Student Loan Advice & College Finance Blog

Economic Mobility: A message from CEO Jeannie Tarkenton

Friends, tough times bring focus to essential work. In these turbulent days, I cope by returning…

Explore The World of College Finance

View Posts

Student Loans With No Credit History and No Cosigner: A Practical Guide

Many students face the challenge of funding their education without an established credit history or a cosigner. Traditional lending relies heavily on FICO scores, a metric that most college students...

Do You Really Need a Cosigner for a Student Loan?

Do you really need a cosigner for a student loan? The short answer: it depends on the type of loan. Federal student loans never require a cosigner. Most private student...

How to Qualify for a Student Loan Without a Cosigner

Finding the right financial support for college is hard enough. Finding it without a cosigner can feel nearly impossible. The good news is that qualifying for a student loan without...

Merit-Based Student Loans: How to Get Approved Based on GPA

If you need to borrow for college but don’t have a creditworthy parent or relative to co-sign, you’re not out of options. merit-based student loans let lenders evaluate your academic...

Federal vs Private Student Loans: Key Differences Explained

Paying for college often requires students to carefully evaluate how to borrow money in a way that supports both short-term needs and long-term financial stability. For most borrowers, this decision...

Student Loans Without a Cosigner: Can You Qualify on Your Own?

If you’ve been told you need a parent or guardian to cosign before any lender will approve you for college, take a breath. That’s not the whole story. Today, there...

The Best Alternatives to Payday Loans for College Students Who Need Cash

In an ideal world, all financial problems would be solved with a simple solution: make more money. Obviously, it’s never quite that simple in the real world. While increasing your...

The 6 TV Episodes That Will Make You Feel Better About Job Angst

Art mimics life — and sometimes what it’s mimicking isn’t exactly glamorous. As much as we all enjoy disappearing into a fantasy landscape or getting a glimpse into the lifestyles...

Lending Glossary: A Cheat Sheet For First Time Borrowers

For many of our borrowers, getting a no co-signer student loan from Funding U is the first major financial decision that they have to do on their own. Entering the...

How to Decode Financial Aid Award Letters

Financial aid award letters: you would think they’re a standard thing, but the way that schools communicate your aid package is all over the place. That’s a real problem. For...

Tips to Help You Decide if Study Abroad is Right for You

For most students, studying abroad is a trade-off. On the one hand, it’s an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in a new culture without the responsibilities and restrictions that come...

How to Build Your Network

When you’re a college student, you’re usually worried about getting good grades, maintaining a social life and how long you can go before doing laundry. But you know what you...

Health 101: A Guide for College Students

It’s easy to feel invincible when you’re young – but just about every college student needs to seek medical care at some point. Whether it’s a case of strep throat...

How to Pick Your First Off-Campus Apartment

Moving off campus is a big step. It’s the first opportunity most students have to live in a fully unsupervised environment, and it’s a great way to learn the basics...

Education Matters – Message from CEO Jeannie Tarkenton

Friend, As 2025 begins, my energy is derived from this fact: education will always matter. Education is among our most powerful tools, whether in times of comity or discord. The quality of...

Investing as a College Student

In the ever-evolving world, the art of forging genuine connections remains timeless. Whether it’s with colleagues, clients, or partners, establishing a genuine rapport paves the way for collaborative success....

From Day One to Done: Thriving in Micro Internships

How Much Do Grades Really Matter?

There’s a pervasive attitude in higher education that as long as you pass every class, your grades don’t really matter. There’s some truth to that – especially as it pertains...

Figuring Out Finances With Roommates

Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. A group of college friends move into an apartment or house together, and things start off great. But eventually, unresolved frustration and...