How to Get Student Loans Without a Cosigner

Student Loans Without a Cosigner (1)

College is expensive. Many students have to use multiple sources of income to fund their college. Scholarships, money from parents, full and part time jobs, grants and work-studies can all contribute to your college funding. Nevertheless, many students still need access to student loan money to complete their education.

With an availability of loans to choose from how do you know what will work best for you?

Your best chance to get a private student loan at a good rate is to use a cosigner, however, not every student has someone who can cosign on the loan. It is possible to qualify for student aid without a cosigner though. Federal student aid is available on an as needed basis and a cosigner isn't required.

A cosigner is someone who also signs for the loan with the understanding that if the student does not pay on the loan, the cosigner will be responsible. Cosigner's are especially helpful for young students without credit history or a steady income. A cosigner with an excellent credit rating increases your chances of qualifying for a loan. A cosigner can also lower the interest of your loan and qualify you for more money. 

Find lenders who offer student loans without a cosigner!

You can get a private student loan for college. You just need to know where to look.

Looking for a Student Loan Without a Cosigner?

Although it is helpful to have a cosigner for private loans, there are students who receive loans without one. To qualify for a private loan, you must have a solid credit history.

    To get a better idea of what is a good credit score, check out the graph on the right. A 678 is the average score. This is also close to what many lenders require as a minimum. Adding a cosigner with a high credit score greatly increases your chances of being approved for a student loan.​

    Why would I need a cosigner?

    To better understand how most families pay for college, check out the graph below.​

    Compare

    What is a credit score and why is it so important?

    A "credit score" is a number that indicates your ability to borrow money. Credit unions calculate your credit score based on several factors including money borrowed (from banks or using credit cards), age of accounts, missing or late payments and the current amount of debt.

    Banks and other financial institutions use this number to decide if you will be responsible in paying back your loan. A lower score can mean that you do not have borrowing experience, or you are not trustworthy in borrowing money. A higher score shows that you have proven your creditworthiness over time, and that you can probably be trusted to pay back the loan.

    It is important to check your credit score once a year. You can check your score by visiting Free Credit Check. On a scale that usually goes from 300 to 850, a good credit score is anything above 720, with a U.S. average around 678. The following are tips on building a solid credit score:

    • Maintain an active bank account in good standing. When you have active checking and savings accounts in good standing, you are proving you know how to handle your money. Sign up for accounts at a local bank and build a relationship with the bank.
    • If you can qualify for a credit card with no monthly fee, use it. Make purchases on your card and pay balances monthly to avoid interest. The longer you responsibly use the card, the higher your scores will be. Long credit histories increase your score.
    • Consider getting a department store or gas card. These cards usually have higher rates but are easy to obtain. Consider using one to establish a credit history. Pay balances monthly to avoid any charges.

    If you already have a credit history but need to raise your score, try a few of these tips:

    • Always pay your bills on time. Late payments negatively affect your credit ratings. If your bills are overdue, make a plan to catch up. Consider having automated payments directly withdrawn from your banking account on due dates.
    • Pay down credit card balances and other loans. Your amount of debt can negatively affect your credit score. Begin paying down
    • balances, mortgages and car loans. If possible, get a loan from a family member and pay down your credit cards. Although this does not decrease your amount of debt, it will decrease the amount of debt showing on your credit report.
    • Do not close unused accounts. Having a long credit history can increase your score, so hang on to unused accounts and use them occasionally.
    • Never max out your credit cards or store accounts. Keep your balances under 30 percent of the total limit. Use a couple of cards to spread the balance. It is better to have two cards with lower balances than one card maxed out.
    • Get a credit report and look for errors. Protest unjust charges and collections. But don't pull your credit score too often as that will also have a negative impact over time.

    How to Choose Your Student Loan Without a Cosigner

    Should I get a federal or private loan?
    Federal funding is the best option for students without a cosigner. There are many benefits to a federal loan over private as shown below.

    Federal

    • You do not have to make any payments on your loan until you graduate. Most federal loans also give you a grace period, where you do not have beginning making payments for up to 6 months after graduation.
    • Most private student loans require you to make payments during college.
    • Interest rates on federal loans are fixed and much lower than private loans or credit cards.
    • Interest may be tax deductible.
    • Students with greater financial need may even qualify to have their interest paid by the United States Department of Education while they are still in school.
    • You do not need a credit record or a cosigner.
    • Federal loans can help you establish a credit record.
    • After graduation, your payment amount could be income based. The amount you pay is based on what you can truly afford.
    • During tough times, you can sometimes postpone or lower payments.
    • You may be able to have some of your loan forgiven for working in certain jobs or areas.

    Private

    • Most private loans have a variable interest rate and most start higher than a federal loan.
    • Interest may not be tax deductible.
    • The government will not pay interest.
    • As an undergraduate student, you usually need a cosigner unless you have a well-established credit history.
    • It is difficult to qualify for a private loan without a credit history, but the loan will help you establish a credit record.
    • Repayment options are specific to the lender. Contact your lender for options.
    • Private loans usually do not offer postponement of payments.
    • Private lenders usually don’t offer loan forgiveness programs.


    Applying for a Federal Loan Without a Cosigner:

    To apply for government funding whether you are applying with or without a cosigner, first complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). The application calculates your need for financial assistance to attend college. Use the FAFSA4caster to help you understand your options for paying for college. By providing some basic information, the FAFSA4caster can give you an idea of what federal aid you may be eligible to receive (grants, loans and other financial assistance). Use the FAFSA on the web worksheet to help organize your information before beginning.

    Follow this link to watch a series of videos from the FAFSA Help Channel on Youtube.

    Before starting the application process, gather financial documents from the previous year including:

    • Social Security Card
    • Driver's license or ID
    • W-2 forms and other records of money earned
    • Federal Income Tax Return
    • Parent's Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
    • Untaxed income records
    • Current bank statements
    • Current business and investment mortgage information, stock, bonds and other investment records
    • If you are not a US citizen, your alien registration or permanent resident card

    Types of Federal Student Loans:

    Direct Subsidized Loans   Direct Subsidized Loans are only available to undergraduate students who have demonstrated greater financial need. They have slightly better terms than a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Your loan amount is determined by your financial need to attend a particular school. The U.S. Department of Education pays some or all interest on your loan while you are in college and for 6 months after you graduate.

    Direct Unsubsidized Loans   Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students. This loan is available regardless of financial need. You do not need to demonstrate financial need to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The cost of attendance and the availability of funds at your school determine the amount of the loan. You are responsible for all interest during the life of this loan but may choose not to pay during school. However, interest not paid will be added to the total of the loan.

    Direct Plus Loans   Direct Plus Loans are available to graduate or professional degree students and to parents of dependent undergraduate students. The cost of attendance and the availability of funds at your school determine the amount of the loan. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent. You must have a credit history to apply for a Direct Plus Loan.

    Federal Perkins Loans   Federal Perkins Loans are available to undergraduates and graduates who have tremendous financial need. Perkins Loans are not available at all colleges. Since the college is the lender of this loan, the amount of loan depends on financial need and the availability of funds at the school. Interest rates are fixed at 5 percent and full-time students have 9 months after graduation before they begin making payments.

    How much can I borrow?

    Undergraduate Students

    • Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans – You can receive anywhere from $5,500 to $12,55 a year depending on certain factors.
    • Perkins Loans – You can receive up to $5,500 a year depending on your financial need and available funds.

    Graduate Students

    • Direct Unsubsidized Loans – You can receive up to $20,500 a year.
    • Perkins Loans – You can receive up to $8,000 a year depending on your financial need and available funds.
    • Direct Plus Loans – You can receive money to cover the remainder of your college costs that is not covered by other financial aid.
    Graduation With Student Loan

    Parents of Dependent Undergraduate Students

    • Parent Loans (Plus Loan) – You can receive money to cover the remainder of your college costs that is not covered by other financial aid.
    • You would not be eligible for this loan if you don't have a cosigner

    Private Student Loans Without a Cosigner

    You may need to apply for a private loan if your federal amount does not cover all of your expenses. Few financial institutions offer loans that do not require a cosigner. However, Funding University is a great option. Graduate and Professional student loans are easier to get without a cosigner than the traditional undergraduate loans. Nevertheless, if you have an established credit history and a good to excellent credit score you may qualify for an undergraduate student loan without a cosigner.

    The following list includes a few top-name financial institutions that offer competitive student loans.

    The EdSucceed Private Student Loan Consolidation offered by cu includes many of the benefits the other companies offer. These benefits include a 15 year repayment program, 12 consecutive on time co-signer release and a 4 year interest only option.

    Some of the requirements include a monthly salary of $2,000 and verifiable income for the co-signer.

    The last 2 companies offer very similar loan consolidations.

    Wells Fargo  Wells Fargo offers graduate and professional student loans without a cosigner. They recommend a cosigner for best rates if you are an undergraduate student. However, with an established credit history, it may be possible to qualify without a cosigner.

    Student Loans without a Cosigner

    Securing a student loan without the involvement of a consigner is possible but not easy. Borrowing, even when it is done by governments who have endless sources of revenues has never been easy. It is even more difficult when the person who is looking to borrow the money is a student who is busy with their school work and has little time to earn and income and thus boost his ability to repay the loan.

    Obviously there is the option of getting federal financing but even this option is not good enough as it has limits which may not be high enough to live by. Financing college education is not a mean feat to accomplish.

    This means that at one point or another in your educational progress, you will need to get private debt and if you are getting it without a second signature, you will be charged a very high interest as the lender considers you a high risk borrower. To make the matters worse, these type of interest rate piles daily, getting you stuck in an unending debt limbo. Don’t give up though. If you graduate and secure a good job, you will repay the loan at much lower rate.

    But are there options where you can get student loans without a consigner at a relatively low interest rate? Take a look.

    Federal Government Student Loan Programs

    If you are borrowing without a consigner, always look into the government student loans program. You can borrow multiple loans and you don’t have to provide proof of income or any credit history. A good example is the Stafford Loans. The only unfortunate thing about government loans is that they come with limits. However, do not get discouraged. Your school website will have a portal where they have listed the available loans for their students.

    Private Student Loans

    For you to access this sort of loan, you must have a solid credit history and a consistent source of income. If you are one of the few students that have regular income, this is an option worth exploring. To further boost the likelihood of you getting a student loan, you can place a collateral with the lending institution. You can, for example, use your car as a collateral.

    The Stafford Loan

    Stafford loans re divided into two categories namely; Subsidized Stafford Loan and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. The Subsidized Stafford Loan is offered on need basis and thus attract a government subsidized interest. The federal government will pay the interest accrued during the time the student is in school.

    The Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are for any students who files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student will pay the interest accrued during the school term. In the year 2015, the interest rate stood at 6.21% and 4.56% to graduate and undergraduate students respectively.

    The Perkins Loan

    The Perkins Loan is a federal instrument which is available to students that can demonstrate they are pursuing a degree after a post-secondary education, and who can also show that they are in financial need.

    Find out from your school’s financial aid office whether this loan is available in your school. Note that the facility is not underwritten by the government.

    PLUS Loan

    The PLUS Loan is available to a) parents of students enrolled in eligible post-high school institutions and programs for at least half time and b) to graduates and professional students in eligible post-secondary institutions of learning. At 7.21% interest, this loan is expensive compared to other government offerings however, it is still lower than what private lenders offer. You will not need a consigner, credit history or proof of income to be eligible for the loan.

    How to Improve Chances of Obtaining Educational Loans

    Note that the higher the amount of money you are asking for, the harder it will become for you to get a loan without a consigner. Think about lowering your asking amount. You are better off applying multiple times than ask for one large sum. Besides, if you have an easier loan repayment burden, you will be able to keep up paying and thus improve your credit score. A great credit score means that you stand a better chance to get a bigger loan the next time you apply. Before you even apply for a student loan, first check out whether there is scholarships or grants available for you.

    How to Build Your Credit Score Whey Under 21 Years Old

    The most viable way of improving your score is to get your parents to put you as an authorized user of their cards. Always have the expenditure activity on the cards reported to TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.

    Another option to build your credit score is to get a loan from a financial institution under a package referred to as Credit Builder Loan.

    Preparing Private Loan Applications

    • Always make sure that you have researched and understood your credit reports. This will ensure that the amount you are applying for is realistic.

    • Always apply for the loan long before you need the money as this will help you to be able to resolve any issue that may crop up before you actually need the money for daily expenses or tuition fee.

    • It is easy to get your credit report from portals such as annualcreditreport.com. Note that you should do this between three and six months before your loan application.

    • If there are any figures that you need to dispute in the credit report, ensure the issues are fixed before you place your loan request form.

    When you are turned down in one loan request, don’t give up. It does not mean that the next lender will turn you down. The essence of going through all this hassle is to get through school and graduate with good grades to secure a good job. Fixing your eyes on the price - graduation and good jobs - will help you deal with the disappointments of getting turned down.