Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account
Back to Top A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page.'

Funding U student loans review: Lender doesn't allow cosigners and bases decisions on academic success

Funding U student loans logo on Personal Finance pattern background 2x1
Funding U takes academic factors into consideration when deciding on its loans.
Funding U; Rachel Mendelson/Insider

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.

 

Insider's Featured Student Loan Companies
  • College Ave Undergraduate Student Loans
  • Sallie Mae Undergraduate Student Loans
  • Ascent Undergraduate Cosigned Credit-Based Loan
Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
APR
Variable: 5.29% - 15.99%, Fixed: 4.42% - 15.99% (with AutoPay discount)
Editor's Rating
4.5/5
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
APR
Variable: 6.37% - 16.70%, Fixed: 4.50% - 15.49%
Editor's Rating
3.25/5
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
APR
Variable: 5.94% - 15.83%, Fixed: 4.48% - 15.51% (with AutoPay discount)
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; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates are effective as of 8/1/2023 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest APRs require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.
Show more
Editor's Rating
3.5/5
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
Apply now
On College Ave's website
Apply now
On Sallie Mae's website
Apply now
On Ascent's website

Pros and cons

ProsCons

 

  • No origination fee, prepayment penalty, or late fee

  • Loans aren't based solely on creditworthiness

 

  • Low maximum loan amount
  • Customer support only available via email
  • Relatively high interest rates
  • One repayment term option
  • Loans aren't available for residents of 19 states
  • No graduate student loans
  • No variable-rate loans

Funding U undergraduate student loans

Funding U Undergraduate Student Loans
2.5/5
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
Funding U Undergraduate Student Loans
2.5/5
A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star
Fees
No fees
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Fixed: 6.99% - 12.99% (with AutoPay)
Compare loan options and get your rates today.
Funding U Undergraduate Student Loans
Details
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Fixed: 6.99% - 12.99% (with AutoPay)
Fees
No fees
Editor's Rating
2.5/5
Pros & Cons Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Highlights Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Funding U doesn't have the best rates on its undergraduate student loans, with a much higher minimum APR than other private student loan lenders. The company also doesn't offer variable-rate loans, so you'll have to take a fixed-rate loan with the business. 

Funding U doesn't make lending decisions solely based on creditworthiness. It will also consider factors like your academic performance and future potential career success when choosing to offer you a loan. 

Funding U won't charge any origination, prepayment, late, or application fees. You must take out a loan with a 10-year repayment term.

Funding U has high minimum rates compared to its competitors. Here's how Funding U compares:

Funding U has a higher APR range than both Earnest and Discover student loans. You can also only get fixed-rate loans with Funding U, while the other two lenders offer a variable-rate option. You won't pay fees with any of the lenders.

Earnest and Discover both allow cosigners, while Funding U doesn't. At the same time, Funding U's unique lending process may make it easier for you to get a loan with the company than with another one.

How Funding U student loans work

Funding U offers undergraduate student loans but no graduate loans. You can't apply with a cosigner, and your loan eligibility is based on a proprietary system developed by Funding U that takes into account your collegiate academic success, likelihood to graduate on time, and total loan debt, among other factors. 

You should go after federal student loan options before considering private student loan, including one with Funding U, as you can usually get better terms and protections through the government.

Loans aren't available for residents of Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.  

If you want to contact Funding U's customer support, you must reach out to them via email. 

What options do I have to repay my loans?

You only have two options to repay your student loans with Funding U: fixed and interest-only payments. The better repayment plan depends on your situation.

FixedInterest-only
  • Pay $20 per month while in school and during a six-month grace period

  • Unpaid interest accrues

  • Interest is capitalized at the end of grace period

  • Low in-school payments

  • Pay loan's interest monthly while in school and during a six-month grace period
  • Higher in-school payments
  • You'll get a 0.5% interest rate discount with an interest-only loan

Fixed payments will be more expensive than interest-only payments because interest will accrue during school and your grace period. You'll also get a rate discount with interest-only loans. 

Is Funding U trustworthy?

Funding U has received an no rating from the Better Business Bureau. The BBB cites a lack of sufficient information to issue a rating on this business. The BBB measures businesses by evaluating their replies to consumer complaints, truthfulness in advertising, and clarity about business practices. 

You aren't guaranteed to have a good relationship with Funding U simply because the business has a high BBB rating. Ask with your friends and family about their experiences with the lender and read what other customers are saying about the company. 

Funding U doesn't have a history of any scandals, so you may decide you're comfortable borrowing from the lender. 

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Funding U Funding U student loans Earnest
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.