Does Your GPA Affect Your Student Loans?

Flickr user US Army Corps of Engineers

The subject of student loans is mired in misconceptions and myths. One thing that many students wonder about is whether or not their GPA affects their student loans. Some students think it does, some think it doesn’t. So what’s the right answer—does GPA affect student loans or not? Let’s take a look at the relation between GPA and student loans.

Does GPA Affect Fed Student Loan?

Generally speaking, federal student loans do not offer any financial perks for any type of academic accomplishments—this includes having a high GPA. However, your eligibility for federal student loans does relate to GPA in one way: You have to have at least a 2.0 in order to receive any federal funding.

GPA Does Affect Other Aid

However, your GPA could affect your eligibility for other types of financial aid, particularly scholarships and grants. You will need to continue making satisfactory academic progress in order to meet the basic eligibility criteria for certain types of financial aid. Getting a higher GPA will make it easier for you to get more financial aid.

What Does Affect Your Student Loans

Private student loans lenders will really only take GPA into account if its too low. For the most part, private student loan will depend more on your credit score, your debt-to-income ratio, and your monthly income.

Check how GPA and test scores affects your financial aid opportunities.

 

Lender	Rates (APR)	Eligibility
	5.50%-16.12%* Variable 3.99%-15.61%* Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT CITIZENS
	5.54% - 15.70% Variable 3.99% - 15.49% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT SALLIE MAE
	4.63% - 17.99% Variable 3.49% - 17.99% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT CREDIBLE
	6.00% - 13.75% Variable 3.99% - 13.75% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT LENDKEY
	5.66% - 14.72% Variable 3.69% - 14.56% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT ASCENT
	3.70% - 8.75% Fixed	Undergraduate and Graduate	VISIT ISL
	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.