A lender does not become reputable because it offers an affiliate commission, advertises a low rate, or appears on a school's historical lender list.
Before inclusion, we look for a verifiable legal business, an official product page, current application and disclosure materials, identifiable servicing information, reasonable access to customer support, and a product that states which schools or degree types it serves.
A comparison marketplace can help borrowers request offers, but it is not the lender unless it actually originates the loan. We identify that distinction and disclose when a form shares information with multiple providers.
Evaluation framework
What we compare.
| Category | Evidence we look for |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Supported schools, degrees, enrollment levels, states, citizenship rules, and school certification |
| Price | APR ranges, fixed and variable options, fees, discounts, and personalized rate-check process |
| School years | Required payments, deferment, grace period, capitalization, and disbursement timing |
| Professional training | Residency, internship, fellowship, and specialty-training payment options |
| Hardship | Forbearance duration, temporary reductions, eligibility rules, and interest treatment |
| Co-signers | Release requirements, notices, underwriting, and responsibility after death or disability |
| Repayment | Available terms, prepayment rules, monthly payment, and total repayment |
| Transparency | Accessible terms, clear disclosures, understandable servicing, and correction of outdated claims |
We prefer official lender documents and regulator guidance. Marketing summaries may introduce a feature, but the approval disclosure, final disclosure, and promissory note determine the borrower's contract.
No universal winner
We do not call one lender "best" for every borrower.
Private-loan pricing is personalized, and professional paths differ. A medical resident, dental associate, veterinary intern, and borrower with no co-signer may receive different offers and need different repayment features.
If a future page uses an ordered list, it will state the category, methodology, data date, material limitations, and whether every reviewed provider could pay compensation. An affiliate payout will not determine the score or position.
How this can make money
Affiliate links will be visible and separable from editorial judgment.
- A disclosure will appear before or near compensated lender links.
- Paid links will use appropriate sponsored link markup.
- We will not claim a lender was reviewed if we only reviewed its marketing page.
- We will not hide material exclusions, eligibility limits, or loss of federal protections.
- A lender can be removed even if removal reduces revenue.
Direct lender links may be replaced with tracked affiliate links only after an actual relationship is approved. Until then, the site will not imply compensation exists.
Maintenance
Rates change quickly; principles should not.
We date lender-focused pages and review official links and product availability periodically. Rate ranges are avoided when they cannot be maintained reliably. Readers should always obtain current personalized terms and read final documents.
Corrections can be submitted through the contact page. Material corrections should be made promptly and without waiting for an affiliate partner's approval.
Compare responsibly
Start with the lender-neutral guide.
Learn which contract terms matter before opening lender applications.