Best International Student Loans of 2025 – International students are non-U.S. citizens who are attending college in the United States for a specific period. Most non-U.S. citizens cannot take out federal student loans. Although there are some that are exempted. That means international students who need additional funding often turn to private student loans to assist in covering college costs.
Do not forget that in general, lenders will need you to have a U.S. citizen co-signer to get a private loan. In this article, we have identified some of the best options for international students based on features including entitlement requirements, flexible repayment options, and fees.
What is an international student loan?
International student loans are types of student loans designed for non-U.S. citizens by private lenders like credit unions, banks, and online lenders. You can typically make use of the funds to pay for your books, tuition, insurance, fees, school supplies, transportation, and living costs at a school in the U.S.
How international student loans work
The way international student loans work is that when you apply for a student loan, you will ask for the loan amount you need for the upcoming academic year. In a lot of cases, you can apply for your full cost of attendance, in exemption to any financial aid you have already received. If you are accepted for the loan, the lender will verify your cost of attendance with your school and then send the school the funds to cover tuition and fees. The remaining amount will be sent to you.
Eligibility requirements for international student loans
Eligibility requirements for international student loans differ depending on the lender, but you can expect a few common baselines, and they are as follows:
- An eligible school: Lenders may decide to limit which schools and/or programs the borrower may attend to qualify for a loan.
- A U.S. address: Borrowers typically must have a U.S. address to get loan funds.
- A creditworthy co-signer: Because international students may not have a credit profile or Social Security number, most lenders will need a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. co-signer with good credit on international student loans.
- A good academic profile: In a lot of cases, lenders will need you to make satisfactory academic progress as well-defined by the school. This typically means keeping a minimum GPA and registering for sufficient credit hours.
The Best International Student Loans of 2025
The list below are some of the best international student loans of 2025, and they are as follows:
Prodigy Finance
Are you a graduate student who wants to study in the U.S. or another country? Prodigy Finance is available and can assist. It is one of the best international student loans of 2025. The lender gives loans to international students in more than 20 countries. However, it is only selected eligible schools. Also, Prodigy loans. The lender does not need a co-signer, which can be an enormous plus for international students with no loved ones in the U.S. Loan terms are also relatively flexible.
Ascent Undergraduate International Student Loans
Ascent provides both co-signed and non-co-signed student loans, which offers borrowers without co-signers more college funding options. It is also one of the best international student loans of 2025. Ascent stands out for its range of payment discounts and rearrangement options, infrequent among private lenders. Borrowers can pick a graduated repayment plan, which offers a lower monthly payment to start that increases over time.
College Ave
College Ave claims that its original application takes nothing more than three minutes. The prequalification form is easy to direct, needing just some basic personal information and your requested loan amount. The tool routinely pulls your projected cost of attendance based on the school and loan period you input. It offers low starting rates, a three-minute initial application, and borrowing up to the full cost of attendance.
Earnest
Earnest provides a wide variation of student loans, with some refinance loans and specialized graduate loans. As an international student, you can apply without a cosigner if you meet some specific criteria. Most international students need a cosigner to apply who is a permanent resident or U.S. citizen and meets borrower eligibility requirements.
Sallie Mae
Making timely payments on student loans assists you in building your credit score. And because Sallie Mae provides a free quarterly FICO score, that makes it one of the best options to assist you in tracking your progress toward building credit. It allows borrowers to enroll less than half-time, use college-focused financial tools, and get a free quarterly FICO score.
