To continue enjoying all the features of Navy Federal Online, please use a compatible browser. Confirm your browser capability.

Get the Funds You Need for Your Education

Get the Funds You Need for Your Education

We could help cover college and grad school costs that federal student loans don't.

Apply Nowfor a student loan Learn how adding a co-signer can help you get a loan.

You have the dreams, the drive, the degree in mind. Need a bit of cash to bridge the gap between federal loans, scholarships and grants? Enter: Navy Federal Private Student Loans. 

Navy Federal Private Student Loans

Borrow what you need to pay for college or grad school and cover the costs that federal loans and scholarships don't. Applications open June 1 for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.

Features:

  • Loans available up to the school-certified cost of attendanceFootnote 1 – including tuition, fees, books, computer, meals and housing
  • 0.25% interest rate reduction when you sign up for automatic paymentsFootnote 2
  • Easy online application. Apply for one semester or the entire academic year in 5 minutes or less
  • Variety of payment options while you're in school to help reduce your overall loan costs
  • No application or origination fees
  • A co-signer release that may be requested after 24 consecutive, on-time principal and interest paymentsFootnote 3
  • Rates & Terms

Rates:

Variable APR as low asFootnote 4
6.95%
with autopay


Fixed APR as low asFootnote 4
4.75%
with autopay

Terms:

5- or 10-yearFootnote 5

Apply Now for a private student loan

Ready to co-sign? Locate the student's open application here.

See What Our Members Have to Say

Whether it's offering guidance through a loan application or planning a financial strategy, we always put our members first. After all, they're what matter most!

Confirm Eligibility Before You Apply

To be eligible for a Navy Federal Student Loan, you'll need to meet credit and underwriting requirements and also be a: 

Plus, you’ll need to have a gross monthly income of at least $1,250 and an established credit history, or a creditworthy co-signer whose gross monthly income is at least $1,250.

Adding a Co-Signer Can Help

9 out of 10 of our student borrowers have a co-signer. Adding an eligible and creditworthy co-signer who is a Navy Federal member can be a great idea, and you can request to have them released from your loan after 24 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments.Footnote 3

A co-signer could:

  • increase your chances of loan approval
  • help you get a lower interest rate on your loan

Learn how adding a co-signer can help you get a loan

Easy Online Application Process

  • Apply and you could receive a Conditional Approval in minutes.
  • Adding a co-signer could increase chances of approval and a lower interest rate.
  • Submit all requested documents to complete your application.
  • Sign your loan agreement and start the certification process.

See how easy it is to apply

Get Career Assistance From Navy Federal

If you have a Navy Federal Student Loan, you’re automatically eligible to get online job search training and take advantage of other resources, including:

  • suggestions for how to find jobs not yet open to the public
  • a job-tracking dashboard
  • online tools and exercises, including a resume builder

Meet Our Student Loan Partner

LendKey is Navy Federal's trusted partner that handles our student loan applications and manages our private student loans, student refinance loans and parent refinance loans.

When you apply for your loan, you'll fill out your application and create an account on a special LendKey/Navy Federal website. You'll receive emails from LendKey during the process.  

Student Loan Resources

View MoreStudent Loan Resources

College Resources From Navy Federal

View More College Resources From Navy Federal

FAQs

It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks for your school to receive your funds from us, if we conditionally approve your application, which would happen shortly after you apply for a Navy Federal Private Student Loan online (this takes 5 minutes or less). 

Timing depends on how quickly you're able to provide us with the necessary documentation and sign your loan docs. It also depends on your school’s timeline for completing the certification process, which is often done in the weeks before classes start. Refer to their financial aid office or website for more information.

During the certification process, they’ll confirm several things, including your:

  • enrollment status (part-time or full-time)
  • anticipated graduation date
  • grades and academic standing (unless rising freshman), verifying if you're making satisfactory academic progress according to their definition
  • requested loan amount, making sure that the funds won't exceed your school's calculated maximum cost of attendance minus any aid or other loans you've received

Our loans can be used for:

  • tuition 
  • dorm room costs or off-campus housing, such as rent for an apartment
  • laptops, textbooks and supplies
  • food costs, like meal plans or groceries
  • transportation 
  • other education-related expenses certified by your school

You'll need to provide your:

  • Social Security number
  • permanent address, address at school, phone number and email addresses
  • basic academic information (e.g., graduation date, academic period the loan is for, enrollment status, cumulative college GPA, if not a freshman)
  • requested loan amount

If you're applying without a co-signer, you may need to provide proof of your income and proof of your identity.

If you're applying with a co-signer, you may be asked to provide proof of your identity. Your co-signer will be asked to provide proof of their income and may need to provide proof of identity.

  • To provide proof of identity, you'll upload documents such as a driver's license or passport.
  • For proof of income, you'll upload documents such as a pay stub, W2, 1040 or 1099 form, Social Security Benefit Award, pension statements or trust documents.  

LendKey is our trusted partner that handles our student loan applications and manages our private student loans, student refinance loans and parent refinance loans.

When you apply for one of these loans with us, you'll fill out your application and create an account on a special LendKey/Navy Federal website. You'll receive emails from LendKey during the process.

Federal student loans are funded by the United States federal government and are called either Direct Loans or Direct Plus Loans.

Private student loans are funded by a private organization, such as a credit union or a bank—like Navy Federal Credit Union. 

Yes, interest on student loans is tax deductible with some restrictions. An in-depth explanation is available on the IRS website.

Already have a student loan with Navy Federal?

Sign in to your student loan account now.

Manage Your Loan

Need to Talk?

Contact a loan specialist today at our student loan center, powered by LendKey. 1-877-304-9302, M-F, 8 am - 8 pm ET or navyfederal@lendkey.com.

Disclosures

1

Navy Federal private student loans are subject to credit qualification, school certification of loan amount, and student's enrollment at a Navy Federal-participating school. Navy Federal reserves the right to approve a lower amount than the school-certified amount or withhold funding if the school does not certify private student loans.

↵
2

Automatic Payments Discount: The discount requires continued enrollment of automatic payments. The borrower authorizes automatic payments from a personal account via Automated Clearing House (ACH). If automatic payments are canceled or suspended at any time after enrollment, such as during a period of forbearance or deferment, the rate reduction will not apply until the borrower re-enrolls in automatic payments. For variable-rate loans, the APR, including the 0.25% rate reduction, may not fall below the floor rate.

↵
3

Subject to Navy Federal Credit Union approval. A request to release a co-signer requires that the borrower has made consecutive timely payments during the repayment period with no periods of forbearance or deferment. The "repayment period" begins after any In-School and Grace Periods. "Timely payment" means each full principal and interest payment is made no later than the 15th day after the scheduled due date of the payment. "Consecutive payment" means the regularly scheduled monthly payment must be made for 24 months straight for private student loans, and 12 months straight for refinance loans, without any interruption immediately prior to the release request. To qualify for a co-signer release, the borrower must submit a request, meet the consecutive, timely payment requirements, provide proof of income, and pass a credit check.

↵
4

APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates are based on creditworthiness and subject to change. Advertised "as low as" APRs assume excellent borrower credit history. Your actual APR may differ and will be based on several factors, including credit history and loan term. The “as low as” rate displayed above is available for the 5-year term and assumes a 0.25% rate reduction upon borrower enrolling in automatic payments (subject to the floor rate). For more information about the automatic payment borrower benefit, see the Automatic Payments Discount disclosure.

Variable-Rate Loans: Annual Interest Rate = Base Rate + Loan Margin. The Base Rate is the 90-day average of the daily SOFR published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of two business days immediately preceding the quarterly adjustment date. The APR is variable and may change as the Annual Interest Rate varies with the 90-day SOFR, and therefore, may increase during the life of the loan. 

Fixed-Rate Loans: The Interest Rate charged and the APR are constant for the life of the loan.

↵
5

Variable-Rate Loan Payment Example: Loan repayment depends on the repayment option elected by the borrower.

A) $25 Monthly Payment Option: Assuming a $10,000 loan amount, a 10-year term and a 7.88% APR, you would make 54 (48 months in school + 6-month grace period) monthly payments of $25 while enrolled in school followed by 120 monthly payments of $152.36 to repay this loan. If the APR is 14.38% and the loan amount remains $10,000, you would make 54 monthly payments of $25 while you are enrolled in school followed by 120 monthly payments of $270.06 to repay this loan. The APR may increase during the life of the loan and can result in higher monthly payments.

B) Interest-Only Option: You would pay the amount of interest that accrued during each month while you are enrolled in school, with a minimum of $25. Thereafter, you would make 120 monthly payments calculated based on the principal balance and accruing interest.

Fixed-Rate Payment Example: Loan repayment depends on the repayment option elected by the borrower.

A) $25 Monthly Payment Option: Assuming a $10,000 loan amount, a 10-year term and a 7.91% APR, you would make 54 (48 months in school + 6-month grace period) monthly payments of $25 while enrolled in school followed by 120 monthly payments of $152.84 to repay this loan. If the APR is 12.85% and the loan amount remains $10,000, you would make 54 monthly payments of $25 while you are enrolled in school followed by 120 monthly payments of $236.95 to repay this loan.

B) Interest-Only Option: You would pay the amount of interest that accrued during each month while you are enrolled in school, with a minimum of $25. Thereafter, you would make 120 monthly payments calculated based on the principal balance and accruing interest.

↵