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How to Release Your Cosigner in 4 Steps

You’ll need to meet certain requirements to qualify for cosigner release, including making on-time monthly payments for a specific amount of time.

Eric Rosenberg Eric Rosenberg Updated July 29, 2020

Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as "Credible."

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:

LenderFixed rates from (APR)Variable rates from (APR)Min. credit scoreCosigner release offered
ascent3.34%+2.14%+600After 24 months
citizens3.99%+11.18%+1Does not discloseAfter 36 months
collegeave3.34%+2,3
1.04%+2,3Does not discloseAfter 24 months
edvestinu4.07%+72.00%+7750After 36 months
invested4.08%+81.88%+8670After 48 months
mefa3.75%+N/A670After 48 months
4.25% - 12.59%91.13% - 11.23%9Does not discloseAfter 12 months
Compare rates without affecting
your credit score. 100% free!


Compare Now

Lowest APRs reflect autopay, loyalty, and interest-only repayment discounts where available | 1Citizens Bank Disclosures | 2,3College Ave 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.

Stay on top of your payments: Even if you don’t need to release a cosigner, be sure to make at least the minimum payment on your student loan by the due date each month.

On-time payments are good for your credit, help you avoid late fees, and keep you on track to successfully pay off your loan.

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.

For example: If you have an Ascent Cosigned Credit-Based Loan, you have to meet the minimum requirements for a new student loan borrower on top of making 24 months of consecutive on-time payments to qualify for cosigner release.

This includes having a credit score of at least 600, plus having $24,000 or more in annual 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.

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.

Tip: Keep in mind that you might still need a cosigner to qualify for refinancing. If this is the case, you could consider refinancing with another lender that offers a cosigner release option.

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.

LenderVariable rates from (APR)Fixed rates from (APR)Min. credit scoreCosigner release offered
advantage education loan consolidationN/A4.54%+Does not discloseAfter 36 months
citizens bank student loans1.99%+¹2.97%+¹Does not discloseAfter 36 months
invested refinancing2.47%+43.47%+4670After 48 months
penfed purefy student loan consolidation2.16%+2.99%+670After 12 months
Compare personalized rates from multiple
lenders without affecting your credit score. 100% free!

Compare Now

Trustpilot

All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | 1Citizens Bank Disclosures | 2College Ave Disclosures | 3 ELFI Disclosures | 4INvestEd Disclosures | 5SoFi Disclosures

About the author
Eric Rosenberg
Eric Rosenberg

Eric Rosenberg is a Credible 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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