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How Does Student Loan Debt Affect My Credit Score?

by Emilie Burke on
9/28/2024
in Managing Student Loans , Using Credit
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The following is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended as credit repair.

Student loans can play a significant role in shaping your credit history, especially if you're struggling to make your monthly payments. So let's take a look at how student loans impact your credit.

How do student loans appear on my credit report?

Student loans are considered installment loans, with a starting balance that is repaid over a set period of time through a fixed number of payments, similar to a mortgage or car loan.

Installment loans are treated differently than credit cards, which are considered revolving debt. With a credit card, your debt goes up and down based on how much you charge and how much you pay off. With a student loan, your balance starts high then steadily goes down over time as you pay it off.

How do student loans change my credit score?

Like most forms of credit, a student loan can be a very positive part of your credit history - but that's only if you follow through on your end of the agreement.

If you're new to credit, student loans can help build your history

In most cases, students taking out loans don’t have past credit history. This can make it difficult to get a credit card or apply for a car loan.

Fortunately, student loans work a little differently. Federal student loan usually don't come with any credit requirements, which means they're accessible for students without any established credit history. Private student loans, on the other hand, function more like regular unsecured loans, which means that you'll likely either need a positive credit score or a co-signer to qualify.  

Most students start out with federal loans, however, which can help start building your credit history. As long as you keep your loans in good shape, you should be able to qualify for additional credit products eventually.

If you've already established some credit, student loans can improve your credit mix

Credit comes in a variety of shapes and sizes: credit cards, mortgages, car loans, personal loans, and more. When you use a type of credit responsibly, it shows lenders that you can be trusted...at least with that type of credit. When you use multiple types of credit responsibly, it shows that you can trusted with pretty much any kind of credit.

This is why lenders like to see a variety of debts on your credit history and also why "credit mix" can help to build your score. If you have a low-limit credit card in addition to your student loan, it shows that you have both installment and revolving debt. Having different kinds of debt along with a strong credit score can help you get additional credit at a lower interest rate.

Making student loan payments will build your credit over time

Your payment history typically makes up 35% of your score in most credit scoring models, including loans and credit cards. It's almost always the biggest factor in your credit score, and it's why just a single missed payment on any account can cause your score to drop substantially. On the flip side, just making your payments consistently is the most positive thing you can do for your score. 

The length of your credit history is also a factor in most scoring models. Simply having accounts that have been open for a number of years can help improve your score. Most student loan accounts are open for over ten years, which isn't great for your wallet, but can be a positive for your credit score.

Missing student loan payments will hurt your credit score

Missing payments on any credit account will almost certainly hurt your credit score. Missing multiple payments and defaulting on a student loan can badly damage your credit score for years to come, making it very difficult to get additional credit, like auto loans, credit cards, or a mortgage. Unlike the majority of other debts, most student loans can't be settled or wiped away in a bankruptcy, so simply not paying isn't really an option.

Ultimately, you may be able to rehab a defaulted loan, but the damage to your credit will likely stick around, at least for a few years. 

Not sure if you have the best student loan repayment plan for your situation? MMI offers student loan counseling to help you find the repayment plan that best matches your priorities.

Tagged in Build your credit score, Debt strategies, Understanding your credit report

Emilie writes about overcoming debt, while balancing trying to eat healthy, stay fit, and have a little fun along the way. You can find more of her work at BurkeDoes.com.

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