01★ Best Choice
9.8
Exceptional
★★★★★★★★★★
Best Student Loans 2026
Compare, review and choose student loans for 2026
02✓ Best Value
Earnest
Review For Earnest
★★★★★★★★★★
2,890 Reviews
Customizable terms- Skip-a-payment option
- 9-month grace period
9.6
Exceptional
★★★★★★★★★★
03
College Ave
Review For College Ave
★★★★★★★★★★
2,140 Reviews- Quick 3-minute application
- Flexible repayment terms
- Multi-year approval
9.4
Excellent
★★★★★★★★★★
04
Sallie Mae
Review For Sallie Mae
★★★★★★★★★★
1,560 Reviews- Covers up to 100% of costs
- No origination fee
- Free credit-score tracking
9.1
Excellent
★★★★★★★★★★
05
Ascent
Review For Ascent
★★★★★★★★★★
1,080 Reviews- Co-signer & non-co-signer loans
- 1% cash-back graduation reward
- Outcomes-based options
8.8
Great
★★★★★★★★★★
06
Credible
Review For Credible
★★★★★★★★★★
760 Reviews- Compare top lenders at once
- Prequalify without hard pull
- Best-rate guarantee
8.5
Great
★★★★★★★★★★
Compare Featurestop picks
| Product | SoFi 9.8 | Earnest 9.6 | College Ave 9.4 | Sallie Mae 9.1 | Ascent 8.8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights | No fees ever · Member rate discounts · Unemployment protection | Customizable terms · Skip-a-payment option · 9-month grace period | Quick 3-minute application · Flexible repayment terms · Multi-year approval | Covers up to 100% of costs · No origination fee · Free credit-score tracking | Co-signer & non-co-signer loans · 1% cash-back graduation reward · Outcomes-based options |
Our Rating System
Our reviews come from verified users–just like you!
The star ratings are based on the overall rating of each brand. Some reviews are provided via third party suppliers. We encourage you to write a review of your experiences with these brands.
Buying Guide
Our recommendation
Short on time? For most people, SoFi is our #1 student loans pick — it ranks highest overall on features, value and customer satisfaction. If you want the best value, Earnest is our runner-up and a smart choice for tighter budgets. Start with these two and you really can't go wrong.
How to choose the best student loans
With so many student loans options out there, the right choice comes down to four things: the features and coverage you actually get, the price, how dependable the provider is, and what real customers say. We weighed all four to build the ranking above, so you can shortlist in minutes instead of hours.
Our recommendation
For most people, SoFi is our #1 pick — it scored highest overall on features, value and customer satisfaction, which is why it tops the list. If you care most about value for money, our Best Value runner-up Earnest is an excellent alternative and often the smarter pick for tighter budgets.
Our advice: start with the top two — SoFi and Earnest — get a quote or trial from each using the links above, and go with whichever fits your needs and budget best. You really can't go wrong with either.
What to look for
- Features & coverage — make sure the essentials you need are actually included, not locked behind add-ons.
- Price & discounts — compare quotes and watch for bundle, loyalty or new-customer discounts.
- Support & claims — fast, fair, 24/7 help matters most exactly when you need it.
- Reputation — check ratings and verified reviews before you commit.
Every option on this list has been vetted by our team, so any of them is a safe choice — but the higher up the ranking, the more confident we are in recommending it.