Do Parents Have to Cosign Student Loans?

By Ted Vrountas | Published on March 6, 2026

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If you’re a student trying to take out a loan for college, it can be frustrating if your parents refuse to cosign. Most students will have a hard time qualifying on their own — which may leave you wondering, do parents have to cosign student loans?

What is a cosigner?

A cosigner is someone who signs your loan with you to guarantee to the lender that the debt will be repaid. When they cosign a loan, they become legally responsible for ensuring that you pay the loan back. And if you can’t make payments, it will fall on them to do so.

Cosigners are often vital to getting approved for a private student loan. Since most students don’t have a high credit score or depth of credit history, they either won’t be approved by top lenders, or they’ll be approved for a loan with very high interest rates. When a student applies with a cosigner, the lender offers them terms based on the credit score of the cosigner, not their own. If the cosigner has good credit, a stable income, and minimal debt, the student can often secure a far more favorable loan.

Cosigners are most often parents, but not always. In some cases, friends, partners, or other relatives will cosign a student loan instead.

Do parents have to cosign student loans?

If you can’t access a loan for college without a cosigner, and most cosigners tend to be parents, does that mean they’re required to cosign your student loan?

No. Your parents aren’t legally required to cosign your loan. And they may choose not to for multiple reasons:

• They may not have good credit. When a lender evaluates an application for a student loan with a cosigner, the terms will be based on the finances and credit report of the cosigner. If your parents don’t have good credit, they may worry that you’ll be saddled with high interest rates and unmanageable terms.
• They foresee a need for new lines of credit. If your parents foresee needing to take out another loan, whether it be a second mortgage or a personal loan, they may have a hard time getting approved if they cosign your student loan. That’s because when they cosign, your debt becomes part of their credit profile, and it makes them appear riskier to lenders, which lowers the likelihood they get approved for a loan.
• They may not have the funds to repay your loan in the event you can’t. Your parents may want to help you, but if they lack the finances to repay your loan in the event you can’t make on-time payments, the consequences can be devastating. You may feel that there’s a slim chance you won’t be able to make payments, but your parents need to take worst-case scenarios into account.

Do all student loans require cosigners?

Not all student loans require cosigners. Federal loans, for example, rarely require a cosigner. They also come with more forgiving repayment options. A few protections that federal loans offer that private loans aren’t required to include:

• Deferment and forbearance: Student loan deferment and forbearance are both temporary breaks from making payments on your federal student loans. They’re often granted if you qualify for unemployment benefits or if you’re experiencing financial hardship. They allow you to postpone making payments until your financial situation improves; however, this pause doesn’t eliminate any of your debt.
• Forgiveness: There are several different loan forgiveness programs offered by the federal government based on your situation. Income-driven repayment forgiveness and PSLF are just two types. Here are some others. Private loans are rarely forgiven.
• Alternative repayment plans: With private loans, there’s not a lot of flexibility in the way you can repay your loan. Once the terms are agreed-upon, you can’t adjust your monthly payments unless you refinance. With federal loans, though, there are several different plans to choose from, like income-driven repayment and graduated repayment, based on your circumstances.

You should turn to private loans only after you’ve exhausted your federal and financial aid options. To find out how much federal aid you’re eligible for, make sure you’ve filled out your FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) and submitted it before the deadline.

Loans that don’t require a cosigner

If having your parents cosign is the only way for you to get a private loan and they aren’t able or willing to do it, explore loan options from the federal government. Here are a few different types of federal student loans for you to explore:

• Direct Loans for undergraduate students: These loans are available in both subsidized and unsubsidized options, depending on your financial need. These will be the child’s student loans—as in, the student will be the primary borrower and these are not cosigned loans. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while the student is enrolled in school, while unsubsidized loans do accrue interest. They have the same interest rate, which is fixed based on the rate set at the beginning of the academic year.
• Direct PLUS loans for graduate students: These loans, for graduate students, are very similar to those for undergraduate college students but have a higher interest rate. There is no subsidized option for graduate or professional students, regardless of financial circumstances; all grad loans are unsubsidized. PLUS loans can cover up to the full cost of attendance for higher education, which includes living costs such as accommodation, meals, and travel to and from school. Students do not need a cosigner to take out these loans.
• Parent PLUS loans: Like Direct PLUS loans, Parent PLUS loans can cover up to the full cost of attendance at a university. While other federal loans do not require cosigners, Parent PLUS loans may require an endorser (very similar to a cosigner) if the parent’s credit check turns up an adverse mark. While there is no advertised cosigner release option for federal Parent PLUS loans, the primary borrower can speak directly to their loan servicer to discuss their options if they later want to release their endorser from responsibility.

Who can cosign student loans?

If your parents can’t or won’t cosign, you still have other options. A cosigner can be another family member, or even a friend, partner, or mentor. As long as they are a US resident and the age of majority in their state, they may be eligible to cosign.

Of course, to be a good cosigner they should also have a good credit score (generally 650+) and history, as well as a steady income. And most of all, they should be ready and willing to take on the responsibility of repaying your loan in the event you can’t.

How to convince a cosigner you are a responsible borrower

If you’re going to ask your parents to cosign your student loan debt, it’s important for you to come to the table with a clear understanding of how you’re going to make your loan payments on time. Taking out a loan as an independent student is a big enough deal on its own, but when you involve a cosigner, that means your actions and choices will also influence someone else’s financial situation.

Do the math

Start by digging into the numbers. What’s the total loan amount you need to borrow, and what will your monthly payments look like after graduation? How much money do you need to make in your new career in order to make those payments, and what options will you have if you can’t pay them?

Take cosigning seriously

It’s important to prove to your potential cosigner that you understand how serious cosigning is. Research what to do in the event you can’t make your payments, and be prepared to show your cosigner that you’ve considered the worst—default—and how to avoid it.

Make a plan for cosigner release

Having a plan to remove your cosigner from your loan as quickly as possible may help ease their mind. Start by reviewing your credit report. You can access your FICO credit score through many free online tools.

Improve your credit score

Identify areas that are dragging your credit score down so you can work toward improving it. That way, you’ll be well-positioned in a few years if you’d like to look into refinancing your loans with a private lender to release your cosigner from the debt and/or save some money with a lower interest rate.

Think long-term about your finances

Finally, make a personal finance plan. Practice making a budget, and plan out how you’ll pay off your loans. Show your prospective cosigner exactly how you’ll approach your student loan debt.

Remember that you’re not alone

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. If you’re currently enrolled in school, it’s possible your institution will have services you can use to get some professional help if you’re comfortable asking someone at home. The U.S. Department of Education also has a lot of resources on its website to help students understand student loan options and how to pay back the debt.

Can you remove a cosigner from a student loan?

Some private lenders have cosigner release options built right into the loan terms, while others don’t offer this as a feature. Always make sure to look for this in the terms before you sign the agreement—it’s not something you can work into your loan terms later on.

Earnest, for example, doesn’t have a cosigner release option, but there’s a good workaround—borrowers in good standing can apply to refinance their loans independently, without the aid of a cosigner.

What is student loan refinancing?

Student loan refinancing is when you take out a new loan to pay off an existing loan, or loans, usually through a different lender.

How does student loan refinancing work?

If your parents are hesitant to cosign your loan and you can’t proceed without a cosigner, you can work on a plan to refinance independently after a certain point. Research loans available to you after you’ve improved your credit score, and show your parents that you’ve put in the time to examine your options.

Once your application has been approved and the loan has been disbursed, you’ll simply start paying the new loan.

Keep in mind that if you’re refinancing without a cosigner and you’re still a fairly recent grad, your interest rate may increase to refinance on your own as you’ll present a greater risk to the lender.

If you can’t find a cosigner, maximize the loans available to you from the federal government before seeking other options. You can also try contacting your college or university to ask for help finding other forms of funding.