Investopedia’s choice for the best student loans for international students is because of its competitive APRs, lack of fees, and consistently strong performance in every area we measured. If you’re looking for a lender with low 🍒minimum credit score requirements, consider Ascent. If you have significant borrowing needs, look at Citizens Bank, which features the highest loan maximums among lenders we researched.
To generate our list, we first identified nine lenders (out of our database of 29) that offer student loans to international students. We then evaluate those lenders across 68 criteria, including APRs, repayment options, loan amounts, and more.
Best International Student Loans of 2025
- Best Overall: Earnest
- Best for DACA Recipients: Juno
- Best for Range of Loan Types: Ascent
- Best for High Loan Maximums: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: Citizens Bank
- Best for Refinancing: SoFi
Best Overall : Earnest
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Earnest
- Average APR Range: 3.80%–14.27%
- Average Loan Amounts: $1,800–$132,000
- Grace Period: 9 months
Earnest earned the highest score in our mathe𒊎matical model due to its low interest rates, support for both undergraduate and graduate borrowers, and lack of fees.
No origination, late, or returned payment fees
Interest-only and deferred repayment options
Supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivalsꦯ (DACA) reciဣpients
No specialist loans offered
Potentially high maximum APR
Earnest offers several types of loans, including undergraduate and graduate loans, loans for half-time students, and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:parent PLUS loans. 🧸Minimum interest rates, which can be fixed or variable, are low. Maximum rates are high among the lenders we reviewed. Earnest does not charge origination or other fees. You can borrow up to the cost of attendance every school year, to a maximum🍷 aggregate of $250,000.
International students must apply with a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. You will a൲lso need a permanent U.S. residence. You do not need a Social Security Number to apply.
You can make payments while in school (interest-only or full) on a co-signed loan, or fixed $25 monthꦿly payments on your own loan. After graduation, you’ll have a grace period of 9 months before repayment begins. Payments can also be deferred while in school, but interest will accrue. If you’re struggling to keep up with your payments, Earnest offers several ways to help, including interest-on🧔ly repayment plans, forbearance, and an annual payment skip.
Earnest was founded in 2013 and is based𓆉 in San Francisco, California.
Eligibility Requirements
- Available in all states and the District of Columbia (excluding Nevada).
- Your co-signer must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You must have a physical address in the U.S.
- You must have an SSN or ITIN.
- Your co-signer must have a credit score of 650 or above and a credit history of three years or longer.
- Your co-signer must have an annual income of at least $35,000.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time if you're an undergraduate student.
- Your school must be a Title IV-qualified, not-for-profit, four-year institution.
Best for DACA Recipients : Juno
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Juno Student Loan
- Average APR Range: 4.31%–11.27%
- Average Loan Amounts: $2,300–$193,000
- Grace Period: 9 months
All of the lenders we review offer loans to students with DACA status. Juno provides the richest collection of helpful resources for those borrowers. It also performed well in our mathematica♐l ranking model, coming in second for Best Overall.
Lots of DACA-specific resources
No co-signer or credit history required
No origination or other fees
Must join to view offers
Limited to partner lenders
Few specialty loan options
Juno is not a direct lender. Instead, it acts as a broker, matching pools of borrowers with one of its partner lenders, including lenders that work with international student borrowe🎉rs and DACA-status borrowers. Juno says its model results in lower costs for borrowers. To learn loan details, you’ll need to sign up with the service to review the latest offers. According to our research, Juno’s average APRs across its loans are the lowest among the lenders we considered. It does not charge origination fees, late fees, or any other fees.
International students do not need to apply with a co-signer, but Juno advises that borrowers with co-signers will get the best rates and terms. You must be enrolled in an 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:accredited Title IV school. Repayment options will dep🔯end on the lender an🦩d the deal offered, but you may be able to choose from full, deferred, interest-only, or fixed monthly repayment plans. Similarly, hardship options depend on the lender and the offer.
Juno is head🦂quartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and was founded in 20🔯18.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a past, present, or future student of an accredited Title IV, not-for-profit university based in the U.S.
- Loans are available in all 50 states and D.C.
- Additional borrower and co-signer requirements will depend on individual partner lenders.
Best for Range of Loan Types : Ascent
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Ascent logo
- Average APR Range: 3.39%–15.86%
- Average Loan Amounts: $2,001–$40,000
- Grace Period: Up to 36 months
Like༺ other lenders, Ascent offers loans for undergrads and grads and specialty loans for MBAs, nursing school, veterinary school, medical school, dental ൲school, and bootcamps.
Many loan types
Competitive APRs
No origination fee
No student loan refinance
Late fee
Ascent offers the broadest range of loan types, especially for graduate students. It also offers “bootcamp” loans for people looking to advance their careers with technical training. Although its rates are not the lowest, they are competitive, and you can choose between 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:fixed and variable rates. Autopay can cut your rate by 0.25%. There’s no origination fee, but there is a late payment fee of up to $25. Ascent offers other ways to save, including a graduation reward that offers cash back of 1% of your 𒆙loan (up to $50,000). You can earn a $250 Amazon gift card for every friend you refer who signs up for a loan.
International students need a co-signer to apply. The co-signer must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and meet credit🉐 score and income requirements.
Ascent offers many repayment options, including deferred, fixed monthly, and interest-only꧋. Undergrads have up to nine months of deferment to make their first payments. Medical school graduates have up to 36 months. If you run into difficul๊ty during repayment, Ascent offers several hardship options, including forbearance.
Ascent is based in San Diego, California. Since its founding, it has originated student loans for 115,000 bo✨rrowers.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must not be a U.S. citizen
- You must not be a U.S. permanent resident
- You’re not Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status
- You have an eligible resident status
- You have a creditworthy co-signer who lives in the U.S.
Best for High Loan Maximums : Citizens Bank
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- Average APR Range: 4.71%–14.01%
- Average Loan Amounts: $2,800–$241,000
- Grace period: 6 months
Citizens Bank has the highest average maximum loan amount in our data, partly 𒁃due to the large loan amounts it refinances. Its lifetime aggregates are also among the highest.
Refinances loans up to $750,000
High maximum aggregates
Short post-graduation grace period
Charges a late fee
While most lenders offer loans annually, Citizens Bank gives borrowers the option of multi-year loans, which can help borrowers budget and plan. Undergrads and grad students can borrow up to $225,000 lifetime (including federal student loans); some medical school students can borrow up to $400,000. You can 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:refinance up to $750,000 of student loans.
Citizens Ban📖k’s APRs are about average among the lenders we researchedཧ. If you or your co-signer has an account with the bank when you apply, you can take a 0.25% discount on your rate. With autopay, you can take another 0.25% off. It doesn’t charge origination fees or late payment fees.
International students are welcome to apply, but you will need a co-signer. You can repay your loan several ways: full payment while enrolled, interest-only while enrolled, and deferred, in which case you will begin making payments up to six months after you graduate. Note that most lenders allow you to defer making payments up to nine months a🐠fter graduation.
Citizens Bank was founded in 182𒁏8 and is based in Providenc♒e, Rhode Island.
Eligibility Requirements
- Loans are available in all 50 states.
- International students must have a creditworthy co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution.
- You cannot have any prior student loan defaults.
Best for Refinancing : SoFi
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- Average APR Range: 3.86%–13.95%
- Average Loan Amounts: $1,800–$182,000
- Grace Period: 6 months
SoFi®’s student loan refinance rates are among the lowest in our dౠata, and its maximum repayme🗹nt term of 240 months is among the longest, making it our choice for student loan refinancing.
Competitive refinance rates
Flexible repayment terms
Short deferment period (6 months)
Maximum loan amount not disclosed
SoFi’s average APRs for fixed and variable rate refinance loans are the lowest in our data. The lender does not charge origination or late payment fees, keeping costs down. You can trim costs further with an autopay discount of 0.25% and a SoFi+ membership discount of 0.125%. SoFi does not have a fixed maximum amount you can refinance; instead, it will refinance up to the total amount of your qualified student loan debt. SoFi offers loan pre-qualification, so you can learn terms and rates without affecting your credit score. You can also earn referral bonuses if you’re a medical school student or graduate.
To refinance with SoFi, international and DACA-status borrowers do not need a co-signer (although having a co-signer may improve your rates and terms). You must show proof of your immigration status, employment, income, and other financial deta🦩ils. You must have been enrolled in an accredited Title IV school. Repayment terms are flexible, from five to 20 years.
SoFi was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco, 🥃California.
Eligibility Requirements
- Available in all 50 U.S. states.
- Non-permanent resident aliens—including DACA recipients and asylum seekers—must have valid, current immigration status. This typically includes holding a qualifying visa or applying for lawful permanent residency.
- DACA status borrowers must demonstrate current authorization to work in the U.S. and show evidence of either applying for DACA protections or pursuing permanent residency.
- Asylum seekers must have current work authorization and show they have begun an asylum claim and the process for permanent residency.
- Meet income and credit score requirements.
Compare the Best Student Loans for International Stu🌞dents
Lender | Average APR Range | Average Loan Amounts | Grace Period |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall: | 3.80%–14.27% | $1,800–$132,000 | 9 months |
Best for DACA Recipients: | 4.31%–11.27% | $2,300–$193,000 | 9 months |
Best for Range of Loan Types: | 3.89%–14.74% | $2,001–$40,000 | Up to 36 months |
Best for High Loan Maximums: | 4.71%–14.01% | $2,800–$241,000 | 5 months |
Best for Refinancing: | 3.86%–13.95% | $1,800–$182,000 | 6 months |
Why Trust Us
Investopedia collected and analyzed over 600 key data points from nine pri🍌vate student loan lenders to evaluate the most important factors for readers choosing an international student loan. We used this data to review each𝓡 lender based on cost, loan amounts and terms, and other factors. Investopedia developed this process to provide an unbiased, comprehensive review to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been helping readers find the best private student loans since 2014.
How We Choose the Best Student Loans for🌸 International Students
To evaluate and rank the best student loans for international students we collected 612 data points from nine student loan lenders that offer loans to international students and DACA recipients. We researched and evaluated APRs, loan amounts and terms, fees, customer 🍸experience, and more. To rank the 𒊎lenders in our database and to generate star ratings, we created a mathematical model and weighted individual factors based on their importance to borrowers. We grouped those factors into four broad areas:
- Loan Availability: 11%
- Borrower Requirements: 22%
- Costs & Fees: 29%
- Loan Features: 38%
To maintain the integrity of the data following collection and analysis, Investopedia’s compliance team monitors changes to key details, like interest rates and fees. Compliance team members then update our pages to ensure they are accurate as of the dat🍌e on the byline.
Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent's Terms and Conditions please visit: . Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 6/1/2025 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount of 0.25% on credit-based college student loans submitted prior to 6/1/2025, a 0.5% discount for on credit-based college student loans submitted on or after 6/1/2025 and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions and conditions apply. Loan features and information advertised are intended for college student loans and are subject to change at any time. For more information, see or review the . The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. Variable rates may increase after consummation.1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit . Ascent applicants and borrowers that agree to the AscentUP and , as well as students associated with an Ascent parent loan application, have access to the AscentUP platform.
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