Skip to main contentSkip to login

Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount. Only the most creditworthy applicants who choose the interest repayment option may receive the lowest rate.

The Sallie Mae® Graduate School Loan

For degree-granting institutions

When savings, scholarships, and federal aid aren’t enough, get the money you need to help pay for graduate school.

  • Get competitive interest rates.

    - Variable rates that start from 3.87% APR to 9.52% APR
    - Fixed rates that range from 5.50% APR to 10.23% APR

    Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount.
  • Receive an APR that may be lower than with the Grad PLUS Loan if you're a highly-qualified borrower.
  • Choose from multiple repayment options, including no payments while in school.
  • Pay your loan off early with no penalty.
  • Pay for all your school-certified expenses like tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, travel, and even a laptop.
  • Benefit from the shortest cosigner release qualification period. Apply to release your cosigner sooner than with any other lender: Apply after you graduate, make 12 on-time principal and interest payments, and meet certain credit requirements.

Apply online—it’s fast and easy!

Get started

Need a specialty graduate loan?

Learn more about our other graduate loans, which also offer competitive rates and multiple repayment options.

MBA Loan


Medical School Loan


Dental School Loan


Health Professions Graduate Loan


Law School Loan

Borrow responsibly
We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.

This information is for graduate students attending participating degree-granting schools. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents if the school is located outside of the United States. Non-U.S. citizen borrowers who reside in the U.S. are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident) and are required to provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify identity. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.

Interest is charged starting at disbursement, during school and the separation/grace period, and until the loan is paid in full. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. Payments may be required during the grace/separation period depending on the repayment option selected. Variable rates may increase over the life of the loan. Advertised variable rates reflect the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Advertised APRs assume a $10,000 Graduate School Loan with a 2-year in-school period. Borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction benefit. This benefit applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month and may be suspended during periods of forbearance or deferment, if available for the loan.

Explore federal loans and compare to ensure you understand the terms and features. Graduate School Loans that have variable rates can go up over the life of the loan. Federal student loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options, including, but not limited to, income-based repayment and income-contingent repayment plans, and loan forgiveness and deferment benefits, which other student loans are not required to provide. Federal loans generally have origination fees, but are available to students regardless of income.

Although we do not charge you a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as provided in your promissory note: First to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

Loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received as certified by the school. Sallie Mae reserves the right to approve a lower loan amount than the school-certified amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half time.

Based on a May 3, 2018 review of national private loan programs offered by publicly-traded competitors.

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: open bankruptcy, open 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 May 31, 2019 review of national private loan programs offered by publicly-traded competitors.

Information advertised valid as of 12/26/2019.

SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. CHECK SALLIEMAE.COM FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.