Stafford loan how long

Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS , is referred to here as "Credible.

The entire process — loan application, approval, and disbursement — depends on whether you get a federal student loan or private student loan. But knowing the rough timeline to expect will help you figure out when to apply for your student loans. From start to finish, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get federal student loans and then to receive any extra money as a check or direct deposit from your school.

Federal student loans are typically disbursed at the start of each term. If there are funds left over after paying for your tuition, fees, and student housing, most colleges will refund the remaining balance to you within a couple of weeks of receiving your loan funds. Keep in mind that some schools add a day delay to this as an added protection for first-time borrowers. From the time you submit your application until you receive funds, plan on around three weeks to get a private student loan in the best-case scenario — or up to two to three months in case of delays.

Private student loan lenders have their own rules for approving loan applications. Most of them want the application and disbursement process to be as quick and easy as possible.

In many cases, you can get funds faster from private student loans than federal loans. Credible makes this easy — you can compare your rates from our partner lenders in the table below in two minutes.

Once you submit your application, you could be approved for a private student loan in as little as a few minutes. Most private student loans must be certified by your school before being disbursed.

This might add another couple of weeks to the process. Once the loan is certified, the lender will send funds to the school. This can take anywhere from two weeks to two months. Also expect to wait another week or two before the school will give you any leftover money to use for rent, books, or other living expenses. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close.

Credit Cards Credit card reviews. Best credit cards Best rewards credit cards. Best cash back credit cards. Best airline credit cards. Best small business credit cards.

Best balance transfer cards. Best student credit cards. Best starter credit cards. The best online brokerages for beginners. The best investment apps. The best stock trading apps. Best robo advisors. Average stock market return. Car insurance. Life insurance. Best cheap car insurance. Best life insurance companies. Best homeowners insurance. The best renters insurance.

Average cost of car insurance. Average cost of life insurance. Average cost of home insurance. How to shop for car insurance. Best savings accounts. Best checking accounts. Best CD rates. Best money-market accounts. Best high-yield savings accounts. Best bank account bonuses. Best online bank. American Express Savings review.

Average bank interest rates. Average k balance. How to retire early. How to open an IRA. IRA CD rates. Best ways to save for retirement. Best mortgage lenders. Best mortgage refinance lenders. Average refinance closing costs. Average mortgage rates.

Average mortgage payment. Average closing costs. Mortgage Calculator. Student Loans. Best personal loans. Best debt consolidation loans. SoFi Personal Loans Review. OneMain Financial Loans Review. Best private student loans. Average student loan debt. Average college tuition. How to choose a student loan. How to pick financial aid. Best tax software. Best small business tax software. TurboTax review.

TaxAct review.