What credit score do you need to get a student loan?

The specific credit score you’d need to get a student loan is going to vary depending on the kind of loan you’re applying for.

When you apply for Direct Subsidized or Direct Unsubsidized Loans, your credit score doesn’t matter. You can have a very low credit score or no credit history at all and still be approved. These federal student loans are not credit-dependent and have many borrower benefits, including low fixed-interest rates, regardless of your credit history.

When you apply for a Parent PLUS loan, things work a little differently – but you still don’t need to meet any minimum credit score requirements. See, Parent PLUS loans aren’t available if you have “adverse credit,” but that’s not defined as having a score below any particular threshold.