Credible
Get Rates
  • Refinance Student Loans
    • Compare Options
      • Best Refinancing Companies
      • Lender Reviews
      • Refinance Student Loans
      • Student Loan Consolidation
    • Learn the Basics
      • Fixed vs. Variable Rates
      • Forgiveness Programs
      • Consolidation vs Refinancing
      • Repayment Plans
      • More on Student Refi
    • How to
      • Consolidate Your Student Loans
      • Pay Off Your Student Loans
      • Lower Your Interest Rate
    • Tools
      • Current Student Loan Refi Rates
      • Refinancing Calculator
      • Repayment Calculator
  • Student Loans
    • Compare Options
      • Best Private Student Loans
      • Lender Reviews
      • Private Student Loans
      • Parent Student Loans
    • Learn the Basics
      • Student Loan Limits
      • Living Expenses
      • Applying for FAFSA
      • Federal Student Loans
      • Student Loan Interest Rates
      • More on Student Loans
    • How To
      • Pay for College
      • Take Out Student Loans
      • Apply Without Cosigner
      • Apply for Student Loans
      • Pay for Grad School
    • Tools
      • Current Student Loan Rates
      • Student Loan Interest Calculator: Estimate Payments
  • Personal Loans
    • Compare Options
      • Best Personal Loan Lenders
      • Lender Reviews
      • Get Personal Loan Rates
    • Learn the Basics
      • How to Qualify
      • How to Get a Loan
      • Where to Get a Loan
      • Personal Loans with Cosigner
      • Pay Off Credit Card Debt
      • More on Personal Loans
    • Best for
      • Credit Card Consolidation
      • Debt Consolidation Loans
      • Home Improvement Loans
      • Good Credit
      • Fair Credit
      • Bad Credit
    • Tools
      • Current Personal Loan Rates
      • Personal Loan Calculator
  • Mortgages
    • Compare Options
      • Mortgage Refinance
      • Home Loan
      • Mortgage Preapproval
      • Mortgage Payment Calculator
    • Compare Rates
      • Mortgage Refinance Rates
      • 30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates
      • 15-Year Fixed Refinance Rates
      • Home Loan Rates
      • 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates
      • 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates
    • Learn the Basics
      • How to Buy a House
      • How to Refinance Your Mortgage
      • How to Get the Best Rate
      • Cash-Out Refinancing
      • More on Home Loans and Refi
    • Pay Off Mortgage
      • Home Equity to Pay Off Debt
      • Paying Off Mortgage Early
      • Mortgage Refinance Cost
  • Company
    • About
    • Reviews
    • Blog
    • Lenders
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • FAQs
    • Press
  • Find My Rate
Advertiser Disclosure

How to Get a Student Loan in 3 Easy Steps

There are three steps to follow when it comes to getting a student loan. These include filling out your FAFSA and comparing your private student loan options.

Eric Rosenberg Eric Rosenberg Updated March 27, 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."

Student loans are one of the most common ways to pay for an education. And thankfully, getting a student loan is usually a straightforward process that’s quick for both undergraduate and graduate students.

How to get a student loan

If you need to know how to get a student loan, follow these three steps to get started:

  1. Fill out your FAFSA form and submit
  2. Decide which federal loans to accept
  3. Consider private student loans

1. Fill out your FAFSA form and submit

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the starting point for the federal student loan process. To fill out the FAFSA, you’ll need to provide information about your income, savings, and investments. If you’re an undergrad student, you’ll also need to include your family’s financial info. Your FAFSA results will then detail your federal student loan options, including how much you qualify for.

It’s important to complete the FAFSA accurately and on time to ensure you get the financial aid that you need.

Learn More: How to Apply for FAFSA

2. Decide which federal loans to accept

After your school’s financial aid office gets your FAFSA results, you’ll receive a financial aid award offer from your school. This could include scholarships, student loans, and work-study opportunities to help you pay for school.

Most undergrad students will have a choice of subsidized vs. unsubsidized student loans, as well as PLUS loans. Undergrad students have different student loan options from grad students. If you’re wondering how to pay for graduate school, on the other hand, your options will be a little different from undergraduate loans.

You’re not required to accept any of the loans you’re offered, though federal student loans often come with the best rates and protections.

Learn More: Federal Student Loans Guide

3. Consider private student loans

Federal student loans don’t always cover the full cost of attendance. Depending on your school and your family’s finances, you might need additional funds. That’s where private student loans come in. Private student loans can come in handy in these situations:

  • If federal student loans don’t cover your full costs: If your federal student loans aren’t enough to cover your education, private student loans can make up the difference.
  • If you (or a cosigner) have good credit: If you have a strong credit history (or find a cosigner with good credit), you could qualify for the best private student loans. A good cosigner could qualify you for lower interest rates than grad PLUS loans.

When shopping for private student loans, be sure to consider as many lenders as possible to find the best interest rate and repayment term for you. With Credible, you can compare multiple lenders at once without hurting your credit score.

LenderFixed rates from (APR)Variable rates from (APR)
ascent3.34%+2.46%+
citizens3.99%+11.22%+1
collegeave3.49%+2,3
1.04%+2,3
edvestinu4.09%+72.02%+7
invested4.08%+81.88%+8
mefa3.75%+N/A
4.25% - 12.35%91.25% - 11.10%9
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

Find the right student loan for you

Every student has a different income and college savings. Your money situation is unique, and your student loan choices should reflect your specific needs.

When reviewing a student loan, look at factors like the repayment period, interest rate, and federal student loan forgiveness programs you might qualify for. This way, you can get the loan that’s right for you — without borrowing more than you need.

Compare student loan rates from top lenders

  • Multiple lenders compete to get you the best rate
  • Get actual rates, not estimated ones
  • Finance almost any degree

See Your Rates
Checking rates will not affect your credit

Trustpilot

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.

Read More

Home » All » Student Loans » How to Get a Student Loan in 3 Easy Steps

Student Loan Basics


  • How to Qualify for a Student Loan
  • When to Apply for a Student Loan
  • How to Apply for Student Loans
  • How to Apply for FAFSA

Choosing a Student Loan

  • Federal vs. Private Student Loans
  • Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans
  • Parent Plus Loans vs. Private Student Loans

Tools and Resources

  • Find a Private Student Loan
  • Best Private Student Loans
  • Average Cost of College
  • Current Student Loan Rates
  • Find a Student Loan Cosigner
  • Lender Reviews
  • Student Loan Calculator

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related Articles

Student Loans

How to Get Student Loans for Community College

Student Loans

Independent vs. Dependent Student: Which Are You?

Student Loans

How to Take Out a Student Loan

  • Read More
    • Refi Student Loans
    • In School Loans
    • Personal Loans
    • Mortgages
  • Resources
    • Lender Reviews
    • Loan Calculators
    • Data Insights
    • Debt Statistics
    • Sitemap
  • Compare
    • Student Loan Refinance
      • Current Student Loan Refi Rates
    • Student Loan Consolidation
    • Private Student Loans
      • Current Student Loan Rates
    • Personal Loans
      • Current Personal Loan Rates
    • Refinance Mortgage
      • Mortgage Refinance Rates
        • 15-Year Fixed Refinance Rates
        • 30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates
    • Home Loans
      • Home Loan Rates
        • 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates
        • 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates
  • Top Lenders
    • Best Student Loan Refi Companies
    • Best Private Student Loans
    • Best Personal Loans
  • Company
    • About
    • Reviews
    • Blog
    • Editorial Staff
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • News
    • Press
  • Legal
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Credible


Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS ID# 1681276 | NMLS Consumer Access | Licenses and Disclosures
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.