Comparison (US)
Discover Student Loan or Sallie Mae Student Loan: loan comparison
Get up to 100% of your college expenses covered with affordable fees and rates with Discover Student Loan or Sallie Mae Student Loan. Check out what is best for you!
by Aline Augusto
Discover Student Loan vs Sallie Mae Student Loan: Which is the best?
Discover Student Loan or Sallie Mae Student Loan, both loans offer many options for students to achieve their educational, career, and financial goals, without requiring payments with high fees and rates.
Sallie Mae and Discover are significant financial institutions, also known as the largest private student loan lenders in the U.S., with a variety of educational loans that fit various purposes, including career planning and more.
Also, both loans are available for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students who apply with the U.S. or permanent resident cosigner.
So, check out the comparison and decide which one fits your needs and goals better!
How to apply for Discover Student loans?
Cover up to 100% of your college expenses with a Discover Student loan! Learn how to apply for it and get all the benefits.
How to apply for Sallie Mae Student loans?
Achieve your goals with the help of Sallie Mae Student loans! See how to apply for it and get the benefits.
Discover Student Loan | Sallie Mae Student Loan | |
APR | Variable: 1.29% – 10.59% Fixed: 3.99% – 11.59% (undergraduate rates with auto-pay reward) | – Undergraduate student loans: variable rates: 1.13% APR – 11.23% APR fixed rates: 3.50% APR – 12.60% APR – Career training loans: variable rates: 4.12% APR – 11.52% APR fixed rates: 6.62% APR – 13.83% APR – Graduate student loans: rates vary by loan (including auto-pay discount) |
Loan Purpose | Education (undergraduate, graduate, MBA, Health Professions and Law, Post graduate, Parents, and consolidation) | Education and career |
Loan Amounts | From $1,000 | From $1,000 |
Credit Needed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed, but it recommends an average range of 300 to 850 |
Terms | Up to 20 years | Undergraduate: 10 – 15 years Graduate: 15 – 20 years |
Origination Fee | None | None |
Late Fee | None | 5% of the past due amount, up to $25; up to $20 as returned check fee |
Early Payoff Penalty | None | None |
Discover Student Loan
Discover features loans for undergraduate, graduate students, MBA, Health Professions and Law, Postgraduate, Parents, and consolidation.
There are no application, origination, late, or early payoff penalty fees whatsoever.
Plus, it offers the option of choosing a variable or a fixed rate, with auto-pay discounts.
Also, this lender has the minimum amount of $1,000, and the maximum is up to 100% coverage of your school-certified college costs.
Unlike other lenders, Discover gives cash rewards for good grades. But, like Sallie Mae, it provides you with tools to help you through the process.
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Sallie Mae Student Loan
Sallie Mae features 100% coverage for tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, travel, and even the tools you need when in college, like a laptop. The minimum amount offered is $1,000, like the Discover Student Loan.
Moreover, it gives you options to sign up for variable or fixed rates with auto-pay discounts, too.
The terms range from 5 to 15 years.
However, note it charges a late fee of 5% on the past due amount, up to $25. And up to $20 as returned check fee.
On the other hand, it offers a cosigner release option after 12 consecutive on-time monthly payments.
Finally, as Discover does, Sallie Mae doesn’t have application, origination, or early payoff penalty fees of any kind.
Benefits of Discover Student Loan
By signing up for a loan at Discover, you can get up to 100% of school-certified college expenses covered, with no application, origination, late, or prepayment fees.
Like other lenders, it provides you with tools and resources so you won’t be unattended if you need a hand and information during the process.
Furthermore, it offers discounts on rates if you settle up automatic payments.
And, unlike other lenders, Discover is the only one to give good-grades cash rewards for borrowers.
Benefits of Sallie Mae Student Loan
Sallie Mae also charges no origination or prepayment fees and offers tools to help you find the best loan for you.
And it provides you with a variety of programs so you can decide which fits your educational and financial needs and goals better.
Also, you can get 100% coverage of school-certified expenses, including tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, travel, and even the tools you need when in college, like a laptop.
Finally, it allows a cosigner release after 12 consecutive on-time monthly payments.
Disadvantages of Discover Student Loan
On the other hand, this lender doesn’t disclose the required credit score and doesn’t feature pre-qualification.
If you want to borrow from it, you need to go through the process or access assistance to learn more about the conditions.
And, unlike Sallie Mae, a cosigner release option is not available.
Disadvantages of Sallie Mae Student Loan
Like Discover, Sallie Mae also doesn’t disclose some information about eligibility requirements.
And it charges a late fee so that you may watch out for this.
Discover Student Loan or Sallie Mae Student Loan: which you should choose?
Both Discover Student Loan and Sallie Mae Student Loan are excellent options if you need to borrow money to pay off or plan your educational, career, and financial path.
Also, these two lenders offer options for you to choose between a variable or fixed rates, with auto payment discounts.
However, Discover provides a good-grade reward program and doesn’t charge a late fee. On the contrary, Sallie Mae offers terms ranging from 5 to 15 years and a cosigner release option.
In general, you should know that the best loan for you depends on your eligibility, needs, and goals, according to your financial and current situation.
And if you want to continue looking for an option, check out our article below to learn more about another financial product available on the market, the College Ave Student loans!
How to apply for the College Ave Student loans?
Get a loan designed for you at College Ave Student loans! Learn how to apply for it!
Aline Augusto
Aline Barbosa
Senior Editor
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