9 Best Student Loans for Community College of December 2024

College Ave Private Student Loan

Fixed APR

3.47-17.99%

Variable APR

4.99-17.99%

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

on College Ave's website

4.5/5

Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan

Fixed APR

3.49-15.49%

Variable APR

4.92-15.08%

Min. credit score

Mid-600's

on Sallie Mae's website

on Credible’s website

Best Student Loans for Community College

Lender	NerdWallet Rating	Min. credit score	Fixed APR	Variable APR	Learn more
Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Read review	5.0 /5	None	6.53-8.08%	N/A	Read review
Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan GO TO LENDER SITE on Sallie Mae's website on Sallie Mae's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website	4.5 /5 Best for Private Student Loan	Mid-600's	3.49-15.49%	4.92-15.08%	GO TO LENDER SITE on Sallie Mae's website on Sallie Mae's website COMPARE RATES on Credible’s website on Credible’s website
PNC Private Student Loan Read review	4.0 /5 Best for Private Student Loan	Does not disclose	6.69-13.89%	8.44-11.54%	Read review

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

None

Fixed APR

6.53-8.08%

Variable APR

N/A

Key factsBest first option for all student loan borrowers.

Pros

More flexible repayment options for struggling borrowers than other lenders.
Subsidized loans do not collect interest while in school or during deferment.
Lower interest rates than many private lenders.

Cons

You pay an origination fee.

Qualifications

No credit check or minimum income is needed to borrow.
Loan amounts for undergraduates: $5,500 year one, $6,500 year two, $7,500 year three and thereafter, up to a total of $31,000
Independent students and graduate students have higher loan limits.
Undergraduate interest rate fixed at 3.73%, while grad students get higher 5.28% rate

Available Term Lengths10 to 25 years once repayment begins, depending on the repayment plan.

Our pick for

Private Student Loan

GO TO LENDER SITE

on Sallie Mae's website

COMPARE RATES

on Credible’s website

Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

Mid-600's

Fixed APR

3.49-15.49%

Variable APR

4.92-15.08%

Key factsBest for part-time students and those who want to make payments during school.

Pros

One of the few lenders to provide loans to part-time students.
Non-U.S. citizens, including DACA students, who live in the U.S. and attend school in the U.S. can apply with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Cons

You can't see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Does not disclose.
Minimum income: Did not disclose.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified expenses.

Available Term Lengths10 to 15 years

DisclaimerLowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 11/25/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.

PNC Private Student Loan

4.0

Min. credit score

Does not disclose

Fixed APR

6.69-13.89%

Variable APR

8.44-11.54%

Key factsBest for students who plan to start repayment immediately.

Pros

Interest rate discount for autopay is larger than most lenders offer.

Cons

You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
Minimum income: Did not disclose.
Loan amounts: $1,000 to $50,000.

Available Term Lengths5, 10 or 15 years.

GO TO LENDER SITE

on College Ave's website

COMPARE RATES

on Credible’s website

College Ave Private Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Mid-600s

Fixed APR

3.47-17.99%

Variable APR

4.99-17.99%

Key factsBest for students who want to make payments while they're still in school.

Pros

You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
More flexible repayment options than other lenders.
Six-month grace period extension is available.

Cons

You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 8, 10 or 15 years

DisclaimerCollege Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 12/2/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.

COMPARE RATES

on Credible’s website

Ascent Credit-based Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

Low-Mid 600s

Fixed APR

3.69-14.41%

Variable APR

5.50-14.56%

Key factsBest for students with a creditworthy co-signer.

Pros

Among the best for payment flexibility.
You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
Stands out for features that enable faster loan repayment.

Cons

Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible.
Co-signer release not available to international students.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
Minimum income: $0 for primary borrower. $24,000 for current and previous year for co-signer.
Loan amounts: $2,001 to $200,000 per year with an aggregate loan limit of $200,000.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years

DisclaimerAscent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent's Terms and Conditions please visit: AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 12/1/2024 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% for credit-based college student loans and 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions. The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school, and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. The AscentUP platform is only available to eligible Ascent borrowers and subject to terms and conditions.

Check rate

on Earnest's website

Earnest Undergraduate Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

650

Fixed APR

3.47-16.49%

Variable APR

4.99-16.85%

Key factsAn option for undergraduate borrowers who want flexible repayment.

Pros

Option to skip one payment every 12 months.
No late fees.
Nine-month grace period is longer than most lenders offer.

Cons

Loans aren't available in Nevada.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 758.
Minimum income: $35,000.
Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.

Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years

DisclaimerActual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 3.72% APR to 16.74% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.24% APR to 17.10% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.

ISL Private Student Loan

5.0

Min. credit score

660

Fixed APR

3.95-8.01%

Variable APR

6.54-11.08%

Key factsBest for low-interest loans with consumer-friendly features, like a generous forbearance policy.

Pros

Forbearance of 24 months is longer than many lenders offer.
No late fees.

Cons

Only offers 2 loan terms.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 670.
Minimum income: No minimum income.
Loan amounts: $1,001 or $2,001, based on residency and school location, up to cost of attendance minus other aid received.

Available Term Lengths10 or 15

Advantage Education Private Student Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

Does not disclose

Fixed APR

5.29-8.04%

Variable APR

N/A

Key factsBest for nontraditional or part-time students.

Pros

Forbearance of 24 months is twice as long as most lenders.
Loans are available if you’re enrolled less than half time.

Cons

Fewer repayment terms than other lenders offer.
Borrowers are not able to defer loans if they return to school after their grace period ends.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Does not disclose.
Minimum income: Does not disclose.
Loan amounts: Minimum $1,000. Maximum depends on creditworthiness and debt-to-income ratio.

Available Term Lengths10 years

Nelnet Bank Private Student Loan

4.5

Min. credit score

Mid to High 600s

Fixed APR

3.69-9.82%

Variable APR

5.83-10.16%

Key factsBest for borrowers who value flexibility in repayment.

Pros

Provides rate offer with soft credit check.

Cons

Does not disclose full underwriting requirements.
Does not allow bi-weekly payments via autopay.

Qualifications

Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.
Loan amounts: $1,000 with an aggregate loan limit of $125,000 (Undergrad).

Available Term Lengths

DisclaimerFixed interest rates range from 3.69% APR (with auto debit discount) to 9.82% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. The fixed interest rate will remain the same for the life of the loan. Variable interest rates range from 5.83% APR (with auto debit discount) to 10.16% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. Variable rates for Nelnet Bank Student Loans are calculated using either (a) the One-Month SOFR; (b) the 30-day Average SOFR; or (c) the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and/or The Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table on the twenty-fifth day (or the next business day) of the immediately preceding calendar month. The variable rate may reprice and change on the first day of each month if the SOFR index changes. This may result in higher monthly payments. The current One-Month SOFR index is 4.70% as of December 1, 2024. Lowest rates listed above include an interest rate reduction for eligible applications, enrollment in auto debit, and are available only to the most creditworthy applicants. Advertised variable rates reflect the starting range of rates and may increase over the life of the loan. The lowest rate for each loan type requires automatically withdrawn (i.e., auto debit) payments. The lowest rate is available only to the most creditworthy applicants. Not all borrowers will receive the lowest rate. The interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) may be higher depending upon (1) the credit history of the borrower and, if applicable, the cosigner, (2) the repayment option and loan term selected, and (3) the loan type selected. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate qualified for within the stated range. Interest rate reduction of .25% for automatically withdrawn payments from any designated bank account (“auto debit discount”). Auto debit discount applies when full payments (including both principal and interest) are automatically drafted from a bank account. The auto debit discount will continue to apply during periods of approved forbearance or deferment if the auto debit discount was in effect at the time of receiving the forbearance or deferment. Auto debit discount will remain on the account unless (1) the automatic deduction of payments is cancelled or (2) there are three consecutive automatic deductions returned for insufficient funds at any time during the term of the loan. Your actual savings, if any, may vary based on interest rates, balances, remaining repayment terms and other factors. Refinancing to a longer term may lower your monthly payments, but may also increase the total interest paid over the life of the loan. Refinancing to a shorter term may increase your monthly payments, but may lower the total interest paid over the life of the loan. Checking your rate results in a soft credit pull, which will not affect your credit score. If you continue with your application, Nelnet Bank will request your permission to obtain your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies. This is a hard credit pull and may affect your credit score. Nelnet Bank offers various payment assistance programs to assist you if you are currently struggling to make payments. Contact us at [email protected] or 800.446.4190 to get more information. This referral partner is not the creditor of Nelnet Bank loans and may receive compensation from Nelnet Bank for the referral of Nelnet Bank loan customers. A request for the cosigner to be released can be made by either the borrower or cosigner when each of the following conditions has been met: • The account must have been in full principal and interest repayment for at least 24 months. • Twenty-four consecutive, on-time principal and interest payments, or lump sum equivalent, must have been made. Note: A lump sum payment does not replace the requirement to have been in full principal and interest repayment for at least 24 months. Interest-only or fixed-pay payments while enrolled in school do not qualify toward the 24 consecutive on-time payments. • The loan must be current at the time of request. • The loan must not have been in deferment, hardship forbearance, or other alternative payment assistance plan within the past 24 months. • The loan must not have been permanently modified from its original terms in the credit agreement. • The primary borrower must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency in the United States. • The primary borrower must meet the age of majority requirement in their permanent state of residency. • Requirements are subject to change. • If all of these conditions have been met, an application for cosigner release may be submitted. The primary borrower is required to demonstrate they have the ability to assume sole responsibility for the loan(s) by providing proof of income, meeting debt-to-income requirements, and having a satisfactory credit history. (A credit report will be obtained during the review process).