You’re there for them, we’re here with options

Choose a student loan option that fits your family's needs—apply as a cosigner with your student or see if you prequalify for a Salle Mae® Parent Loan.

Competitive rates for parents and cosigners

Parent loans

Taken out by a parent, guardian, or other creditworthy adult on behalf of a student. Approval and interest rates are based on the adult’s credit, and they’re solely responsible for repayment.


Fixed rates: 4.89% APR to 15.49% APRfootnote 1

Variable rates: 4.62% APR to 14.87% APRfootnote 1

Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount.
Cosign an undergraduate loan

Apply along with your student which may help increase their odds of approval and may help get a better rate. You are both fully responsible for repaying the loan on time and in full.

Fixed rates: 1.95% to 17.49% APRfootnote 2

Variable rates: 3.62% to 16.83% APRfootnote 2

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

Parents have more than one way to help

Compare both paths to see what works best for you and your student.

Parent loan
Cosign a student loan
Repayment responsibility
Parent only
Repayment responsibility
Student and cosigner
Credit
Doesn’t affect student’s credit
Credit
Help your student build credit
Rates
Based solely on parent’s credit
Rates
May help your student get a better rate
Fewer, simpler repayment options
Interest or full principal & interestfootnote 1
More repayment flexibility during school
Interest, fixed, or deferredfootnote 2
Keep control simple
Parents manage all decisions
Cosigner releasefootnote 3
Allows student to apply to be solely responsible for the loan.

Benefits to support your student in school and after

Full coverage available

Tuition, books, a laptop and more—you can help them pay for all each year.footnote 4

No upfront or early pay-off fees

There's no fee to process a loan or if you pay it off early.footnote 5

Start small, save more

Get a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount when you enroll in and make monthly payments with autopay.footnote 6

Lower rate than a parent PLUS loan is possiblefootnote 7

More than 380,000 families received lower rates with Sallie Mae in the last decade.footnote 8

FAQs

Have other questions? We’re here to help.
1-877-279-7172

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

footnote Prequalification is not a firm offer of credit and does not guarantee loan approval. Prequalified rates are estimates and, if shown, are based on information you provide and a soft credit check. To apply for a loan, you must complete a full application and undergo a full credit review.

footnote Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend school in the U.S., and apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident). Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.

footnote Sallie Mae Parent Loans are for parents or other adults borrowing on behalf of a student who meets enrollment requirements at a participating school and is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, or certificate program. Sallie Mae loans are subject to credit approval, identity verification, acceptance and execution of required loan documents, and school certification. Parent Loan borrowers must be at least the age of majority in their state of residence, otherwise a cosigner is required. Parent Loan borrowers who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., borrow on behalf of an eligible student, and apply with a creditworthy cosigner who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.

footnote 1. Advertised APRs for Parent Loans are based on a $10,000 loan with a 4-year in-school period . Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school.  To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. The discount may be suspended during forbearance.

footnote 2. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan with a 4-year in-school period, a 6-month grace, and the longest loan term offered. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent.  Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. 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. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount 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. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.

footnote 3. Only the borrower may apply for cosigner release. To do so, they must first meet the age of majority in their state and provide proof of graduation (or completion of certification program), income, and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (if their status has changed since they applied). In the last 12 months, the borrower can’t have been past due on any loans serviced by Sallie Mae for 30 or more days or enrolled in any hardship forbearances or modified repayment programs. In addition, the borrower must have paid ahead or made 12 on-time principal and interest payments on each loan requested for release. The loan can’t be past due when the cosigner release application is processed. The borrower must also demonstrate the ability to assume full responsibility of the loan(s) individually and pass a credit review when the cosigner release application is processed 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. 

footnote 4. For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. 

footnote 5. 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. 

footnote 6. The 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. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.

footnote 7. Sallie Mae loans may be offered at a lower rate than PLUS to highly-qualified applicants with strong credit profiles. Explore federal loans and compare to make sure you understand the terms and features. Private student 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. 

footnote 8. Based on interest rates applicable at the time of loan origination.

footnote Sallie Mae loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank. 

footnote Information advertised valid as of 08/17/2026.

footnote 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.