your monthly payment to the dollar

Pros

  • Longest grace period of the major private lenders
  • Flexible payment features cut penalties during rough months
  • Underwriting looks at savings and career trajectory

Cons

  • No cosigner release, so a cosigner must refinance to exit
  • Not available to residents of a few states
#5
AAscent logo

Ascent

Approval without a cosigner

Best for No Cosigner

Best for Students without a cosigner

Fixed APR range
3.79%–16.28%
Variable APR range
5.66%–15.98%
Loan amount
$2K–$200K
Cosigner release
After 24 payments
  • Non-cosigned outcomes-based loans for upperclassmen
  • 1% cash-back graduation reward on the original balance
  • No application fee and no prepayment penalty
  • Referral bonuses and autopay rate discounts available

Pros

  • Real path to approval for students with no cosigner
  • Graduation cash-back offsets some borrowing cost
  • Considers GPA, major, and school when you lack credit

Cons

  • Non-cosigned rates run noticeably higher than cosigned ones
  • Outcomes-based loans limited to eligible juniors and seniors
  • Loan maximums trail the largest lenders in the category
#6
EELFI logo

ELFI

White-glove loans for serious borrowers

Best for Grad students who want a personal advisor

Fixed APR range
4.24%–14.22%
Variable APR range
5.28%–13.85%
Loan amount
$1K–100% of costs
Cosigner release
After 36 payments
  • Dedicated personal loan advisor for every borrower
  • No application, origination, or prepayment fees
  • Strong lineup of graduate and professional school loans
  • Competitive fixed rates for well-qualified applicants

Pros

  • Hands-on advisor support is unusual in this market
  • Clean fee structure with no hidden charges
  • Solid fit for grad and professional degree financing

Cons

  • Cosigner release only after 36 consecutive on-time payments
  • Higher credit and income bar than most competitors
  • Fewer undergrad-focused features and perks
How we chose

Independent research, no pay-to-play

Every lender above earns its place on the merits. We weigh the numbers that decide real outcomes in this category — cost, terms, eligibility, and the quality of the experience once you’re a customer — against verifiable data and hands-on testing. Advertising partners never buy a better ranking, and our editorial scores are set independently of any commission we may earn.

Read our full rating methodology
Good to know

Student Loans questions, answered

Almost always. Federal loans come with fixed rates, income-driven repayment, and forgiveness options private loans can't match. Use private loans to cover the gap federal aid leaves behind.

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