Free aid first
Scholarships, grants, employer support, savings, work-study, and school payment plans.
Start with FAFSACollege funding, made legible
Find the right way to close your college funding gap.
Start with money you do not repay. Understand the federal protections available to you. Then compare private pathways using the terms that actually determine cost.
Free to use No impact to credit Clear compensation disclosures
Your starting point
About 90 secBuild a funding plan
No credit check. No sensitive financial information.
The funding order
Borrow last.
Compare carefully.
A loan may close a real gap, but the smartest sequence starts with funding that does not have to be repaid and keeps federal protections visible.
Federal loans next
Review fixed rates, annual limits, repayment plans, deferment, and potential forgiveness.
Compare protectionsPrivate gap funding
If a gap remains, compare APR, terms, in-school payments, cosigner rules, and hardship support.
Open the workspaceIndependent comparison workspace
See the whole path—not just the lowest-looking rate.
Provider profiles are organized around product scope, application model, repayment flexibility, and borrower support. Personalized rates remain with the authorized provider or marketplace.
Product
Marketplace
MarketplaceCredible
Compare estimated offers from multiple participating lenders in one flow.
UndergraduateGraduateRefinance
- Multi-lender results
- Soft-credit rate check
- Side-by-side terms
Profile focus
Borrowers who want a marketplace comparison before choosing a lender.
Public partner program availableVisit provider
Direct provider
College Ave
A broad education-loan lineup with several in-school and repayment paths.
UndergraduateGraduateParentCareerRefinance
- Soft-credit prequalification
- Multiple repayment structures
- Partner program
Profile focus
Families comparing a wide product set from one private provider.
Public partner program availableVisit provider
Direct provider
Sallie Mae
A broad private education-loan lineup across undergraduate, graduate, career, parent, and specialty programs.
UndergraduateGraduateParentCareer
- Multiple in-school payment choices
- Parent and cosigner paths
- Specialty graduate products
Profile focus
Families comparing a large direct provider with loan options across several education stages.
Independent research profileVisit provider
Compare all lender profiles Profiles reviewed August 31, 2026
2026 federal funding update
Graduate and parent borrowing changed.
New limits took effect July 1, 2026 for many new graduate, professional, and parent borrowers. Transition exceptions can apply, so the right first step is confirming your exact status with the school’s financial-aid office.
Trust before conversion
Built to earn the next click.
College Loan Finder is being developed around the standards borrowers and responsible partners should expect from a financial comparison service.
Minimal-data design
No SSN, bank credentials, or FAFSA login is requested by our educational tools.
Primary-source method
Federal claims begin with Federal Student Aid, the Department of Education, and CFPB guidance.
Attribution-ready
Outbound clicks carry durable internal IDs so approved partner postbacks can reconcile applications and funded loans without exposing sensitive data.