Once you’ve exhausted other options for funding a college education, it’s time to look at lenders. There are many things to consider when choosing a private lender. You’ll want to think about what interest rates and fees are offered, what the terms of the loan are, whether you meet the requirements for approval (I.e., do you need a cosigner), what repayment options do they offer and what reviews say about them. If you need a cosigner, you might also want a lender that offers a cosigner release (an opportunity to remove the cosigner). You may want to know if they offer any deferment options, whether there are options to pause your payments if you lose your job and whether your loans will be forgiven if you become disabled. In general, you want to find the loan that will cost the least overall. This means comparing options from online lenders, banks, and your local credit union. You might see an origination fee or similar fees that some lenders will add to your loan. Avoiding these can save you money, reducing your monthly loan payment and the total cost of your loan. Also look for discounts that can save you money. Some lenders offer discounts to customers who have a bank account with them or who sign up for automatic payment for their monthly loan payment.