Updated: September 13, 2023

College Ave Undergraduate Student Loan Review

Undergraduate Student Loans

Advertising disclosure
Undergraduate
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.
4.41% - 16.99% 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.
5.49% - 16.99% 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 private student loans within the top tier of undergraduate loans we review for flexible repayment options and below-average costs. College Ave will let you check your student loan interest rate without impacting your credit, so it is worth comparing College Ave to other student lenders you are considering. Borrowers generally need a credit score in the mid-600s and $35,000 in annual income to qualify for College Ave student loans.

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 college
College Ave Earnest Ascent Student Loans
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.
Fixed:
4.41% - 16.99% 1
Variable:
5.49% - 16.99% 1
Fixed:
4.42% - 15.90%
Variable:
5.39% - 16.20%
Fixed:
4.48% - 15.66%
Variable:
6.03% - 15.94%
Loan repayment terms (Years) 5, 8, 10, 15 years 2 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 years 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 years
Cosigner release? Yes, after 24 months on-time principal and interest payments None Yes, after 12 months on-time principal and interest payments
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Check Rates
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College Ave offers undergraduate student loans that are among the best we rate. 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!

We place them in the top tier of private student loan lenders for those features along with others. Their credit requirements are not as strict as other lenders, and their 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.

Nevertheless, trade-offs are a fact of life. Should you miss a student loan payment, College Ave will charge you a late fee, which is not the case for every lender we review. And if interest accrues but is unpaid during a forbearance, it will be capitalized monthly, further increasing your balance and the interest you must pay on it. College Ave will 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: Mid-600s
  • 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
  • Interest-Only Repayment: Yes
  • 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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