Benefits of applying with a cosigner†
Did you know that you’re 4x more likely to be approved for a Citizens Student Loan® with a qualified cosigner?† If students don’t have a credit history, applying with a qualified cosigner (typically a parent or guardian) could raise chances of approval, and could even lower your rate, too. Take a look at our fixed and variable rates when applying with a qualified cosigner:
Fixed Rate Loan
#ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=undergradfixed|DisclosureAttribute=APRMin# - #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=undergradfixed|DisclosureAttribute=APRMax# APR†
Variable Rate Loan
#ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=undergradvariable|DisclosureAttribute=APRMin# - #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=undergradvariable|DisclosureAttribute=APRMax# APR†
Rate quotes are valid for 30 days. Rates shown include a combined 0.50% rate discount for our Loyalty† and Automatic Payment discounts.† See how different repayment options can affect your loan.
Get a rate quote in about 2 minutes. No commitment. No credit hit.†
Perks of a Citizens Student Loan*
How Multi-Year Approval† could simplify college funding
Typically, you have to reapply for student loans each year, which means another credit hit. But Multi-Year Approval means there's less stress in the long run. Here's how it works:
- Apply for a Citizens Student Loan.
- After your loan is approved, we'll let you know if you qualify for Multi-Year Approval.
- If you accept your Multi-Year Approval offer, then next year there is no reapplying. If eligible simply request the funds you need! It's that easy.
Student Lending FAQs
Students attending four-year, Title IV public or private institutions.†
Two-year schools, community colleges, and for-profit schools are not eligible.
For undergrad and graduate degrees, the max loan amount is $225K, or total cost of education, whichever is lower. Our lifetime debt limit includes federal and private loans combined.
Our student loans have no origination, application, or disbursement fees, with no penalty for paying more than the minimum or paying it off early.
You're 4x more likely to be approved for a Citizens Student Loan with a qualified cosigner†. If students don't have a credit history, applying with a qualified cosigner (typically a parent or guardian) could raise chances of approval, and could even lower your rate, too.
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
Chat Hours:
8:30AM-5:00PM ET Monday-Friday
© Citizens Financial Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizens is a brand name of Citizens Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
† For additional information, please click the † symbols throughout this page to view our student lending disclosures.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Co-signer Release: Borrowers may apply for co-signer release after making 36 consecutive on-time payments of principal and interest. For the purpose of the application for co-signer release, on-time payments are defined as payments received within 15 days of the due date. Interest only payments do not qualify. The borrower must meet certain credit and eligibility guidelines when applying for the co-signer release. Borrowers must complete an application for release and provide income verification documents as part of the review. Borrowers who use deferment or forbearance will need to make 36 consecutive on-time payments after reentering repayment to qualify for release. The borrower applying for co-signer release must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If an application for co-signer release is denied, the borrower may not reapply for co-signer release until at least one year from the date the application for co-signer release was received. Terms and conditions apply. Borrowers whose loans were funded prior to reaching the age of majority may not be eligible for co-signer release. Note: co-signer release is not available on the Student Loan for Parents or Education Refinance Loan for Parents. Citizens Undergraduate Booked Loans from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024 were 4 times more likely to be approved with a qualified cosigner.
98% of Citizens Undergrad Booked Loans from 6/1/24 through 9/30/24 were cosigned.
Student Lending Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. For applicants who have not attained the age of majority in their state of residence, a co-signer is required. Citizens reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. Citizens private student loans are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application/Promissory Note, verification of application information, and if applicable, self-certification form, school certification of the loan amount, and student's enrollment at a Citizens participating school.
Student Loan Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution.
Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates are based on the 30-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") index, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductAttribute=benchmark::asOfDate#, the 30-day average SOFR index is #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductAttribute=benchmark::baseRate#%. Variable interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the SOFR index, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable interest rate is the greater of 21.00% or the prime rate plus 9.00%.
Lowest Rate Disclosure: Lowest rates are only available for the most creditworthy applicants, require a 5-year repayment term, include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, and repayment type selection of Interest-Only on In-School Loans and Immediate Repayment on Education Refinance Loans. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.
Student Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allvariable|DisclosureAttribute=MinRate# - #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allvariable|DisclosureAttribute=MaxRate# (#ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allvariable|DisclosureAttribute=APRMin# - #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allvariable|DisclosureAttribute=APRMax# APR). Fixed interest rates range from #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allfixed|DisclosureAttribute=MinRate# - #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allfixed|DisclosureAttribute=MaxRate# (#ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allfixed|DisclosureAttribute=APRMin# - #ProductLine=Edfi|Brand=citizensbank|ProductSet=Student|Disclosure=disclosure|DisclosureName=allfixed|DisclosureAttribute=APRMax# APR).
Loyalty Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: personal checking, personal savings, personal credit card or previous student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan.
Automatic Payment Discount: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. Discount is not available when payments are not due, such as during forbearance. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account three or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount.
Get My Rate: Selecting "Get My Rate" only requires a "soft credit pull" which does not affect your credit score. Submitting a full application will result in an inquiry on your credit report.
Multi-Year Approval: Funds available for future use are subject to a soft credit inquiry at time of your next request to verify continued eligibility. After we make the initial Loan to you, you must continue to meet eligibility criteria to obtain additional funds under the Multi-Year Approval feature. Terms and conditions are outlined in the promissory note. Multi-Year Approval borrowers have a 99% approval rate on future requests for additional funds. The additional funds approval rate is based on the percentage of approved Multi-Year borrowers from Citizens between October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2024. The approval rate represents only borrowers who had previously accepted the Multi-Year Approval offer. Please Note: International students are not eligible for Multi-Year Approval.
Citizens Student Credit Builder®: Citizens Student Credit Builder® refers to loans with either an Immediate or Interest Only repayment option chosen at the time the loan is originated. Credit scores are based on established borrower payment behaviors. By choosing a loan repayment option that requires payment while the student is in school, the borrower begins their history of payments earlier than a corresponding borrower that chooses a deferred repayment option. Additionally, an equally qualified borrower and/or cosigner with similar loan terms will receive a lower interest rate with an Immediate or Interest Only repayment option.
Rates and offer subject to change. All accounts, loans and services subject to individual approval.