Get ready to borrow

It's important to understand how private student loans work and how the decisions you make now can affect your future.

When applying for an undergraduate student loan, you’ll need to decide things like how much money to borrow for college, how you’d like to pay the money back. It’s also helpful to understand what’s required during the application process and what happens after your loan is approved.

Learn more about private student loans

Find out how to apply, the benefits they offer, and how you pay them back.

Understand private student loans

Figure out how much money to borrow for college

Estimate how much you’ll need to pay for college, after exploring scholarships, grants, and federal loans.

Decide how much to borrow

Apply for a student loan with a cosigner

Find out the possible benefits of applying for a private student loan with a cosigner.

Consider a cosigner

Choose your student loan options

Understand the decisions that affect your total loan cost and how you’ll pay your student loan back.

Choose a type of interest rate and repayment option

Know what to expect when you apply

Be ready with the information you’ll need to apply for a Sallie Mae student loan and learn next steps.

Understand the application process

Learn how student loan funds get to your school

Find out what steps your school needs to take when a Smart Option Student Loan® is approved

What happens after loan approval

Have questions we can answer before you borrow?

Call us at 

877-279-7172