Education
Best Student Loans for Grad School
Graduate degrees carry bigger price tags and bigger borrowing decisions, and federal Grad PLUS rates leave real room for private lenders to compete. These are the lenders we rank highest for graduate students.
Top matches
Cobalt Peak Refinance Loan
- ✓Refinance federal and private student loans into one payment
- ✓Rate cap of 9.99% is the lowest ceiling we track
- ✓No fees and no prepayment penalty
- ✓Dedicated programs for medical, law, and MBA debt
- ✗Refinancing federal loans gives up income-driven repayment and forgiveness
Lanternfield Student Loan
- ✓Covers undergraduate and graduate programs with one application
- ✓Four repayment options, including full deferral while enrolled
- ✓Cosigner release after 12 on-time payments
- ✓No origination, application, or late fees
- ✗Lowest advertised rates require a strong cosigner
How we ranked these: We ranked every grad-school-tagged lender in our database by our overall methodology score, which weighs rates and fees, repayment flexibility, and approachability.
Last updated June 2026
Questions, answered
Are private loans better than Grad PLUS loans?
Sometimes. Grad PLUS carries a higher rate and an origination fee, so graduate students with good credit can often beat it with a private loan. The trade is losing federal protections like income-driven repayment and forgiveness. Those matter most if your post-degree income is uncertain. Your call.
Can I borrow my full cost of attendance for grad school?
Most lenders allow borrowing up to your school's certified cost of attendance, including living expenses. That ceiling is generous, which makes it dangerous. Borrow against your realistic post-degree salary, not against the maximum the lender will certify.
Do grad students need a cosigner?
Less often than undergraduates. If you have several years of credit history and some income, many lenders will approve you solo. A cosigner can still lower the rate, and lenders with fast cosigner release make that a low-commitment favor.