Pros and Cons of Private Student Loans

Before applying for a student loan, consider the pros and cons of private student loans. Read below for an in-depth look at the reasons to consider taking out a private student loan.
Pros
- Private student loans provide supplemental financing when the student has reached the Federal Stafford loan limits
- Private student loans have higher loan limits than federal student loans
- Private student loans can be less expensive than Federal Parent PLUS loans if the borrower (and cosigner, if any) have excellent credit
- Private student loans are an option for borrowers who have failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress and who have lost eligibility for federal aid
- Some private student loans are available to borrowers who have dropped below half-time enrollment
- Private student loans can be available to students whose parents are unwilling or unable to borrow, but where someone else is willing to cosign the loans
- Some private student loans are available to international students who have a creditworthy U.S. citizen cosigner
- Private student loans are available to finance previous school charges, unlike federal student loans, which are limited to $200 in previous school charges
- Some lenders offer private student loans to pay for expenses after graduation, such as bar study loans after law school and residency/relocation loans after medical or dental school
- Private student loans provide a quicker application process because they do not require the student to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Borrowers can obtain a private student loan with a lower interest rate by applying with a creditworthy cosigner with excellent credit
- Interest on private student loans may be tax deductible through the Student Loan Interest Deduction
Cons
- Needing to borrow from a private student loan or a Federal Parent PLUS loan can be a sign of over-borrowing
- Most private student loans do not offer income-driven repayment plans
- Private student loans do not qualify for teacher loan forgiveness or public service loan forgiveness
- Private student loans have limited options for financial relief when a borrower experiences financial difficulty
- Deferments and forbearances are limited to one year in total duration on private student loans, compared with three years for federal student loans
- Some private student loans offer death and disability discharges similar to federal student loans, but some do not
- Most private student loans require a creditworthy cosigner, with more than 90% of private student loans to undergraduate students and more than 75% of private student loans to graduate students made with a creditworthy cosigner
- Although some private student loans have cosigner release options, less than one percent of private student loan borrowers qualify for a cosigner release
- Qualified education loans, including private student loans, are almost impossible to discharge in bankruptcy
- Eligibility for a private student loan and the cost of the loan depend on the borrower’s (and cosigner’s) credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, annual income and employment history
- Some private student loans offer more discounts than federal student loans, but the borrower might have to make payments during the in-school and grace periods to qualify for a lower interest rate
- Private student loans offer fewer repayment plans than federal student loans
- Private student loans are less available to low-income students, with only five percent of low-income students receiving private student loans, compared to eight percent of high-income students
Categories
Create a free Cappex account to find, finance, and attend the college that’s right for you
Get Started Now