The complete guide to applying for student loans in 2025

You’ve finished applying to college, got accepted and made your decision. Now it’s time to apply again, this time for financial aid.

Whether you’re looking to cover the full cost or just fill in the gaps, student loans can help make college more affordable by spreading out the payments over time. Here’s how to apply for a student loan, step by step.

The first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is your gateway to federal student loans, grants and work-study. You can complete it at studentaid.gov, and it’s completely free.

What you’ll need

To fill out the FAFSA, you will need some important documents:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your (and your parents’ if you’re a dependent) tax returns, W-2s and bank statements
• List of schools you’re applying to or attending
• FSA ID (you can create one at studentaid.gov)

After your school gets your FAFSA, they’ll send you a financial aid award letter. This will break down any grants or scholarships you’re eligible for, work-study offers (if applicable) and federal student loan options, such as Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans.

You’ll be able to accept all or part of the loan offer through your school’s financial aid portal.

Before receiving the funds, you must also:

• Complete the Entrance Counseling (an online session for first-time borrowers explaining your rights and responsibilities as a borrower)
• Sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) agreeing to the loan terms.

If your federal aid doesn’t fully cover your costs, you can apply for a private student loan through a bank, credit union or online lender.

However, keep in mind:

• Interest rates are typically higher than federal loans
• You (or a cosigner) will need good credit
• Only borrow what you truly need, and exhaust federal options first

Be sure to compare multiple lenders for the best terms. Earnest offers student loans with four repayment terms and a nine-month grace period. If you have a FICO® Score of 650 or better, you can also apply without a cosigner.

Ascent® Funding* also offers a generous grace period of up to 36 months, along with 1% cash back on your principal loan at graduation. And if you’re enrolled in an outcomes-based loan program, you can get a rate reduction of up to 1.0% for setting up autopay. 

Once everything is in place, your loan funds will be sent directly to your school to cover tuition, fees and housing if applicable. If there’s money left over, the school will refund it to you.

Remember, you don’t start paying federal student loans right away. Repayment typically begins six months after you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time enrollment — this break is called the grace period. However, PLUS loans go into repayment once the loan is disbursement.

Your loan servicer will send you a repayment schedule with all the key details — including when your first payment is due, how much you’ll pay and how often. You’ll usually get your repayment schedule at least 30 days before your first payment is due, and your first bill at least 21 days before your first payment is due.

Some things to know:

• Federal loans offer multiple repayment plans, including income-driven options, which adjust your monthly payment based on your income and family size.
• You can make early payments while in school to reduce interest, though interest may still build on certain loans, especially unsubsidized loans.
• Private loans have different terms — some require payments while you’re still in school, though terms vary by lender.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every student loan article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of student loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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*Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent’s Terms and Conditions please visit AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed above are effective as of 8/6/2025 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount (ACH). The ACH discount consists of 0.25% on credit-based college student loans submitted prior to 6/1/2025, a 0.5% discount for on credit-based college student loans submitted on or after 6/1/2025 and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions and conditions apply. Loan features and information advertised are intended for college student loans and are subject to change at any time. For more information, see repayment examples or review the Ascent Student Loans Terms and Conditions. The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. Variable rates may increase after consummation.1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. Ascent applicants and borrowers that agree to the AscentUP Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, as well as students associated with an Ascent parent loan application, have access to the AscentUP platform.