Best private student loans for fall 2026

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money Best private student loans for fall 2025 We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Angelica Leicht Angelica Leicht Senior Editor, Managing Your Money Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications. Read Full Bio Angelica Leicht Updated on: July 29, 2025 / 9:25 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Before you borrow money for college, make sure you're considering the best options for your unique needs. Getty Images College costs continue to climb, and with them, the financial burden of earning a degree. While scholarships, grants and federal student loans help ease the load, they often aren't enough to cover the full expense. The numbers back it up: According to the latest figures from the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost to attend a four-year college has soared past $38,000 — more than double what it was at the start of the 21st century. That kind of price tag is far beyond what most families can comfortably afford, leaving many students to seek out private student loans to fill the financial gap.Fortunately, today's private student loan market offers more options than ever. Lenders have stepped up their game with competitive rates, borrower-friendly features, increasingly flexible terms and loan products tailored toward specific types of students. Whether you're an undergrad with limited credit, a grad student working toward a specialized degree, or an international student studying in the U.S., there's likely a private loan that fits your situation. J...