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Adding a cosigner may increase your chances for approval
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Undergraduate loan rates

Fixed rates:
3.49% APR
to 15.49% APRfootnote 1
Variable rates:
4.54% APR
to 14.71% APRfootnote 1
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount.footnote 1 Only the most creditworthy applicants who choose the interest repayment option may receive the lowest rate.

The Smart Option Student Loan® 
for Undergraduate Students

An easy, flexible way to pay for college whether you're studying online or on campus

For degree-granting institutions

icon dark blue with coral accent for school expenses. scroll paper with dollar sign

Cover up to 100% of your school-certified college expenses like tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, travel, and even a laptop for the entire school yearfootnote 2

icon dark blue with coral accent calendar with red date

Choose from multiple repayment options, including no payments while in schoolfootnote 1

icon zero 0 percent dark blue with coral accent. no origination fee or prepayment penalty

Pay no origination fee or
pre-payment penaltyfootnote 3

About 15 minutes is all it takes to apply and get a credit result
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Parents, you can help your student by cosigning a loan
If you cosign your student's undergraduate loan application, their chances of being approved may increase!  A cosigner is usually a parent, but can be any adult with good credit.

Looking for a graduate loan? Learn about our suite of specialized graduate loans.

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 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 1. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. 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 2. 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 3. 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 Information advertised valid as of 3/25/2025.

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. 

footnote Sallie Mae loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank.