Skip to Main Content

Best graduate school loans for January 2026

Updated Jan. 15, 2026

What to know first: If you're searching for a graduate school loan, it's generally best to start with federal loans, as they offer flexible repayment options and you may qualify for a forgiveness program. Private student loans can fill the gap if you need extra funds, and many don’t charge origination fees. Some even offer lower rates than federal graduate student loan lenders.

Get matched with grad student loans

Find my rate with Credible
  • Checkmark
    Compare rates in less than 2 minutes
  • Checkmark
    Checking will not impact your credit score
How Bankrate works

Filter results

Close X

STUDENT LOAN

College Ave: Best For Multiyear Approval

4.5
Fixed APR from
2.74- 15.99%
Loan term
5-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,000-100% cost of attendance
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with College Ave

STUDENT LOAN

Custom Choice: Best for discounts

4.2
Fixed APR from
2.85- 15.61%
Loan term
5-20 yrs
Loan amount
$1,000-$225,000
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Credible

STUDENT LOAN

Sallie Mae: Best For Graduate Students

4.6
Fixed APR from
2.89- 14.99%
Loan term
5-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,000-100% cost of attendance
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Sallie Mae

STUDENT LOAN

Education Loan Finance: Best for personalized student advisor

4.6
Fixed APR from
2.99- 14.22%
Loan term
5-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,000-Varies
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Credible

STUDENT LOAN

SoFi: Best For Borrowers With Good Credit

4.8
Fixed APR from
3.18- 14.83%
Loan term
5-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,000-100% cost of attendance
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with SoFi

STUDENT LOAN

Citizens Bank: Best For Parent Loans

4.6
Fixed APR from
3.24- 12.82%
Loan term
5-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,000-$225,000
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Citizens

STUDENT LOAN

Ascent: Best For Bootcamps And Vocational Programs

4.7
Fixed APR from
3.69- 15.31%
Loan term
5-20 yrs
Loan amount
$2,001-$400,000
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Credible

STUDENT LOAN

INvestEd: Best for Indiana-based students with good credit

Fixed APR from
4.35- 8.41%
Loan term
5-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,001- 100% cost of attendance
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Credible

STUDENT LOAN

MEFA: Best for low interest rate maximums

Fixed APR from
7.24- 8.89%
Loan term
15-15 yrs
Loan amount
$1,500-100% cost of attendance
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with Credible

STUDENT LOAN

Federal Student Loans: Best graduate student loan

4.4
Fixed APR from
7.94- 8.94%
Loan term
10-30 yrs
Loan amount
$1k-100% cost of attendance
See offersArrow Right

Check rate with studentaid.gov

How the Fed rate cuts could affect your graduate student rates

The Federal Reserve’s unexpectedly large September rate cut may be good news if you need a new graduate student loan. The Fed cut the funds rate by a half percentage point in September, then again by quarter points in November and December. Keep an eye out for lower rates on federal and private loans if you need financing for your graduate school plans.

How Bankrate works

Woman looking for rates
01

Compare rates

Our team researched the best good credit loan options available so you can compare lenders in one place.

02

Tell us the basics

Fill out a quick form to be matched with lenders that meet your needs. The details you provide are for prequalification purposes only and will not impact your credit score.

03

Get matched and receive funding

Choose a loan from a Bankrate partner and receive your funds if you qualify.

Secure a great loan in 3 easy steps

1

Answer a few questions

Take just a two minutes to answer questions about yourself and the loan you need. This service is free, and it won't affect your credit score.
2

Compare your offers

Get prequalified and compare loan or other product offers based on the things that matter to you, like APR and monthly payments.
3

Lock in your rate

Choose a lender and visit its website to complete the application process. If you're approved, you could get funding within a few weeks.

A closer look at top graduate student loan lenders

College Ave: Best for multiyear approval

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5

Overview: College Ave is an online lender that offers private student loans to graduate students earning postgraduate, master's, doctoral and professional degrees. The lender specializes in a simple application process with an instant decision.

Fixed APR
2.74%–15.99%
Loan amount
$1,000-100% cost of attendance
Loan term
5-15 yrs

Sallie Mae: Best for graduate students

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Sallie Mae was established in 1973 and is a well-known student loan lender for a reason. It has a number of features, including multiyear approval, scholarship opportunities and the ability to take out loans while attending part time.

Fixed APR
2.89%–14.99%
Loan amount
$1,000-100% cost of attendance
Loan term
5-15 yrs

Citizens Bank: Best for parent loans

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: Founded in 1828, Citizens Bank is among the oldest institutions on our list.  Its unique multiyear approval process allows you to secure funding for each year of school with just one application.

Fixed APR
3.24%–12.82%
Loan amount
$1,000-$225,000
Loan term
5-15 yrs

SoFi: Best for borrowers with good credit

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8

Overview: In addition to offering some of the most competitive starting APRs on this list, SoFi also offers additional ways to lower your interest rate using autopay, member discounts and rewards. The company even has a cutting-edge program that allows borrowers to earn points by using its app and use them to pay off their student loan balances.

Fixed APR
3.18%–14.83%
Loan amount
$1,000-100% cost of attendance
Loan term
5-15 yrs

ELFI: Best for personalized student advisor

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6

Overview: ELFI graduate loans are only available for students who are attending one of the lender's approved schools. While it does have stricter eligibility requirements than some lenders, it allows for cosigners and offers extra help to weigh the pros and cons of different loan options.

Fixed APR
2.99%–14.22%
Loan amount
$1,000-Varies
Loan term
5-15 yrs

Custom Choice: Best for discounts

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2

Overview: Custom Choice offers smaller loans that can be used for both undergraduate and graduate studies. Its loans don't come with any fees and the lender offers flexible cosigner options, including a release option after 36 consecutive on-time payments.

Fixed APR
2.85%–15.61%
Loan amount
$1,000-$225,000
Loan term
5-20 yrs

Ascent: Best for bootcamps and vocational programs

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7

Overview: Ascent is an online lender that offers student loans for borrowers with or without a cosigner. Ascent doesn't just look at your creditworthiness, it also considers your school, program, GPA and cost of attendance when approving you for a loan.

Fixed APR
3.69%–15.31%
Loan amount
$2,001-$400,000
Loan term
5-20 yrs

INvestEd: Best for Indiana-based students with good credit

Overview: INvestEd is an Indiana-based student loan lender and financial aid resource that caters only to residents of and students in the state. Along with offering a 0.25 percent rate reduction, the lender offers a short cosigner release after the first 12 consecutive months of payments.

Fixed APR
4.35%–8.41%
Loan amount
$1,001- 100% cost of attendance
Loan term
5-15 yrs

MEFA: Best for low interest rate maximums

Overview: MEFA's loans have flexible enrollment requirements and, unlike some lenders, are available to graduate students in all 50 states. Plus, it carries one of the lowest fixed interest rate maximums out of the lenders on our list.

Fixed APR
7.24%–8.89%
Loan amount
$1,500-100% cost of attendance
Loan term
15-15 yrs

Federal student loans: Best graduate student loan

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4

Overview: Although federal loans can come with higher rates than some private lenders, the federal program offers the strongest borrower protections and most flexible repayment options available.

Fixed APR
7.94%–8.94%
Loan amount
$1k-100% cost of attendance
Loan term
10-30 yrs

Calculate your graduate school loan payments

Graduate school loan interest rates

The type of loan you get, the lender you choose and the credit score you carry all influence your interest rate.  

  • Federal student loans: Federal student loans have fixed rates that congress determines each year. The rates are valid from July 1 until June 30 the following year and depend on the type of loan — not the borrower's credit. Direct Unsubsidized loans have an 7.94 percent interest rate and Grad PLUS loans have a 8.94 percent rate.
  • Private student loans: Private loan rates vary by lender and depend on each borrower's credit, income and finances. The rate will be different, too, depending on if the borrower chooses a fixed or variable rate. Each lender has a range of APRs that are typically around 3 percent to almost 16 percent. The better your credit score, the more competitive your rate will be.

If you have a variable-rate loan, or you haven't gotten your grad school loans yet, Fed rates may impact your student loans. If you already have your loans and have a fixed interest rate, your rate won't be affected when the Fed changes the rate.

What are graduate school loans?

Graduate school student loans are borrowed money used to pay for graduate school expenses, including tuition, room and board, school supplies and other living expenses. You repay your federal or private loans through monthly installments for up to 30 years. These monthly payments include principal and interest.

Pros and cons of graduate school loans

Green circle with a checkmark inside

Pros

  • Provide access to grad school for many students
  • Cover variety of education expenses
  • May have grace periods, income-driven repayment or lender discounts
  • Provide access to degree-required careers with higher returns on investment
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • May come with additional costs, like interest and origination fees
  • Maximum loan limits may not cover 100 percent of cost
  • You could wind up with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt
  • You may have financial strain during years of repayment

How to get a graduate school loan

  1. Apply for federal aid first

    Fill out the FAFSA to see if you qualify for federal grants and loans.

  2. Compare a few private lenders

    If you need more funding, get prequalified with at least three private lenders. Compare rates, terms and discounts offered by each lender. 

  3. Apply for a loan

    Once you pick the loan and lender, fill out the application and provide all required documents.

  4. Get funded

    Once you're approved, the lender will send the funds to your school to pay tuition first, then you'll get the remaining funds to use for other educational costs.

Can you get tuition assistance for graduate school?

Many employers offer tuition assistance for their employees to attend graduate school. There are three common ways a company may assist with graduate school tuition. 

  • Tuition assistance: The employer pays for the program upfront, with direct payments from the company to the college.
  • Tuition reimbursement: The employee pays for the program up front and out-of-pocket. The company then reimburses the employee at a later date.
  • 401(k) student loan match: The company may match the employee's student loan payment with a contribution toward their retirement fund

There are a few drawbacks:

  • You may have to attend certain universities to receive the assistance.
  • Your company may only offer assistance for certain degrees or programs.
  • You may have to maintain a specific GPA to keep the assistance.
  • You may have to pay the money upfront and then get it back at a later date.
  • You may have to commit to staying at the company for a certain number of years; otherwise you may need to pay the money back.
Bankrate logo
BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask the experts: Should you look for graduate loans designed specifically for your major?


Writer and Consumer Lending Analyst

"Federal Direct Grad PLUS student loans are one-size-fits-all. As for private graduate student loans, some lenders advertise products for specific degree paths, such as for MBA, law or healthcare students. While this is sometimes just marketing on the part of banks and online lenders, it can't hurt to ask lenders about any material differences between its standard graduate school loan and its, say, MBA loan. Most commonly, there are notable differences for repayment options and postponements for medical degree-seekers who enter a postgraduate residency. As always, it's wise to shop around and compare multiple lenders. Consider the less-likely-but-possible scenario that a lender advertises a loan specific to your degree that carries a lower interest rate or origination fee than a standard loan from another lender. If you don't investigate these possibilities, you could be leaving a better loan on the table.”

Bankrate Expert Contributor, Student Loans

"The primary difference between private student loans for a specific academic major and other private student loans is in the loan limit. The loan limit may be matched to the typical cost of attendance for that major. You should also consider interest rates, fees, in-school deferment or forbearance periods, grace periods and repayment plans."

FAQs about graduate student loans

Learn more about graduate school loans

If you're thinking about graduate school, there are many ways to fund your education. Learn more about alternative ways to pay and how to manage the loans you use to finance your education.

How we choose our best graduate school loan lenders   

Bankrate uses two methodologies to score lenders that have new student loans and refinance products.

Bankrate's trusted student loans industry expertise

48

years in business

25

lenders reviewed

16

loan features weighed

400

data points collected

The Bankrate team evaluated over two dozen lenders to select our top picks for the best student loans. To do this, Bankrate uses a 16-point system to evaluate student loan lenders. This scoring criteria measures how lenders perform across three main categories.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.

Lauren Nowacki
Written by
Former Senior Writer, Loans
Read more from Lauren

Lauren strives to simplify complex loan products and processes with over 12 years of experience in personal finance.
CD Icon
Credentials
  • NACCC Certified Financial Health Counselor
Ribbon Icon
Expertise
  • Personal loans
  • Debt management and consolidation

Jennifer Lee, CFEI®
Edited by
Jennifer Lee, CFEI®
Former Editor, Loans
Beverly Harzog
Reviewed by
Beverly Harzog
Expert Reviewer, Credit Cards and Loans