Edly Student Loans Review

Edly Student Loans: Quick Look

Pros Explained

• Loan repayment based on income: Edly loan repayment is based on your income after you graduate, helping to make sure you can afford the loan.
• No payments if you make under $30,000: If your annual income is under $30,000, you don’t have to make any monthly payments, effectively putting your loans into deferment until you make more.
• No co-signers needed: Edly loans do not require a co-signer, and applicants can qualify even with a limited credit history. Edly states that applicants without co-signers are three times more likely to be approved with Edly than with traditional lenders.
• No credit history needed to qualify: Edly considers more than just your credit profile, and you may be able to get a loan solely based on your major and academic performance.

Cons Explained

• Can only borrow up to $25,000: The total amount that can be borrowed is $25,000, with a cap of $15,000 per academic year, plus $10,000 for summer sessions. This will not be enough for many schools.
• Not available in all states: Edly does not support applicants in several states: Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia.
• Students without cosigners face more restrictions: Edly only offers loans to senior undergraduate students and graduate students if you apply without a cosigner.

Student Loans Offered by Edly

Undergraduate/Graduate Student Loans

Edly offers income-based student loans for undergraduate and graduate students at over 1,700 supported schools.

Loans don’t have specific interest rates; as mentioned, payments are based on your income and other criteria. This means the effective rate can vary wildly, from 9.4% to 23% APR. Repayment amounts are based on income, and graduates making less than $30,000 do not need to make payments.

Loan Eligibility and Approval

To qualify for a student loan with Edly, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your state
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be enrolled in a degree seeking program for a bachelor’s or graduate degree
• Be attending an eligible school
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Be a junior or senior within two years of graduation, or a graduate student
• Cannot live in Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Vermont, or West Virginia

Edly does require a minimum for the IBR No Cosigner Student Loan. Edly will also review your major to determine your future income potential.

DACA recipients and international students cannot qualify for a loan with Edly.

Are Co-Signers Required?

Edly does not require co-signers for loans, and in fact, does not offer co-signing for any of their available student loans. Students must qualify based on their own financial and academic information.

Is Loan Pre-Qualification Available?

Yes. Edly offers online pre-qualification that can be completed in just a few minutes. You will need to provide the following information:

• Full name
• Address
• Estimated annual income
• Estimated credit score
• School name
• Expected graduation date
• Amount you'd like to borrow
• Social Security number

Edly will run a soft pull of your credit profile for pre-qualification, and you will be able to choose loan terms to see potential rates.

Length of Time for Loan Approval and Disbursement

Loan applications are all done online, and approval is typically within the same day. Once approved, Edly will reach out to your school for certification. While the time to certify varies by school, the process typically takes two to four weeks. Some schools don’t accept funds until closer to enrollment. Once certification is complete, Edly will disburse funds to your school.

Loan Fees and Repayment Options

Loan Fees

Edly does not charge loan application fees, and there are no origination fees either. Prepayment doesn’t come with any additional fees either. There is a maximum repayment cap on the loans and a very wide effective APR range. The amount you pay will vary with your income and financial situation as well as how long it takes you to make enough payments.

Loan Discounts

Edly does not offer loan discounts.

Repayment Options

Edly loans operate on one unique system. The loans are based on income, and payments are differed until four months after graduation. At that point, you'll begin income-based repayment. The more you earn the more you'll pay and if your income decreases your payment will too. This system also includes hardship and unemployment protection. Should your annual income drop below $30,000, you'll stop paying until it exceeds that threshold again.

Loan Forbearance and Discharge Options

Edly does not offer traditional forbearance or discharge, but does offer deferred loans.

As mentioned above, Edly offers payment deferment for anyone making under $30,000. Payments are paused during this time, though you may need to send in current pay stubs or proof of job search. There is no time limit on this deferment period.

Is Student Loan Refinancing Available?

Edly does not offer student loan refinancing.

Customer Service

Edly offers only basic contact information on its website, but you can contact the customer support team via email (students@edly.info), live chat, and phone.

The phone number is (888) 469-3359; support is available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) did not include Edly, nor its funding bank (FinWise Bank) in its annual consumer report.

Applying for an Edly Student Loan

Edly offers online applications that begin with a simple pre-qualification. Once you are pre-approved, you can choose your loan details, and then complete the application by providing further information and documentation.

Some of the information you will need to provide includes:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Social Security number (for ID verification)
• School of attendance
• Expected graduation date
• Requested loan amount

Edly doesn’t require income verification for pre-qualification, though it will do a soft pull of your credit to check for any negative marks on your reports and if a FICO score exists, a minimum does apply for the IBR No Cosigner Student Loan. After approval, Edly will request certification from your school before disbursing the loan.

Alternative Choices

Final Verdict

Edly offers income-based student loans for borrowers who are looking for additional ways to pay for school. While the loans are easy to apply for, and monthly payments are based on your income to help make them affordable, you may end up paying quite a bit more overall than you would with other lenders.

Income-based interest rates are not disclosed until you apply, and the payments will increase as you make more money.

Overall, Edly is an option for students with no income or credit history who are looking for a small loan to cover school expenses, but be aware that you may end up paying more in the long run.

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of student loan lenders. We collected thousands of data points across 30 lenders—including loan types, interest rates, fees, loan amounts, and repayment terms—to ensure that we help readers make the right borrowing decision for their education needs.