Flickr user frankieleon
There are a lot of famous sayings and phrases about preparation. “Fortune favors the prepared” and “Failing to plan is planning to fail” chief among them. So, it always pays to be prepared. If you’re planning on taking out a student loan, be sure to do plenty of research, and go in with these bits of information in hand!
Information You’ll Need for a Student Loan
- Full name, date of birth, phone number, Social Security Number
- Permanent address (and years lived there)
- Monthly rent rate or housing payment
- Current occupation, name of employer, phone number/email of employer, length of time you’ve worked there
- Gross annual income
- Contact information for reference(s)
- Name of school you’re taking out the loan out for
- Name, contact information, SSN, and employment information for co-signer (if applicable)
- FAFSA form (if applying for a federal loan)
Federal and Private Loans
Depending on where you are getting the loan from, and whether it’s a federal or private source, there might be additional information required of you—or you might not even need everything on this list. It’s far better to over-prepare and not need something, than to not prepare at all and find yourself scrambling to get the information. Save yourself time and a headache by doing your homework
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| 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 |
