Does getting denied for a student loan hurt your credit?

Asked by: Nicolette Dicki  |  Last update: January 27, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (34 votes)

With private student loans, the lender pulls your credit report from one of the three main credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion) and the hard inquiry can actually ding your credit score a few points, regardless if you end up being approved or denied for the new credit.

What if I get denied for a student loan?

If you've been denied a student loan, reapply with a cosigner. A cosigner is someone with good credit who agrees to be legally responsible for your debt if you fail to repay it.

Does a declined loan affect credit score?

When a lender accesses your credit report, a so-called hard inquiry is added to your reports. If your loan application is denied, the inquiry will remain, but the lender's decision will not appear on your credit reports. So, a declined loan will not appear on your credit report and won't directly impact your scores.

Will getting a student loan affect my credit score?

Student loans are a type of installment loan, similar to a car loan, personal loan, or mortgage. They are part of your credit report, and can impact your payment history, length of your credit history and credit mix. Paying on time could help your score.

How much does your credit score drop when you get denied?

Being denied for a credit card doesn't hurt your credit score.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

29 related questions found

Can you have a 700 credit score and still get denied?

Having a good credit score is just one factor in the approval process. Lenders consider various factors like income, existing debt, and credit history. If your income is insufficient or if you have a history of late payments or high debt, you may still be rejected despite a good score.

Does it hurt your credit score if you get denied?

A hard inquiry from a card application can cause a small, temporary drop in credit scores. A denial or approval won't hurt your credit scores, because decisions aren't reflected in credit reports. When making lending decisions, card issuers use credit reports and credit scores to determine creditworthiness.

Do student loans go away after 7 years?

Student loans don't go away after seven years. There is no program for loan forgiveness or cancellation after seven years. But if you recently checked your credit report and wondered, “why did my student loans disappear?” The answer is that you have defaulted student loans.

Do student loans affect buying a house?

Student loans add to your debt-to-income ratio

Student loans increase your DTI, which isn't ideal when applying for mortgages. Most mortgage lenders require your total DTI ratio, including your prospective mortgage payment, to be 45 percent or less, though it's possible to find lenders that will accept a higher DTI.

Why don't my student loans show on my credit report?

Student loans disappear from credit reports 7.5 years from the date they are paid in full, charged-off, or entered default. However, education debt can reappear if you dig out of default with consolidation or loan rehabilitation. Student loans can have an outsized impact on your credit score.

What happens if you get denied a loan?

If you're denied for a personal loan, you can reapply—and potentially be approved. However, before you reapply, make sure you've learned why your application was rejected in the first place so that you can improve your situation and increase your chances of approval. Federal Trade Commission.

How much does a hard inquiry hurt your credit?

In many cases, a hard credit inquiry will only drop your score by about five points — and soft credit inquiries won't affect your score at all.

Do loans mess up your credit?

Taking out a personal loan isn't bad for your credit score in and of itself. However, it may affect your overall score in the short term and make it more difficult for you to obtain additional credit until the loan is repaid. On the other hand, paying off a personal loan on time should boost your overall score.

What happens if I decline a student loan?

Once you initially accept or decline your Federal Direct Loan offers, they will be frozen. To increase your loan amount, you can complete the Loan Increase/Reinstatement Request form. You may request up to your maximum eligibility based on the Federal Direct Loan borrowing limits.

What disqualifies you from getting a student loan?

If you don't meet baseline eligibility requirements, or if you've previously defaulted on a loan, you may not be approved for a federal student loan. You must maintain "satisfactory progress" in school to be approved for student loans. You can take steps to regain or improve your eligibility for student loans.

How to pay 0 for student loans?

Apply for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan

On an IDR plan, your payments are based on your income. Under an IDR plan, payments may be as low as $0 per month. You can apply for an IDR plan, including the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, by using the IDR application (linked below).

Do student loans affect your credit score?

If you make your monthly payments on time, student loan debt won't necessarily harm your credit score. On the other hand, if you are late on payments (considered "delinquent"), in default (late on payments for 270+ days) or see your debt go to collections, this can cause your credit score to drop.

Can I buy a house with 200k in student loan debt?

The Bottom Line: Buying A Home With Student Loans Is Possible. You don't need to be debt-free to buy a home, but you may have trouble getting a loan if you have too much debt. In other words, make sure your financial situation is stable before investing in a home.

What is the average student loan debt?

The average federal student loan debt is $37,853 per borrower. Outstanding private student loan debt totals $128.8 billion. The average student borrows over $30,000 to pursue a bachelor's degree.

What happens if you never pay off student loans?

If you default on your student loan, that status will be reported to national credit reporting agencies. This reporting may damage your credit rating and future borrowing ability. Also, the government can collect on your loans by taking funds from your wages, tax refunds, and other government payments.

Can I get FAFSA if I owe student loans?

No. If a student has federal student loans that are in default, they are not eligible to receive additional federal student aid until the default is resolved. The borrower can resolve a default by paying the defaulted loan in full, consolidating the loan, or rehabilitating the loan.

At what age do student loans get written off?

At what age do student loans get written off? There is no specific age when students get their loans written off in the United States, but federal undergraduate loans are forgiven after 20 years, and federal graduate school loans are forgiven after 25 years.

Does denied loan affect credit score?

When you formally apply for a personal loan, the lender will perform a hard credit check, which results in a temporary dip in your credit score. However, your score is not affected if a lender denies your application.

Is credit karma accurate?

Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.

What is most likely to hurt your credit score?

5 Things That May Hurt Your Credit Scores
  • Highlights:
  • Making a late payment.
  • Having a high debt to credit utilization ratio.
  • Applying for a lot of credit at once.
  • Closing a credit card account.
  • Stopping your credit-related activities for an extended period.