About Us

100,000+ families helped

$3.5 billion in loans originated

Nearly 2,000 Schools Nationwide

So what exactly is a credit union?

Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations that exist to serve their members - not to maximize corporate profits. They provide a safe place to save and borrow while offering their members lower fees, higher savings rates, and lower loan rates.

Credit union membership was once available only to select groups of people based on employer, geographic location, or other group affiliation. The great news is that now, just about anyone can become a credit union member!

Credit union values

Not-for-Profit Credit unions are structured as not-for-profit financial cooperatives. They exist solely to serve their members.

Member-Owned A credit union is managed by a volunteer board of directors that is elected by the members. Each member has an equal vote.

Reasonable Rates Because of their not-for-profit structure, credit unions return earnings to their members in the form of higher rates on savings and lower rates on loans.

Local Community Focus Because of how they were formed, credit unions naturally have a powerful focus on the communities they serve.

In 2008 a group of leading credit unions saw a need in the marketplace for a better private student loan – one that was actually in the student’s best interest and honored the credit union philosophy of putting members first. In response, Credit Union Student Choice was founded. We serve credit unions so they can offer fair-value student lending solutions and straight-forward advice to students and members. By working together, credit unions across the country are providing students and families with the funding they need.

How do we make money? We may earn a referral fee from the featured lenders displayed in your search results. The referral fee may impact how participating lenders appear within search results. We do not charge fees to consumers to use our finder. Users can sort by rate and terms, or view the full list of all our credit union partners, at any time. We work with participating credit unions to help them process applications based on each credit unions’ underwriting criteria and interest rates. The rates and terms listed on our site are estimates based on the information entered by users and can change any time, and without notice.

Who is credit union Student Choice?

Credit unions in the community

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate

In order to apply for a loan, you must first pick an individual credit union from which you wish to borrow. You can apply for the loan without being a member of the credit union you select, but you will need to become a member of that credit union in order to receive a funded loan. Therefore, it's important that you select a credit union that you will be eligible to join. Credit union membership requirements can include where you live, work, or attend school. Results are based on membership criteria provided by individual credit unions and do not imply a guarantee regarding accuracy or eligibility to join the listed credit union(s).

Calculations are based on the lowest possible rate and available repayment terms per lender. Rate estimates are based on credit information entered by the user and will not impact your credit. During the application process, a hard credit inquiry will be performed to provide exact rate information. Repayment calculations assume immediate full repayment. View the full range of rates and terms by visiting your credit union's website using links listed for each credit union above.

Using the free student loan refinance calculator does not constitute an offer to receive a loan and will not solicit a loan offer. Any payments and savings will depend on the actual amounts for which you are approved, should you choose to apply. This calculator is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial advice. Always consult your credit union or financial advisor when making your decision.

IMPORTANT NOTICE for refinance borrowers: By refinancing federal student loans, you may lose certain borrower benefits from your original loans. These may include interest rate discounts, principal rebates, or some cancellation benefits that can significantly reduce the cost of repaying your loans. Please review this important disclosure for more information.

Your actual rate within the range stated will be disclosed upon approval. Student borrowers may apply with a creditworthy cosigner which may result in a better chance of approval and/or interest rate.