How to Release Your Cosigner in 4 Steps

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Having a cosigner could help you get approved for a student loan. But this also comes with some risks for the cosigner — they’re responsible for the loan if you don’t make your payments.

With cosigner release, a cosigner can have their name removed from a loan — though not all lenders offer cosigner release.

Here’s what you should know about cosigner release:

• What is a cosigner release?
• How to release your cosigner
• You might be able to release your cosigner by refinancing

What is a cosigner release?

Cosigner release is the process of having a cosigner removed from an existing loan, which means the cosigner is no longer responsible for the loan. If a borrower can prove to the lender they’re financially stable on their own, they might qualify for cosigner release.

If you’re considering cosigner release, keep in mind that there are benefits for you as the borrower, too. This includes:

• Showing you can financially handle the loan on your own
• Potentially taking financial strain out of the relationship between you and your cosigner

Learn More: How to Refinance Student Loans

How to release your cosigner

Releasing a cosigner from a loan is easy if you qualify. However, it can take some time to meet the minimum requirements.

Here are some of the general criteria you’ll likely need to meet to be eligible for cosigner release:

1. Check if your loan is eligible for cosigner release

Not all private student loans allow for cosigner release. The first step is to find out if your loan qualifies.

Here are our partner student loan lenders that offer cosigner release:

Lender	Fixed rates from (APR)	Variable rates from (APR)	Min. credit score	Cosigner release offered
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.48%+10	5.98%+10	Does not disclose	After 12 months
Fixed APR: 4.48%+10 Variable APR: 5.98%+10 Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $2,001 to $400,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 Repayment options: Full deferral, fixed/flat repayment, interest only, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: 0.25% to 1.00% automatic payment discount, 1% cash back graduation reward Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or DACA student enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 12 on-time principal and interest payments Loan servicer: Launch Servicing, LLC
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.43%+1	6.02%+	Does not disclose	After 36 months
Fixed APR: 4.43%+1 Variable APR: 6.02%+ Min. credit score: 720 Loan amount: $1,000 to $350,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15 Loan types: Any private or federal student loan Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay, loyalty Eligibility: Available in all 50 states (international students can apply with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner) Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 36 months Loan servicer: Firstmark Services
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.44%+2,3	5.09%+2,3	Does not disclose	After 24 months
Fixed APR: 4.44%+2,3 Variable APR: 5.09%+2,3 Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $1,000 up to cost of attendance Loan terms (years): 5, 8, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, fixed/flat repayment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and be making satisfactory academic progress. Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 24 months Loan servicer: College Ave Servicing LLC
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	3.65%+	6.14%+	Does not disclose	After 36 months
Fixed APR: 3.65%+ 11 Variable APR: 6.14%+ 11 Loan amount: $1,000 to $99,999 annually ($180,000 aggregate limit)11 Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 1511 Repayment options: Full deferral, immediate repayment, interest-only repayment, flat/full repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: Autopay11 Eligibility: Available to borrowers in all 50 states. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Customer service: Phone, email Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 36 months11 Loan servicer: American Education Services Min. income: $1
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	7.0%+7	7.79%+7	750	After 36 months
Fixed APR: 7.0%+7 Variable APR: 7.79%+7 Min. credit score: 750 Loan amount: $1,000 to $200,000 Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 15 Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have a minimum income of $30,000. Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 36 months Loan servicer: Granite State Management & Resources (GSM&R)
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.37%+8	6.85%+8	670	After 48 months
Fixed APR: 4.37%+8 Variable APR: 6.85%+8 Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $1,001 up to cost of attendance Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15 Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay, reward for on-time graduation Eligibility: Must be an Indiana resident or a U.S. citizen attending an eligible Indiana school Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 48 months Loan servicer: American Education Services
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.89%+	N/A	670	After 48 months
Fixed APR: 4.89%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $1,500 up to cost of attendance less aid Loan terms (years): 10, 15 Repayment options: Full deferral, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferral, forbearance Fees: None Discounts: None Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and be making satisfactory academic progress. Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 48 months Loan servicer: American Education Services (AES)
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.50%9 - 14.83%9	5.99%9 - 16.33%9	Does not disclose	After 12 months
Fixed APR: 4.50%9 - 14.83%9 Variable APR: 5.99%9 - 16.33%9 Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $1,000 up to 100% of school-certified cost of attendance Loan terms (years): 10 to 209 Repayment options: Full deferral, fixed/flat repayment, interest only, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee, non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Also available to non-U.S. citizen students (including DACA students) attending a school located in the U.S. who apply with a qualifying cosigner. Customer service: Phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: Borrowers can apply after graduation, 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments, and meeting certain credit requirements. Loan servicer: Sallie Mae
Compare rates without affecting your credit score. 100% free! Compare Now
Lowest APRs reflect autopay, loyalty, and interest-only repayment discounts where available | 10Ascent Disclosures | 1Citizens Disclosures | 2,3College Ave Disclosures | 11Custom Choice Disclosures | 6Discover Disclosures | 7EDvestinU Disclosures | 8INvestEd Disclosures | 9Sallie Mae Disclosures

Keep in mind that each lender has its own cosigner release requirements. If your lender offers cosigner release, be sure to review their specific criteria to see how to qualify.

2. Meet the requirements for on-time payments

Most private student loan lenders require you to make all monthly payments on time for a certain amount of time to qualify for cosigner release. You’ll need to meet this minimum before you can release your cosigner.

For example, Sallie Mae offers cosigner release after 12 months of on-time, consecutive monthly payments.

Learn More: When to Refinance Your Student Loans

3. Meet the income and credit score requirements

Lenders also typically require that you meet their credit score and income requirements to qualify for the loan on your own.

You’ll likely need to undergo a credit check, as well as submit recent pay stubs or tax returns to show your income.

Learn More: Transferring Parent Loans to a Student

4. Submit your cosigner release application

You’ll generally find the cosigner release application on the lender’s website, though you might also have the option to submit a paper form.

Be sure to follow all of the steps and include any necessary supporting documents (like pay stubs) to make sure your cosigner release application is successful.

See more: 13 Best Loans for Refinancing Student Loans Without a Cosigner

You might be able to release your cosigner by refinancing

If your lender doesn’t offer cosigner release or you don’t qualify for it, student loan refinancing could be another option. When you refinance student loans into a new loan, your cosigner will be released when your old loans are paid off.

Be sure to shop around and compare as many refinancing lenders as possible to find the right loan for you. You can do this easily with Credible — after filling out a single form, you can compare rates in two minutes.

The lenders in the following table are our refinancing partners that offer cosigner release.

	Fixed rates from (APR)	Variable rates from (APR)	Min. credit score	Cosigner release offered
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	5.39%+1	6.66%+1	Does not disclose	After 36 months
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	5.99%+2	5.99%+2	Does not disclose	After 24-36 months
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	7.16%+5	7.71%+5	700	After 36 months
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	5.61%+4	7.6%+4	670	After 48 months
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	6.94%+ 7	N/A	670	After 24 months
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology. View details	4.49%+	5.02%+	700	After 12 months
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All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | 1Citizens Disclosures | 2College Ave Disclosures | 5EDvestinU Disclosures | 3 ELFI Disclosures | 4INvestEd Disclosures | 7ISL Education Lending Disclosures  | 8Nelnet Bank Disclosures

About the author

Eric Rosenberg

Eric Rosenberg is an expert on personal finance. His work has been featured at Business Insider, Investopedia, The Balance, The Huffington Post, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Mint.com and more.

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