26 lenders · Updated August 23, 2026
Private student loan rates, independently ranked
Private rates starting below 5% for strong profiles. Set your loan amount and see real monthly payments across 26 lenders — before you apply.
The best private student loan rates start around 1.94% APR as of August 2026.
Independent rankingsMethodology →
How we rankWe rank by APR + trust — not commissionNo credit pull to compare ratesSponsored offers labeled, never ranked higher for payingMethodology →
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Loan amount$30,000
$1K$100K
Your current APR15.0%
3%36%
Top pick saves you
$3,918
per year vs. your 15.0% rate · $275/mo at 1.94% APR
MethodologyIndependent rankings. Sponsored offers labeled. Terms verified regularly.Ranked by true cost: Lowest APR (10-yr term), origination fees, co-signer release policy, forbearance/deferment options, and lender trust.
Showing 26
Undergraduate private loans
Our takeStudent loan starting at 1.94% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
1
CA
College AveLowest APR
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
1.94%
$3,918
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.64% below avg
$275/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 1.95% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
2
SM
Sallie Mae BankTrusted
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
1.95%
$3,915
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.63% below avg
$275/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 1.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
3
EA
EarnestTrusted
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
1.99%
$3,903
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.59% below avg
$276/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.08% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
4
AB

Abe
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.08%
$3,876
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.50% below avg
$277/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.19% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
5
AS

Ascent
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.19%
$3,843
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.39% below avg
$279/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.45% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
6
SO
SoFiTrusted
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.45%
$3,765
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.13% below avg
$282/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.87% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
7
LE

LendKeyTrusted
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.87%
$3,639
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.71% below avg
$288/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
8
EL
ELFITrusted
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.99%
$3,603
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.59% below avg
$290/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
9
RI

RISLA
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.99%
$3,603
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.59% below avg
$290/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 3.24% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
10
CI
CitizensTrusted
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
3.24%
$3,528
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.34% below avg
$293/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 3.35% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
11
MO
Monogram
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
3.35%
$3,495
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.23% below avg
$295/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 7.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
12
FU

Funding U
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
7.99%
$2,103
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%2.59% below avg
$364/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 18.06% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
13
GR

GradBridge
Private · Undergraduate
NMLS verified
APR
18.06%
Market avg 10.58%0.00% below avg
$542/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Graduate private loans
Our takeStudent loan starting at 1.95% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
14
SM
Sallie Mae BankTrusted
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
1.95%
$3,915
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.63% below avg
$275/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 1.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
15
EA
EarnestTrusted
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
1.99%
$3,903
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.59% below avg
$276/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.08% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
16
AB

Abe
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.08%
$3,876
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.50% below avg
$277/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.09% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
17
CA
College Ave
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.09%
$3,873
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.49% below avg
$277/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.45% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
18
SO
SoFiTrusted
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.45%
$3,765
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%8.13% below avg
$282/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.69% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
19
AS

Ascent
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.69%
$3,693
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.89% below avg
$285/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.87% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
20
LE

LendKeyTrusted
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.87%
$3,639
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.71% below avg
$288/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
21
EL
ELFITrusted
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.99%
$3,603
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.59% below avg
$290/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 2.99% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
22
RI

RISLA
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
2.99%
$3,603
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.59% below avg
$290/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 3.35% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
23
MO
Monogram
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
3.35%
$3,495
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.23% below avg
$295/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 3.35% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
24
UF

Union Federal Private Student Loans
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
3.35%
$3,495
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%7.23% below avg
$295/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 10.89% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
25
MF

MPOWER FinancingTrusted
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
10.89%
$1,233
saved per year vs. your rate
Market avg 10.58%0.00% below avg
$411/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
Our takeStudent loan starting at 17.4% APR. Confirm in-school deferment and grace period terms before accepting.
26
GR

GradBridge
Private · Graduate
NMLS verified
APR
17.40%
Market avg 10.58%0.00% below avg
$529/mo on $30,000 · 10-yr term
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