{"id":2187,"date":"2017-05-31T17:58:44","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T01:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/?p=2187"},"modified":"2025-01-09T14:09:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T22:09:28","slug":"how-to-take-out-a-student-loan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/refinance-student-loans\/how-to-take-out-a-student-loan\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Out a Student Loan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve been accepted to college, congratulations! That\u2019s a huge achievement, and you should be proud of yourself.<\/p>\n<p>Now that the pressure is off and you know you got in, you can start coming up with a plan on how to pay for it. If you\u2019re like most students, you\u2019ll have to borrow money to complete your degree. If you\u2019re not sure how to take out a student loan, here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n<h2>Overview: Taking out student loans<\/h2>\n<p>Before diving into all of the details, it might be helpful to visualize the process. Here are the steps you can follow to take out a student loan.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-39362 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1.png\" alt=\"How to Take Out Private and Federal Student Loans \" width=\"1475\" height=\"590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1.png 1475w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1-600x240.png 600w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1-1200x480.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1-768x307.png 768w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/image1-150x60.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1475px) 100vw, 1475px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>How to take out federal and private student loans<\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to student loans, there are two main types: federal and private.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Federal student loans <\/b>are issued by the U.S. Department of Education. They don\u2019t require a credit check, but there are limits on how much you can borrow each year.<\/li>\n<li><b>Private student loans<\/b> are handled by individual lenders and have different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/student-loan-requirements\/\">student loan requirements<\/a>. Private student loan lenders will usually review your credit to determine whether or not to issue you a loan. With a private loan, you can often borrow up to the total cost of attendance at your selected school.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-52861 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4.png\" alt=\"What makes up a student loan\" width=\"1602\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4.png 1602w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-1200x1200.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-768x767.png 768w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-1536x1534.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Credible_MonthlySocial_July_KatieRoberts-R2_Post-14-4-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1602px) 100vw, 1602px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To take out federal or private student loans, follow these five steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#complete-the-fafsa\">Complete the FAFSA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#review-financial-aid-offer\">Review your financial aid offer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#choose-which-financial-aid-to-accept\">Choose which federal aid to accept<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#consider-a-cosigner\">Consider a cosigner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#compare-private-student-loans\">Compare private student loans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a name=\"complete-the-fafsa\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>1. Complete the FAFSA<\/h3>\n<p class=\"featured-box featured-box--isGray\"><b>Tip: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/applying-for-fafsa\/\">Fill out the FAFSA<\/a> as close to October 1 as possible to get the maximum amount of financial aid available.<\/p>\n<p>First, you\u2019ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You\u2019ll need to include information about your family, such as your household size and how much money your parents make each year. The government and schools use this to decide what kinds of financial aid you qualify for.<\/p>\n<p>The earlier you submit the FAFSA, the better. While you have until June to finish it, some aid is disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis. By submitting the FAFSA as soon as possible, you\u2019re more likely to get all of the aid available to you.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"review-financial-aid-offer\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>2. Review your financial aid offer<\/h3>\n<p class=\"featured-box featured-box--isGray\"><b>Tip: <\/b>Use as much gift aid, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/apply-for-scholarships-grants\/\">scholarships and grants<\/a>, as you can to lower how much you\u2019ll need to borrow.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re accepted by a college, you\u2019ll receive a financial aid offer letter. It will list all of the scholarships, grants, institutional aid, and federal student loans you\u2019re eligible for. Depending on the school, you might be offered a mix of financial aid types.<\/p>\n<p>When reviewing your options, keep in mind that grants and scholarships are a form of gift aid, meaning they don\u2019t have to be repaid. Grants and scholarships can help reduce how much you\u2019ll need to take out in student loans. Once you\u2019ve used all of that aid up, you can turn to federal student loans.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"choose-which-financial-aid-to-accept\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>3. Choose which federal aid to accept<\/h3>\n<p class=\"featured-box featured-box--isGray\"><b>Tip: <\/b>Contact the financial aid office by the deadline listed on your financial aid award letter to ensure you get the aid you want.<\/p>\n<p>If you decide to move forward with a particular school, decide which financial aid options you\u2019ll accept. For example, you might go with a scholarship and federal Direct Subsidized Loans. You might also be offered more aid than you need, so you can choose to decline some of it.<\/p>\n<p>Once you know what aid you\u2019ll accept, contact your school\u2019s financial aid office to let them know your decision. If you decide to take out federal loans, the financial aid office will notify you with the next steps to take, such as signing a master promissory note.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"consider-a-cosigner\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>4. Consider a cosigner<\/h3>\n<p class=\"featured-box featured-box--isGray\"><b>Tip: <\/b>Over 90% of private student loans are taken out with a cosigner. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/the-right-cosigner-saves-on-student-loans\/\">Adding a cosigner<\/a> could help you qualify for better interest rates and repayment terms.<\/p>\n<p>As a new college student, you likely don\u2019t have much income and might not have a high <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/student-loans\/credit-score\/\">credit score<\/a>. If that\u2019s the case, adding a cosigner with good credit on your loan application can improve your chances of qualifying for a loan. A cosigner could also get you a better interest rate.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"compare-private-student-loans\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>5. Compare private student loans<\/h3>\n<p class=\"featured-box featured-box--isGray\"><b>Tip: <\/b>Use Credible to see rates from multiple lenders and find the best student loan for your situation.<\/p>\n<p>The aid your school offers might not be enough to cover the full cost of tuition, plus room and board. If you need more money to pay for school, consider taking out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/student-loans\">private student loans<\/a> to cover the remainder.<\/p>\n<p>Private loan interest rates and repayment terms vary from lender to lender, so it\u2019s a good idea to shop around and compare offers from multiple private student loan lenders to find the best deal. Credible makes it easy to do just that \u2014 and you only need to fill out one simple form instead of filling out forms multiple times.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<table id=\"tablepress-218\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-218 table table-border-top table-rounded table-no-img-margin table-capitalized-column-titles tbody-has-connected-cells\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\"><strong>Lender<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"column-2\"><strong>Fixed rates from (APR)<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"column-3\"><strong>Variable rates from (APR)<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/ascent\/\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A three-quarter star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-three-quarter.svg\">\n        <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">  <span>\n    2.69%+<sup>10<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">  <span>\n    3.68%+<sup>10<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/citizens-bank\/#citizens-bank-private-student-loans\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A three-quarter star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-three-quarter.svg\">\n        <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">  <span>\n    3.24%+<sup>1<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">  <span>\n    4.99%+<sup><\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/college-ave\/#college-ave-private-student-loans\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A three-quarter star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-three-quarter.svg\">\n        <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">  <span>\n    2.84%+<sup>2,3<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<br \/>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">  <span>\n    3.89%+<sup>2,3<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/custom-choice\/\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A half star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-half.svg\">\n        <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">  <span>\n    3.35%+<sup><\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">  <span>\n    3.5%+<sup><\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/invested\/#invested-private-student-loans\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A half star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-half.svg\">\n        <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">  <span>\n    4.5%+<sup>8<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">  <span>\n    6.47%+<sup>8<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/mefa\/#mefa-private-student-loans\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A half star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-half.svg\">\n        <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\">  <span>\n    3.29%+<sup><\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><center><br \/>\n<br \/>\n        <div class=\"tablepress-rating-shortcode \">\n        <div class=\"heading__container \">\n    <span class=\"heading\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/lenders\/sallie-mae\/\">Credible Rating<\/a>\n            <\/span>\n            <div class=\"even\" data-toggle=\"tip\" data-placement=\"top left\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon-help m-a-0\" alt=\"Question mark icon to show more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/icon-help-dark.svg\">\n    <span class=\"tip\">\n        <span class=\"tip-content\" >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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology.<\/a><\/span>\n        <span class=\"tip-arrow\"><\/span>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div><div class=\"star-rating__container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A full star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-full.svg\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star-light\" alt=\"A one-quarter star\" src=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/credible\/assets\/images\/lender-rating\/star-light-quarter.svg\">\n            <\/div>        <\/div>\n        <\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  <span>\n    2.890%<sup>9<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n -   <span>\n    17.49%<sup>9<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  <span>\n    3.75%<sup>9<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n -   <span>\n    16.370%<sup>9<\/sup>\n  <\/span>\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td colspan=\"3\" class=\"column-1\"><center><b>Compare rates without affecting<br> your credit score. 100% free!<\/b><br><br \/>\n<a class=\"btn btn-warning\" href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/student-loans\/start\">Compare Now<\/a><\/center><br><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td colspan=\"3\" class=\"column-1\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><small>Lowest APRs reflect autopay, loyalty, and interest-only repayment discounts where available | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/credible-rating-lender-methodology\/\">Read our full methodology<\/a> | <sup>10<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/a\/ascent-student-loan-disclosure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ascent Disclosures<\/a> | <sup>1<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensbank.com\/student-lending\/DisclosureHub.aspx#rate-lowest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Citizens Disclosures <\/a> | <sup>2,3<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/a\/college-ave-disclosures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">College Ave Disclosures<\/a> | <sup>11<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/a\/cogfin-disclosures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Custom Choice Disclosures<\/a> | <sup>7<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/a\/edvestinu-apr-details-inschool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EDvestinU Disclosures<\/a> | <sup>8<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/a\/invested-disclosures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INvestEd Disclosures<\/a> | <sup>9<\/sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/a\/sallie-mae-homepage-disclosures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sallie Mae Disclosures<\/a><\/small><\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve been accepted to college, congratulations! That\u2019s a huge achievement, and you should be proud of yourself. Now that the pressure is off and you know you got in, you can start coming up&hellip; <a class=\"more \" href=\"https:\/\/www.credible.com\/blog\/refinance-student-loans\/how-to-take-out-a-student-loan\/\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":39429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1499],"class_list":{"0":"post-2187","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-refinance-student-loans","8":"tag-student-loan-basics-sidebar","9":"how-to-take-out-a-student-loan","11":"post_tag-student-loan-basics-sidebar"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Take Out a Student Loan | Credible<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Most students need to take out federal or private student loans to cover their education costs. 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