Private vs Federal Student Loans: Which You Should Pick First

College usually costs a lot of money. Many students end up taking out loans for college. When it comes to student loans, there are two main types: federal and private. Federal loans, as the name implies, comes from the federal government. Private loans are funded by lending companies like Sallie Mae or Credible. So private vs federal student loans: which should you go for first? The answer is always federal loans.

But why should you choose federal students loan first?

A stone path forking in the woods with a wooden sign on the right.

Lower interest rates & flexible repayments

Federal student loans tend to come with much lower interest rates and several flexible repayment options. In other words, you may end up with less student loan debt and you have more plans to choose from that suit your financial situation. You may also be eligible for forgiveness of part of your loan if you meet certain requirements, such as being in a certain career.

Private student loans, on the other hand. can be more expensive and inflexible. Forgiveness options are rarer and usually more stringent. Besides, the interest rate is pegged to your creditworthiness. If you do not have a good credit history, you will have to pay a much higher rate on the money you borrow. If you’re a high school student, you probably don’t have a credit history. That means you’ll have to ask someone, usually a parent or another trusted adult, to co-sign a loan with you.

Easier to qualify for

Qualifying for a federal student loan is straightforward. You have to be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and enrolled or accepted at least half time in a recognized school in the country. Your credit history does not matter for approval, neither do you need a cosigner to get a federal student loan. The easiest way to get started is by filing the FAFSA! And you should definitely file the FAFSA, regardless of your financial situation. Anyone can apply to the FAFSA, and you absolutely should! Filing the FAFSA opens up not only federal student loans, but also merit-based scholarships and grants. Who’s going to say no to free money?

With private student loans, your credit history plays a huge role in whether or not you get approved and the rate of interest that you are offered.

Sallie Mae logo.

3 Repayment Options

Variable rates from 4.92% - 15.08% APR with auto-debit

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When to go for private loans

The only drawback with federal student loans is that the amount you can borrow may be limited by a few factors such as your family’s total income. With private student loans, there are fewer limits. So if you’ve exhausted all of your financial aid and federal loan options, turning to a private loan is the next step. But private loans should be your last resort. If you do have to turn to private student loans, shop around to find the lender that suits your needs best, and only take out as much as you need.

Just be sure to shop around and compare your options. We can help with that! With College Raptor’s free Student Loan Finder, you can compare lenders and interest rates side by side.

 

Lender Rates (APR) Eligibility
Citizens logo.
5.34%-15.96%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT CITIZENS
Sallie Mae logo.
4.92% - 15.08% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT SALLIE MAE
Credibe company logo.
4.50% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT CREDIBLE
Lendkey company logo.
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT LENDKEY
Ascent company logo.
5.50% - 14.56% Variable
3.69% - 14.41% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT ASCENT
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT ISL
Earnest company logo.
5.62% - 16.85% Variable
3.69% - 16.49% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT EARNEST
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
Undergraduate and Graduate
VISIT ELFI
College Raptor is not a loan lender and does not assume responsibility for suggesting a loan to a user who may not be eligible for it. Rates, terms, conditions, eligibility, approval, and other considerations are the decisions of the lenders and may vary depending on which lender or marketplace the user selects. We urge users to carefully consider and review all loan options and terms before committing to taking out a loan.

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