Last Updated: 02/11/2026
SuperMoney User Recommendation Score +6
Mostly recommended17 total votes
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Highlights
Community Rating
Mostly recommended
Fixed APR
3.99% - 12.61%
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Variable APR
5.98% - 13.74%
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Amount Range
$5,000 - $250,000
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Number of Reviews
LendKey Private Student Loans Review
LendKey Private Student Loans is offered by LendKey, a marketplace lending platform founded in 2008 and based in New York, NY. LendKey Private Student Loans are available in 45 states and Washington, DC.
LendKey Private Student Loans FAQ
What rates does LendKey Private Student Loans offer for in-school private student loan?
LendKey Private Student Loans has a variable APR that ranges from 5.98% up to 13.74% .
It offers a fixed APR that ranges from 3.99% up to 12.61% .
Many students have little or no credit history when they start college. By having a parent or other creditworthy individual cosign the loan, the student may improve their chance of approval or qualify for lower interest rates.
How much can you borrow from LendKey Private Student Loans?
Available loan amounts may vary by applicant but LendKey Private Student Loans has a minimum loan amount of $5K and offers loans up to $250K.
Does LendKey Private Student Loans charge an origination fee?
No, LendKey Private Student Loans does not charge a loan origination fee.
A loan origination fee is what some lenders charge for processing, underwriting, and funding a loan. Typically fees range from 0.5% to 5% of the loan amount. Whenever possible, go with lenders that don’t charge origination fees.
Does LendKey Private Student Loans charge prepayment fees?
No, LendKey Private Student Loans does not charge prepayment fees. This means you will not have to pay additional fees if you decide to pay the loan off early.
What terms does LendKey Private Student Loans offer?
LendKey Private Student Loans provides repayment terms ranging from 5 to 20 years.
LendKey Private Student Loans offers borrowers unemployment protection. This means that if you lose your job -- or you have just finished school -- your loan payments are placed on a temporary hold.
What type of borrowers will LendKey Private Student Loans consider?
LendKey Private Student Loans considers loans applications from:
What do you need to qualify for LendKey Private Student Loans?
Applicants with a credit score of at least 660 and up to 850 may be eligible for LendKey Private Student Loans. The minimum age to be eligible is 18 or the state minimum, whichever is higher. LendKey Private Student Loans does not have or does not disclose a minimum annual income eligibility requirement.
U.S. citizens and permanent resident / green card holders are eligible to apply for the services offered by LendKey Private Student Loans.
To qualify, applicants may need to provide the following documentation:
- Proof of income
- Proof of citizenship or residence permit
Is LendKey a legit company?
LendKey was founded in 2008, it is a well-established company that has been in business for 18 years. Based on their "mostly recommended" SuperMoney community rating, they seem to be a reputable company.
LendKey Private Student Loans Disclosure: "The APR for variable rate loans may increase after loan consummation. Additionally, the APR displayed may include a 0.25% reduction for enrolling in automatic monthly payments from a personal checking or savings account to pay principal and interest amounts that are due. This rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of forbearance. As a result, any increase will take the form of higher payments."
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Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone and have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution, including those that are advertising partners.
Message from LendKey Private Student Loans
Message from our editor
What We Love About LendKey Student Loans
LendKey offers student loans at competitive interest rates and many other great features. Its key to success lies in its partnerships with more than 300 credit unions, community banks, and other financial institutions. This community-focused network allows LendKey to offer more personalized customer service.
LendKey is also not quite as strict as other student loan providers when it comes to credit and income. Other eligibility requirements will differ depending on the community lender you choose to work with through LendKey, but are generally more lenient than other providers. This means LendKey can offer high-quality loans with low-interest rates to a variety of borrowers.
What Can LendKey Do Better?
LendKey does have a minimum income requirement for their borrowers. They do not accept any applications from those below the minimum income threshold without a co-signer, so it may be rather difficult for some applicants to get a loan. The same restrictions apply to those who are below the minimum credit score threshold.
Before you apply, you’ll want to be sure that you meet or exceed both of these requirements to increase your chances of being offered a loan.
LendKey’s Backstory
LendKey was founded in 2007 as Fynanz and is based in New York City. The company originally functioned as a peer-to-peer (P2P) loan platform for student loans. In 2013, however, it rebranded as LendKey and replaced the P2P platform with a marketplace for credit unions and community banks.
LendKey also offers great customer service. With community banks and credit unions as their partners, you can count on getting more personalized service than you would with a big national lender. LendKey’s service maintains a 97% satisfaction rating among borrowers. The company has a stellar reputation and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a customer-driven lender and competitive interest rates, you’re likely to find it with LendKey. Qualifying isn’t easy for everyone, but LendKey’s cosigner release option makes it easier to convince someone to cosign and improve your chances of getting a low rate.
As you’re looking at your options, consider applying with one of LendKey’s community lenders. Its no-strings-attached approach makes it a perfect place to start your search for the best loan.
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