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How to Get a Student Loan With No Credit Check

If you have bad or no credit and need a private student loan, a cosigner could help you get approved after exhausting your federal loan options.

Sarah Li-Cain Sarah Li-Cain Edited by Jared Hughes Updated October 25, 2022

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."

A student loan can be a great tool to pay for an undergraduate degree or graduate program — it might also come with a credit check. But you can find student loans that don’t require a credit check.

Here’s a look at which student loans require a credit check (and other options if your credit is less than stellar):

  • Federal student loans with no credit check
  • 3 student loans for low credit scores
  • Adding a cosigner can increase your chances of approval

Federal student loans with no credit check

Federal student loans don’t come with a credit check. They’re backed by the U.S. government, and you can apply for one by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Types of federal student loans that don’t require a credit check include:

  • Direct Subsidized Loans: Subsidized loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. With these loans, the government covers Interest charges while you’re in school.
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Unsubsidized loans are available to both undergraduate and graduate students, and they don’t take financial need into account. Unlike subsidized loans, you’ll be responsible for the interest that accrues on unsubsidized loans right away. But they can still be a good deal if you need to borrow for school.

While you don’t need a credit score to qualify for most federal student loans, you will need to meet some other important requirements, including:

  • A valid Social Security number
  • Selective Service registration (male students ages 18 to 25)
  • Eligible citizenship or legal residency status
  • High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
  • Enrollment in an eligible accredited college, university, or trade school program
  • Signed and completed FAFSA
  • Satisfactory academic progress
  • Be in good standing with existing loans

Lastly, remember to look into free financial aid, such as scholarships and college grants. Unlike student loans, you don’t have to pay these types of aid back.

Learn More: 7 of the Best Student Loans for Bad Credit

3 student loans for low credit scores

While most federal student loans don’t require a credit check, private student loan lenders will review your credit before issuing a new loan. To increase your chances of being approved, consider looking at private student loans aimed at those with low credit scores. Here’s a brief look at how your credit is used to approve a private student loan:

  • Getting your loan rate: You can usually check your rate by filling out a short form that allows the lender to take a quick look at your credit, as well as other factors. This typically involves a soft credit check, which won’t impact your credit score.
  • Full underwriting: If you like the rate and terms you get from filling out the short application, you can submit a full application. The lender will then look at your credit, income, and ability to repay to make a final decision.
Be careful! If you see a deal for a private student loan with no credit check, it’s likely a scam. There are plenty of cybercriminals out there looking to pull a fast one on hardworking students like you, so take care to only work with a reputable lender.

The Credible partner lenders in the following table offer personal loans for borrowers with low credit scores. You can easily check your rates from these and other lenders by filling out a single form. Plus, there’s no hard credit check involved when you check rates, meaning your credit score won’t be affected.

LenderFixed rates from (APR)Variable rates from (APR)Loan amountMin. credit score


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
4.62%+10 5.86%+10 $2,001 to $400,000Does not disclose
  • Fixed APR: 4.62%+10
  • Variable APR: 5.86%+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
4.37%+8 5.86%+8 $1,001 up to 100% of school certified cost of attendance670
  • Fixed APR: 4.37%+8
  • Variable APR: 5.86%+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$1,500 or $2,000 up to school’s certified cost of attendance (depending on school type and minus other aid received)670
  • 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)
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Adding a cosigner can increase your chances of approval

Private loans could help fill in funding gaps if federal loans, grants, and scholarships aren’t enough to fully cover your education costs. Even if you have bad credit or no credit, you might still qualify for a private student loan with a cosigner.

How to find a cosigner

Finding a cosigner means seeking someone who trusts you with their credit. It’s a huge responsibility, which is why you need to be able to prove to this person you have a solid plan in place to pay your loan back. Plus, being open about your current financial situation (or when you graduate), and explaining the risks in being a cosigner is important. Whether it’s a close friend, relative, or parent, you should be upfront and honest with them.

You can also seek loans with a cosigner release, where the cosigner can be released from the loan once you’ve met certain criteria, such as making on-time payments.

Tip: If you need to find a cosigner, you might consider asking a parent or another close relative. Just remember that whoever cosigns will also be responsible for the loan.

You also might be able to qualify for a student loan without a cosigner. However, it could take longer to get a loan without a cosigner, since you’ll likely need to repair or build your credit first.

Whatever you decide, remember to compare as many private student loan lenders as possible so you end up with the right loan for your situation. You can see your rates with multiple lenders in as little as three minutes by using Credible — including loans with and without a cosigner.

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  • Multiple lenders compete to get you the best rate
  • Get actual rates, not estimated ones
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Checking rates will not affect your credit

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Eric Rosenberg contributed to the reporting for this article.

About the author
Sarah Li-Cain
Sarah Li-Cain

Sarah Li-Cain is a personal finance journalist with work featured in major outlets such as Bankrate, CNBC Select, and NextAdvisor (in partnership with Time).

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Home » All » Student Loans » How to Get a Student Loan With No Credit Check

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