The realities of college are officially setting in. It might feel like you need to be a financial expert to figure out how to pay for college. But you don't need to know it all, you just need to know someone who's been there. And Citizens has. We've spent over 40 years helping families say "yes" to their dream schools — and yours is next.
Accepted
They got in! Time to start exploring your financial options.
Get Prepared
Learn more about private student loans so you're ready to apply.
College Bound
Help your student prepare for college and beyond.
Accepted, now what?
They're in! Now it's time to figure out your college finances. Here are some helpful tips as you start to gather your options.
Do your research
Before you make any big decisions, it's important to understand the different ways to finance college. Let's get started.
Get Prepared
Private student loans could help close the gap in your college finances. We're here to walk you through what you need to know and how to apply.
To complete a student loan application, private lenders often require information like:
- Contact info for the borrower and cosigner, should you choose to add one.
- Proof of income, like a recent pay stub and employer info.
- Name of school your student plans to attend and expected graduation date.
- Cost of Attendance and financial aid received (you can find these on the financial aid offer from your school).
- Your anticipated loan period and loan amount needed. That's typically the Cost of Attendance, minus financial aid and other scholarships, savings, or income you or your student plan to put towards college.
Depending on the type of loan and the lender, there are a few different options you may be able to choose from.
- Fixed vs variable rates: With fixed rates, your interest rate and monthly payments are locked in for the duration of your loan. With variable rates, your interest rate and monthly payment could fluctuate.
- Repayment terms: Private student loan lenders often give you the option to choose repayment terms like 5, 10, or 15 years.
- Repayment types: Choose between making payments while in school, making interest-only payments while in school, or deferring payments until after your student graduates. By making timely immediate or interest-only payments while your student is in school, it could help to build their credit† and have a positive impact on their life after graduation.
Always read the disclosures provided and make sure you're comfortable with:
- Full cost of the loan
- Interest rate
- Repayment options
- Borrower protections (like deferment)
- Requirements for the cosigner
- Repayment start date
More tips about private student loans
Consider a cosigner
Applying for a student loan with a qualified cosigner could significantly increase your chance of approval and potentially lower your rate.†
Only borrow what you need
Try to make repayment manageable by borrowing the least amount of money possible from private lenders.
Explore repayment options
Making payments (even just on interest) while in school could help keep monthly payments manageable, reduce how much you owe over the life of the loan, and start building your student's credit.†
College Bound
Next semester will be here before you know it. Set your student up for financial success once classes start.
Advice from our team:
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Don't compare yourself to others and trust your gut! Choosing a college can be daunting, but at the end of the day only you know what feels right for YOU!
Emily J.
Citizens colleague and recent college graduate
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Make sure your decision is based on equal parts academic, social and financial fit with the school. In the end, celebrate and be happy with your choice!
Jeff B.
Citizens colleague and parent of incoming college student
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When it came to making the final decision, while cost and financial aid was a major consideration, at the top of our list was a combination of the campus location, safety, culture and environment.
Celeste S.
Citizens colleague and parent of college student
Made Ready for What's Next
We're here to answer your questions
For 40+ years, Citizens has helped students and families bridge the gap between financial aid and the cost of college. Call 866-999-0077 to connect with a Student Loan Advisor, or click the chat icon at the bottom of the screen.
Contact Center Hours:
8:00AM–9:00PM ET Monday–Friday
8:30AM–5:00PM ET Saturday
Chat Hours:
8:30AM–5:00PM ET Monday–Friday
© Citizens Financial Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizens Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
College Raptor, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Bank, N.A. (Citizens)
† For additional information, please click the † symbols throughout this page to view our student lending disclosures.
^ For additional information, please click the ^ symbols throughout this page to view our checking disclosures.
* Citizens Scholarship: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 18 years of age or older, are students, or prospective students, or parents or legal guardians of students intending to enroll or enrolled at least half-time in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution. Sweepstakes begins at 5:01 PM ET on 3/31/26 and ends at 5:00 PM ET on 3/31/27. Sponsored by Citizens. See Official Rules for details.