What you’ll learn
If your student’s applying for a private student loan, chances are they’ll need a cosigner—someone who’s responsible to repay the loan if they don’t. Here are some things you should know before you cosign a student loan.
Private student loans are credit-based; the financial institution (a bank or credit union) checks out a borrower’s credit history, along with other factors, before they lend money. Federal undergraduate student loans aren’t credit-based; they’re made from the information you and your student submit in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Note that federal PLUS Loans for parents and grad students do allow a cosigner.
When a bank lends money, they want to make sure the primary borrower and the cosigner have the ability to pay it back. They’ll look at your credit history, including the credit report and credit score, and other factors. Have you made payments on time? How much outstanding debt do you have? Have you had any bankruptcies or defaulted on a loan?
Lenders understand this, so that’s where you come in. When you’re added as a cosigner the lender has more assurance that the loan will be repaid. Your credit history is evaluated along with your student’s; the combination of both can give the student a better chance of being approved for a loan—maybe at a lower interest rate.
Deciding to cosign a loan is an important decision. It’s a legally binding agreement that you’re willing to share the responsibility of repaying the loan on time and in full. So, if your student doesn’t make payments for any reason, you’ll be expected to make them. Missed payments can adversely impact your credit report as well as your student’s.
The CFPB defines a cosigner as “a person—such as a parent, close family member or friend—who pledges to pay back the loan if you do not.” Whether you’re a parent, guardian, grandparent, or spouse, the most important requirement is that you’re creditworthy and understand/accept your responsibilities. Only one person can cosign for a private student loan. For instance, if two parents are willing to be cosigners, only one will be able to do it.
Some private lenders allow a borrower to release their cosigner after a period of time—each lender has different requirements. With Sallie Mae, a student can apply to release you as a cosigner after they
Cosigning a loan for your student can be a huge help to them if they don’t yet have a strong credit history. Before borrowing, make sure both of you understand how the process works—and who’s responsible for repaying the loan.
Lisa Litant is a content manager at Sallie Mae. When she’s not helping people save and pay for college, she travels, sings cabaret music, and blogs about jewelry.
Related Within Reach articles
Source: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-cosigner-student-loanen-565/ as of 12/26/19.
Only the borrower may apply for cosigner release. Borrowers who meet the age of majority in their state may apply for cosigner release by providing proof of graduation (or completion of certification program), income, and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (if your status has changed since you applied). In the last 12 months, the borrower must be current on all Sallie Mae-serviced loans (including no hardship forbearances or modified repayment programs) and have paid ahead or made 12 on-time principal and interest payments on each loan requested for release. When the cosigner release application is processed, the borrower must demonstrate the ability to assume full responsibility of the loan(s) individually and pass a credit review that demonstrates a satisfactory credit history including but not limited to no: bankruptcy, foreclosure, student loan(s) in default, or 90-day delinquencies in the last 24 months. Requirements are subject to change. Shortest qualification period based on a August 14, 2020 review of national private loan programs offered by publicly-traded competitors.
Sallie Mae does not provide financial, tax, or legal advice and the information contained in this article does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Sallie Mae does not make any claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in this article. Readers should consult their own attorneys or other tax advisors regarding any financial strategies mentioned in this article. These materials are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of Sallie Mae.
External links and third-party references are provided for informational purposes only. Sallie Mae cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided by any third parties, and Sallie Mae assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions contained therein. Any copyrights, trademarks and/or service marks used in these materials are the property of their respective owners.
