8 Student Loans for Bad Credit

Student loans for bad credit can help those with a limited or poor credit history access funds for their education.

You should prioritize federal student loans since they offer flexible repayment plans and don’t consider your credit score.

Private student loans can also help fill any remaining financial gaps. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner can improve your approval odds while unlocking the lowest rates. However, certain lenders offer bad credit student loans without a cosigner.

Lender	Best for…	Fixed interest rate	Credit requirement
	Undergraduate students	5.50%	Not required
	Graduate students	7.05%	Not required
	Parent loan	8.05%	Credit check only
	International students	4.29% to 15.96% with autopay discount	Not disclosed
	Comprehensive approval process	Starting at 4.39% with autopay discount	650
	Multi-year borrowing	4.29% to 16.39% with autopay discount	660
	No cosigner	7.49% to 12.99% with autopay discount	Not required
	Competitive rates	3.95% to 8.01%	660

Previous1of 1Next

Read more about how we chose the best student loans for bad credit.

Federal student loans for bad credit

Federal Student Loan tend to have the lowest interest rates, plus they come with special federal benefits, such as income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs.

Also, federal student loans (except for PLUS loans) don’t require a credit check, making them an ideal choice for anyone seeking loans for students with bad credit.

You must meet other criteria, such as being a U.S. citizen or qualifying noncitizen, and being enrolled at least half time at an eligible school.

To access these loans, you must first submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you do, you could be eligible for the following three types of loans. (For more information, consult our full guide to federal student loans.)

Direct Subsidized Loans: Best for federal student loan

Key features

These loans are only available to undergraduate students with financial need, but they have an advantage over unsubsidized ones because the government covers the accruing interest while you’re in school. As a result, your post-graduation balance should look the same as when you first took out the loan. The government will also cover the interest for a six-month grace period after you leave school, as well as if you put your subsidized loans into deferment.

Eligibility requirements

These loans are need-based and are specifically for undergraduates. There are no credit checks, minimum income or cosigner requirements. However, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen enrolled at least half time at a qualifying school.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Best for graduate students

Key features

Any student can potentially qualify for federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, since they’re not based on financial need. Note that these loans also offer graduate students a lower rate than a Grad PLUS Loan. Your financial aid award letter will outline your borrowing limit, along with any offers for other student loans, grants, scholarships or work-study opportunities. You’re not obligated to take out the maximum loan amount.

Before signing on for this debt, try using a student loan payment calculator to estimate your future monthly payments. Student loan calculators can also give you a sense of how much interest your loans will accrue over the years.

Eligibility requirements

As with other federal loans, you must be a U.S. citizen or qualifying noncitizen enrolled at least half time at an aid-eligible school. All students qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Loans, regardless of their year in school or financial need, although annual and aggregate limits apply.

PLUS loans: Best for parent loan

Key features

PLUS loans are designed for parents, graduate students or professional students.

Although graduate students will get a better rate with a Direct Unsubsidized Loan than with a grad PLUS Loan, they can help fill funding gaps if you can’t access the former. Meanwhile, a Parent PLUS Loan can be an excellent option to help fund your child’s education.

All PLUS loans require a credit check, but the requirements are generally more lenient than with a private lender. Most private lenders, for instance, want to see a good or even excellent credit score, but for a PLUS Loan, you just need to show you don’t have an adverse credit history (i.e., no major financial problems in the past few years).

But even if you have a history of default or bankruptcy, you can still qualify for a PLUS loan by applying with a creditworthy person willing to endorse the loan.

Eligibility requirements

Borrowers for a Parent PLUS Loan must be the biological or adoptive parent of a dependent undergraduate enrolled at least half time at a qualifying school. Unfortunately, grandparents and legal guardians are not eligible for parent PLUS loans.

Both grad and parent PLUS borrowers must meet the general eligibility requirements for federal financial aid and undergo a basic credit history check as described above.

Private student loans for bad credit

Although the government is an excellent source of student loans with no credit or poor credit, you might not always be able to borrow enough to cover your school’s full cost of attendance. If you need additional funds, a private student loan could help.

Private student loans get tricky, though, because they typically require at least decent credit. Most private lenders run a credit check, where they consider your income, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and history of debt repayment. Because of this, private student loans for bad credit can be challenging to find.

However, you can apply with a creditworthy cosigner, such as a parent. According to data firm MeasureOne, 92% of undergraduate students applied for a private student loan with a cosigner during the 2021-2022 academic year.

If you don’t have a cosigner, consider the following lenders offering student loans for bad credit. Based on our research, they offer some of the more competitive terms with easy application processes.

Ascent: Best for international students

Key features

Ascent Student Loans offers a range of student loans, including an “outcomes-based loan” for eligible juniors and seniors with solid grades but not enough credit history to produce a credit score. There are also graduate and professional loans, as well as funding options for career schools and coding boot camps.

International students can apply if they have a valid visa and a creditworthy cosigner living in the U.S. Ascent also offers scholarship opportunities and a referral bonus.

Eligibility requirements

Available to students enrolled at least half time. Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Other noncitizen students can apply with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner.

Earnest: Best for comprehensive approval process

Key features

Earnest stands out for its comprehensive approval process, which considers nontraditional factors such as your savings, payment history and career trajectory. With a low minimum credit score of 650, those with a limited credit profile can apply alone.

However, Earnest does suggest applying with a creditworthy cosigner to increase your likelihood of approval and to secure a lower interest rate. Earnest also offers a “100% Rate Match Guarantee” to help you find the lowest rate possible.

Eligibility requirements

Available to undergraduate students enrolled at least half time or graduate students pursuing law, medical, business or other eligible degrees. Noncitizen students can apply if they have a Social Security number (SSN) and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as the cosigner. Must have three years of credit history and at least $35,000 annual income.

College Ave: Best for multi-year borrowing

Key features

With College Ave’s “Multi-Year Peace of Mind” policy, you can potentially secure loans for your entire college career when you apply with a creditworthy cosigner. You and your cosigner would still need to meet the credit and income requirements, but a multi-year approval can help speed up the annual application process.

College Ave also offers four repayment plans, including a $25 monthly in-school payment to reduce accrued interest.

Eligibility requirements

Loans are available for undergraduates, graduates and parents, as well as international students with an SSN and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner. All students must meet and maintain their school’s satisfactory academic progress.

Funding U: Best for no cosigner

Key features

FundingU offers affordable, no-cosigner student loans for undergraduates. This lender focuses on you and your potential without needing your parents’ financial records or an added cosigner. Your FICO Score isn’t part of the loan decision process, making Funding U a viable option for students with a limited or poor credit score.

Eligibility requirements

Students must be enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program at a qualifying college or university — currently, Funding U has 1,450 schools on its approved list (online-only schools are ineligible). You must also be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or DACA recipient. Juniors and seniors tend to have higher chances of approval since Funding U considers your academic performance. Loans aren’t available for graduate students or parents.

ISL Education Lending: Best for competitive rates

Key features

ISL Education Lending’s Partnership Advance Education Loan offers both undergraduate and graduate students a range of low-cost options to pay for college, so long as they have a cosigner. This loan can cover up to 100% of your school’s costs, generally without any additional fees.

Meanwhile, family members and friends looking to contribute toward a student’s education can apply for the College Family Loan.

Eligibility requirements

Students must plan to attend at least half time and maintain satisfactory academic performance at an eligible education program. Both the student and cosigner need to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently living in the U.S. (though Maine residents aren’t eligible). Your credit history should be clear of any student loan defaults and any active bankruptcy cases.

How to apply for student loans with bad credit

Federal student loans

As noted above, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive any type of federal student loan. The application opens every October and closes at the end of June, although it’s best to apply early since aid is usually distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fortunately, having bad credit won’t change anything if you’re taking out a Direct Loan, as the Department of Education doesn’t consider your credit score when determining your financial aid package.

However, Grad and Parent PLUS Loan applications will still require a credit check, which looks for recent bankruptcies, defaulted loans or other red flags. If you fail this credit check, you can reapply with an endorser (who acts like a cosigner) or consider an appeal to explain your situation.

You need to submit the FAFSA every year to continue receiving financial aid. Mark your calendar now to remember the upcoming FAFSA deadline.

Private student loans

Before applying for a private student loan, it’s worth checking your credit score to see where you stand. If time permits, try improving your credit score first, since it can improve your chance of approval and hopefully help you secure a better rate. (See the next section of this article for more on how to do this.)

Next, research and review eligible lenders, paying attention to specific requirements, rates, terms and fees. Many lenders let you check your rate without impacting your credit score.

Be sure to note which lenders allow cosigners, as well as details on cosigner release, which is when you can release your cosigner from their financial responsibility for the loan.

When submitting a private student loan application, you and your cosigner (if you’re using one) must provide personal and financial information, such as proof of income. Lenders typically make a decision within a few days, if not sooner.

For further information, have a look at our full guide to private student loan applications. And if you’re a parent of a future or current college student, see our guide to parent student loans.

How to improve your credit score as a student

Most students usually don’t have “bad” credit. Rather, they generally have a limited credit profile because they haven’t had enough time to build a reputable credit history. Here are a few simple ways to establish your credit.

• Become an authorized user. If one of your parents has solid credit and keeps up with their payments, becoming an authorized user on their credit card can help establish your credit history. Make sure all of the payments are made on time and that the credit card company reports authorized users to the credit bureaus.
• Open a student credit card. Don’t have a credit card in your name yet? Consider a student credit card or secured credit card, the latter of which requires a small deposit.
• Keep up with payments. Successfully maintaining credit cards can help improve your creditworthiness, but be sure to keep your balance(s) low and never miss a payment. Maxing out a credit card or skipping payments can hurt your credit score.

How we chose our picks for best student loans for bad credit

We selected our list of favorite bad credit college loans for students above by comparing rates, terms and overall application processes. We hope you can find a loan that suits your needs by reviewing each lender’s specific loan data.

For private loan options, we assessed the following criteria to choose our bad credit student loans:

• Eligibility with credit scores as low as 650
• Flexible loan amounts that can cover up to the total cost of attendance
• Private student loan options with no origination fees
• Autopay or auto-debit discounts