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College Ave – Personal Loan

4.6 / 5 (2240 reviews)

College Ave is a dedicated private student lender offering undergraduate, graduate, parent, and refinancing loans with 3-minute pre-approval and customizable terms.

Amount $1,000 USD – $150,000 USD
APR from 3.99%
Term 60 – 180 months
Approval 3 minutes pre-approval
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Applying does not obligate you to accept a loan offer.

College Ave Student Loan – Review 2026

College Ave is one of the largest pure-play private student lenders in the United States. Founded by former Sallie Mae executives, it focuses exclusively on student loans and student loan refinancing.

Loan Range

Loans range from $1,000 up to the full cost of attendance (capped at $150,000 for some programs) with terms of 5 to 15 years. APRs from 3.99% to 17.99% with no origination, prepayment, or application fees. The Multi-Year Peace of Mind program lets borrowers lock in approval for the full degree period.

Repayment Options

Four in-school repayment options: full payment, interest-only, $25 fixed payment, or full deferment. A 6-month grace period follows graduation. Cosigner release is available after 24 months of on-time payments.

✓ Pros

  • Fast pre-approval
  • Wide loan range
  • No fees
  • Cosigner release

✗ Cons

  • Higher max APR 17.99%
  • Requires good credit or cosigner
  • Refi minimum $5,000

Loan Example

Example: $30,000 undergrad loan refinanced over 10 years at 6.99% APR = monthly payment of $348.32, total payable $41,798.40.

Eligibility Requirements

  • ✓ Age 18+ years
  • ✓ US citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa
  • ✓ Enrolled in eligible school
  • ✓ Credit score 660+ or qualified cosigner
  • ✓ Verifiable income (refi)

Loan Features

  • 3-minute pre-approval
  • Undergrad, grad, parent, refi
  • Loans up to $150,000
  • Cosigner release in 24 months
  • Multi-year approval option

Frequently Asked Questions

3 minutes pre-approval after submitting your application.

The minimum amount at College Ave is $1,000 USD.