Scholarship Search

Don't miss out on free money for school

Scholarship Search

Search and access over $10 billion of scholarships.

Don't miss out on free money for school. Search and access over $10 billion of scholarships

Scholarship Search Tips - 3 Cards

Tips to Help Your Scholarship Search

Our scholarship search tool makes it easy to find awards matching your background, interests, and goals.

1

Master the Filters

Keywords, field of study, school type, state, ethnicity, military service, and success rate pinpoint scholarships you're most qualified for.

2

Specificity = Less Competition

More filters = specific results. Niche scholarships have fewer applicants and less competition than general awards.

3

Strategy + Action

Mix competitive and easy wins. Prioritize earliest deadlines and best-fit opportunities from listings with full details.

Launch Scholarship Search

Explore More Ways to Pay for College

Feeling overwhelmed by costs? Our free guide walks parents & students through smarter funding options.

Download Free Guide

Guide answers questions like:

✔ What’s the difference between federal and private loans?
✔ What grants & scholarships are available?
✔ How can I graduate debt-free?
✔ How to avoid financial aid mistakes?

Understand Your Student Loan Options

Scholarships and financial aid often don’t cover the full cost of college – this is where private student loans can help. You can check your loan options from our network of 400+ trusted community banks and credit unions.

It's free, secure, there's no obligation to apply and no impact to your credit score.

Check Your Rate

More Resources That May Help You

Paying for College 101

As it turns out, you can graduate from college while still maintaining relative financial security – if you know how to pay your cards right. Consider this your first higher education class.

Cosigner Checklist

A cosigner is a creditworthy parent, guardian, or family member who shares equal responsibility for repaying a private student loan—often required when students lack credit history or income.

Understanding FAFSA

When filling out the FAFSA, understanding how parent and student assets are reported—and assessed differently—can significantly impact your financial aid eligibility.

More Resources that May Help You

Paying for College 101

As it turns out, you can graduate from college while still maintaining relative financial security – if you know how to pay your cards right. Consider this your first higher education class.

Cosigner Checklist

A cosigner is a creditworthy parent, guardian, or family member who shares equal responsibility for repaying a private student loan—often required when students lack credit history or income.

Understanding FAFSA

When filling out the FAFSA, understanding how parent and student assets are reported—and assessed differently—can significantly impact your financial aid eligibility.

How Scholarships, Grants, and Financial Aid Work

Scholarships and grants are two of the most effective ways to pay for college because they do not need to be repaid. Scholarships are typically awarded based on merit, such as academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, or specific talents. Grants are usually awarded based on financial need and are often provided by federal or state programs.

To access most college grants, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This application determines eligibility for federal aid, including Pell Grants, as well as state and school-based financial aid programs.

Many students use a combination of scholarships, grants, and federal aid to reduce their total college costs. However, these sources do not always cover the full cost of attendance. In those cases, additional funding options may be needed to bridge the gap.

Scholarship Search Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarship Search

Search and access over $10 billion of scholarships

How to Get a Private Student Loan: 3 Simple Steps

1. Check Eligibility

Check your eligibility and receive offers from our network of. We'll help you find and apply for the best private student loans.

2. Choose Your Loan

Once you select a private student loan option, you'll continue on to the application process. Additionally, because the entire process uses LendKey's technology, your personal information will be safe and secure!

3. Upload Documents

Verify your identity and provide documents through our online portal. We'll review your documents, credit information, and let you know once your loan has been approved!

Features & Benefits of Our Network

Lenders Who Care

We work with institutions who care about you and your education.

Cosigner Release

Our lenders offer cosigner release to creditworthy borrowers who have made consecutive, full on-time principal + interest payments.²

Excellent Service

You can speak to a real person during any part of the process. We are happy to help!

No Sign Up Fees

Our lenders don’t charge borrowers any application or origination fees for their student loans.

Quick Decision

Our application process is simple, takes minutes to complete and get a decision quickly.

Auto Pay Rate Reduction

When you sign up for automatic payments, our lenders could drop your interest rate.³

What Do Our Borrowers Think?

“It seemed like the easiest process! I enjoyed the one-on-one feedback and assistance from all the loan counselors. Their process has a lot of automation and they called you and helped you each step of the way.”

Jennifer
University of Maryland

“You offered a lower rate, had pretty good reviews, and were recommended by others, which made me trust you.”

Kelsey
University of Portland

“They seemed to have the most reasonable rates and everyone I talked with was very professional and seemed like they were on my side.”

Gerald
University of Pittsburgh

See more reviews

Private Student Loan FAQs

Students can apply for this loan if they are enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program from an approved school. This application is credit-based, so if you do not have an established credit history and a steady source of income, a cosigner may be needed. All applicants must be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and must be at least the age of majority in their state of residence.

A cosigner is not required, but it may improve your chances of getting approved. Private student loans offered on LendKey’s website are credit-based, so a credit and income review will be performed. It can be difficult as a student to have an established credit history and a steady source of income, so a cosigner may help meet the loan application guidelines. Furthermore, a cosigner with an established credit history may help you qualify for better terms that could save you money in the long-term.

We typically recommend applying at least one month prior to when the funds are due or earlier. Conditional approval for a loan may occur quickly after an initial review of your application and credit report, however it is not final approval since you may be asked to submit additional supporting documentation (e.g., proof of income, identification, etc.). Your school must also certify your loan, which may add more time to your application process. While it generally takes less than thirty days to process and certify a loan, in some instances it may take several weeks.

LendKey’s application process is streamlined and simple, and our partners offer competitive interest rates. Our goal is to improve lives with lending made simple. The lenders we partner with are mostly credit unions and community banks that prioritize customer service and member happiness. These lenders have the advantage of our platform automating much of the loan process, allowing them to pass the savings along to you!

See all FAQs