Best Student Loans With a Cosigner in 2025

Students seeking a private student loan often rely on cosigners to secure funding. During the 2023-24 school year, more than 90% of private student loans for undergraduates were cosigned, according to Enterval Analytics' Private Student Loan Report.

Although cosigning a student loan represents a significant financial commitment for the cosigner, it could make securing a student loan possible for borrowers with limited credit. This guide explores the best lenders that allow cosigners, how to get a student loan with a cosigner, and cosigner release for student loans.

Ascent is the best private student loan lender overall, based on its competitive interest rates and unique borrower benefits like longer grace periods, earning it 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Current private student loan rates

Best private student loans with a cosigner in 2025

Why you can trust our Credible experts

The Credible editorial team is independent and unbiased. Partners do not influence our editorial content. To help you find the best student loan for your situation, we conduct thorough research and analyze thousands of lender data points. Using data-driven methodologies, we score criteria that are important to you. This allows us to objectively rank student loan lenders and products. To learn more, read our methodology below.

Methodology

To determine the best student loan lenders for borrowers with a cosigner, Credible collected more than 1,000 points of data on two dozen companies and evaluated them on several different categories: repayment options, eligibility, interest rates, loan terms, and customer support. We assigned a score out of five stars to each lender based on our findings. Below are the weightings assigned to the general categories for the best student loan companies — which comprise individual criteria that are also weighted.

• Repayment options: 30%
• Eligibility: 25%
• Interest rates: 20%
• Loan terms: 15%
• Customer support: 10%

While the best lender for you will depend on your unique needs and financial circumstances, these findings should help answer your questions and assist you in your search for the best student loan.

Learn more about our methodology.

Why apply for a student loan with a cosigner?

“Many college students do not have the credit history or income to borrow a private student loan on their own,” says Dan Kennedy, chief marketing officer at College Ave.

“Adding a cosigner, like a parent or guardian, with a strong credit score and history can help the student qualify for the loan and receive a lower interest rate,” Kennedy explains.

While it's possible to get approved for a private student loan without a cosigner through some lenders, student borrowers with lower incomes and limited credit histories will typically face higher interest rates and may not be able to borrow as much money.

What to look for in a cosigned student loan

If you're pursuing a cosigned student loan, shopping around can help you find the best option for your specific needs. A few factors to consider include:

• Competitive interest rates: You'll likely find fixed and variable interest rate options. The predictability of a fixed-rate loan is generally a good option for student borrowers just getting started. But variable-rate loans could make sense, especially if you plan to pay off the loan aggressively.
• Extensive repayment options: Unlike federal student loans, cosigned private student loans might have more limited repayment options. Confirm you're comfortable with the repayment arrangement offered to you before moving forward.
• Borrower protections: If you experience financial hardship, some lenders offer deferment and forbearance options to provide a reprieve while you get back on your feet.
• Cosigner release: Some lenders offer a cosigner release option, which allows you to remove your cosigner. Typically, borrowers can apply for cosigner release after making a set number of on-time payments, in addition to meeting other eligibility requirements.

As a cosigner, it's important to look beyond the loan details and consider your financial situation.

“An individual or couple should treat the cosigning of a private student loan in the same way they would decide to borrow one for themselves,” says Cynthia Campos Delgado, founder and financial adviser at Campos Wealth Management in McAllen, Texas.

“Debt repayment is a risk to any household. Job loss, medical crisis, natural disaster or a similar event can cause repayment problems, with many long-term, negative consequences possible,” Delgado adds.

Before cosigning a loan, be absolutely certain you can afford to keep up with the payments if the borrower can't.

How to qualify for a student loan with a cosigner

Adding a cosigner often increases your chances of loan approval. But obtaining a loan still isn't a guarantee, even if you find a willing cosigner. If you plan to apply for a student loan with a cosigner, use the following strategies to increase your approval odds:

• Be sure your cosigner has a strong credit score: Most lenders prefer to work with borrowers or cosigners who have a FICO score of 670 or higher. If your cosigner's credit score is on the lower side, they may not be able to help you qualify for a loan or a low rate. 
• Check income requirements: Some private lenders post income requirements for their student loans. Confirm that your cosigner has sufficient income for the loan before applying.

How cosigner release works

Although having a cosigner on your loan allows you to access the funds you need, most cosigners don't want to stay locked into the loan for the entire term. Luckily, many lenders offer cosigner release options.

In most cases, cosigner release becomes available after the borrower makes a required number of on-time payments. For example, the lender might require you to make 12 on-time principal and interest payments before allowing you to apply for cosigner release. You'll also typically need to meet eligibility requirements, like having an income over a certain amount. You can contact your loan servicer to find out what criteria you must meet to qualify for cosigner release.

If you meet the requirements, most lenders will require either you or your cosigner to submit an application for cosigner release.