Updated: October 10, 2024

College Ave Graduate Student Loan Review

Graduate Student Loans

Pricing disclosure
Graduate
Student Loan Rating
4.5 of 5
Check Rates
Fixed APR i x While Savingforcollege.com strives to keep the information up to date, the lender rates, terms and other information are subject to change at any time. Interest rates listed include an autopay discount if available.
3.59% - 14.49% 1
Variable APR i x While Savingforcollege.com strives to keep the information up to date, the lender rates, terms and other information are subject to change at any time. Interest rates listed include an autopay discount if available.
5.59% - 14.49% 1
Repayment Terms
5, 8, 10, 15 years 2
Important Information

Rewards: Auto-Debit Discount and Graduation Reward

Yearly Loan Limits: Covers up to 100% of your Cost of Attendance

Overall Loan Limits: $1,000 (minimum), does not publish aggregate limit

Cosigner Terms: Cosigner is optional, allows for cosigner release after 24 on-time monthly payments

The bottom line:

We rank College Ave’s graduate student loans highly for their flexible repayment options and below-average costs. If you accrue unpaid interest on their loans, however, they’ll capitalize that interest monthly.

Pros

  • Can borrow up to the full cost of attendance
  • Provides an auto-debit discount and graduation reward
  • Offers 5-year and 8-year repayment terms (among others)

Cons

  • Capitalizes interest monthly
  • They charge a fee on late payments
  • Requires that you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
View full rankings of the best student loans for grad school
College Ave Ascent Student Loans Earnest
Rates from (APR) i x While Savingforcollege.com strives to keep the information up to date, the lender rates, terms and other information are subject to change at any time. Interest rates listed include an autopay discount if available.
Fixed:
3.59% - 14.49% 1
Variable:
5.59% - 14.49% 1
Fixed:
4.69% - 14.56%
Variable:
7.51% - 14.97%
Fixed:
3.69% - 14.30%
Variable:
5.89% - 15.97%
Loan repayment terms (Years) 5, 8, 10, 15 years 2 7, 10, 12, 15 years Up to 15 years
Cosigner release? Yes, after 24 months on-time principal and interest payments Yes, after 12 months on-time principal and interest payments None
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We rate College Ave's graduate student loans as one of the best. Their interest rates are lower than average, they allow you to borrow up to the full cost of attendance at your school, and they offer some pretty attractive repayment options, including 5-year and 8-year repayment terms. And when you graduate, they’ll give you a $150 credit on your statement balance!

Their credit requirements are not as strict as other lenders we review, allowing borrowers with a weaker credit history the opportunity to qualify for a graduate student loan. College Ave customer service is also quite good. If you have questions after a long day of work, you can chat with their US-based call center that’s available on weekday evenings.

College Ave graduate student loans do, like other lenders, have some downsides. Should you miss a payment, they will charge you a late fee. And if interest accrues but is unpaid during a forbearance, it will be capitalized monthly. That means you’ll be paying interest on interest. And they’ll only lend to you if you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, so keep those grades up.

College Ave - Private Student Loan Details

Interest Rates, Fees and Terms
  • Credit Check: Soft to check rates, hard to process application
  • Repayment Terms: 5, 8, 10, 15 years
  • Minimum Borrowing Limit: $1,000
  • Yearly Borrowing Limit: 100% of Cost of Attendance
  • Aggregate Borrowing Limit: Not specified by lender
  • Application Fee: None
  • Origination Fee: None
  • Prepayment Penalty: None
  • Late Fee: Yes
Requirements to Qualify
  • Minimum Credit Score: 650
  • Minimum Annual Income: $35,000
  • Maximum Debt-to-Income Ratio: 0.5
  • Citizenship Restriction: Available to Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International Students with a credit-worthy Citizen or Permanent Resident cosigner
  • Minimum Enrollment Restriction: None
  • List of States where Loan is Not Available: None
  • Approved Schools Include: Title IV
Repayment Options
  • Immediate Principal and Interest Repayment: Yes
  • Fixed Monthly Repayment: Yes, $25
  • Full Deferment: Yes
Repayment Details
  • Length of Grace Period: 6 months
  • Maximum Deferment Period: Not specified by lender
  • Maximum Forbearance Period: Not specified by lender
  • Cosigner Release Option: Yes, after 24 months on-time principal and interest payments
  • Death Discharge: Yes
  • Disability Discharge: Yes
Customer Service
  • US-Based Call Center: Yes
  • Hours of Operation (in addition to weekdays): Evenings
  • Application Timeline: 3 minutes for credit decision, 10 business days for disbursement
Extras
  • Scholarship Search Tool: None
  • Sponsors a Scholarship: Yes
  • Job and Career Assistance: None
  • Financial Literacy Training: Yes
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Savingforcollege.com provides our readers with free access to objective information, articles and tools to help them make informed decisions about saving and paying for education. We are able to do this because we are compensated by our partners, including some private student lenders. Some, though not all, of the products featured here are offered by partners who may pay us a sales commission. Our partnerships do not influence our ratings or reviews, which are based on in-depth research and objective methodologies, though they may influence which products we write about and where those products appear on our site. Our opinions are our own.