co borrowers

What Is a Co-Borrower on a Student Loan?

One step in the student loan application checklist you’ll come to when applying with Climb Credit is the option to add a co-borrower. Before deciding whether it’s best to proceed with one or without one, though, you might find yourself wondering just what exactly that means and what its implications are. So, although it can differ from lender to lender, we’ve outlined what co-signing a Climb loan entails and how we use the co-borrower structure. Before committing, we want you to fully understand what is a co-borrower and what it means for everyone on our applications.

What is a co-borrower?

First off, we’ll start with the basics: what is a student loan co-borrower? The short of it is that a co-borrower is someone who signs onto a loan with a borrower (the main applicant). And in doing so, they agree to take responsibility for repayment should the borrower become unable to make the payments on their own. Although specific loan underwriting criteria vary from lender to lender, a co-borrower will generally have to provide documentation showing a stable income and have a strong credit history.

What Is a Co-Borrower

What does this mean?

Now that you know what a co-borrower is, you may be wondering what the presence (or lack) of one means for those on the application. For the student applying for a loan with Climb, it means a better chance of being approved, as only one person on the application needs to qualify in order to receive an approval. If the co-borrower has a stronger credit history than the borrower, that could also get the student a lower interest rate than what they would be offered alone. For the co-borrowers themselves, though, the implications are slightly different. They aren’t simply vouching for the borrower; upon signing the loan, they’re also agreeing to make payments in the event that the borrower can’t. The signing of the loan may affect their credit in and of itself, and any negative activity by the borrower, such as late payments, will also appear on the co-borrower’s credit report. So if you’re co-signing a student loan, it’s important to fully understand what you’re signing and to be sure you’re confident that the borrower will make payments on time.

How does this fit into a Climb application?

And how does all of this fit into the Climb Credit loan application? When a student applies for a loan, they’ll find at the bottom of the page a button to click labeled “add co-borrower.” Clicking this button will take them to a page where they can enter the co-borrower’s information. (If they don’t have one, they can click “continue without co-borrower” to skip this page and move onto the next.) Once the initial application is complete, we’ll ask for income documentation before approval. Should at least one person — borrower or co-borrower — qualify, they’ll both be sent an approval package to look over and a few forms to sign and return. Like with any other loan, when a co-borrower signs our forms, they are agreeing to take responsibility for the loan if need be, so it’s important to read all of our terms carefully!

In co-signing a loan, a person could help someone take the necessary steps to reaching their goals. But, just as in any signed agreement, they’ll want to fully understand what it is they’re agreeing to do. If a student loan co-borrower understands the loan terms and trusts the borrower to make payments, he or she can be confident in the decision to help support someone’s education.

Are you and your co-borrower ready?

3 thoughts on “What Is a Co-Borrower on a Student Loan?

  1. Agreeing to be a cosigner or co-borrower could also impact your credit. In both scenarios, a missed payment will negatively influence your credit score. The loan will also appear on your credit report, which could increase your debt-to-income ratio. Both of these things could make it harder for you to get a loan in the future.

  2. How do I know if I need a consigner or not and what are the pros to having a consigner with very good credit opposed to none with my own credit that’s like a c- or D average, without a co-signer I will not be able to attend school basically? Thanks!

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What to Expect: Realistic Outcomes

Climb’s Comprehensive Access Solution can offer a strategic balance of increased enrollments and upfront cashflows compared to traditional lenders. While no financing solution guarantees 100% collection, our data-driven approach maximizes both upfront cash and long-term repayment rates.

Typical Partner Results:

  • 15-30% of students qualify for Climb Loans with upfront tuition delivered to the school shortly after course start
  • 45-60% of students qualify for 0% APR* payment plans
  • Enrollment increases of 20%+ reported by partner schools**

**Results vary by school and student demographics. This represents performance reported by individual school partners and should not be considered a guarantee of your specific outcomes.

The bottom line: CAS is designed to maximize your net tuition recovery while eliminating the administrative headaches of student financing.

Maximizing Your Results

Pro Tip: Schools that require student deposits and set up automatic payments during enrollment see significantly better repayment performance across all financing options. These simple steps can meaningfully improve your outcomes.

FAQs

We use a comprehensive, AI-driven assessment that goes beyond traditional FICO scores to better serve career training students:

  • Climb Credit Score: Over 150 data points specifically designed for vocational students
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reliable predictor of payment performance
  • FICO Score: Used primarily for interest rate assignment

Key advantages of our approach:

  • Soft credit pull until loan funding (no credit impact during application)
  • The majority of students receive instant decisions
  • Students can apply with co-borrowers directly in the application
  • More accurate placement into appropriate financing products

We use a comprehensive, AI-driven assessment that goes beyond traditional FICO scores to better serve career training students:

  • Climb Credit Score: Over 150 data points specifically designed for vocational students
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reliable predictor of payment performance
  • FICO Score: Used primarily for interest rate assignment

Key advantages of our approach:

  • Soft credit pull until loan funding (no credit impact during application)
  • The majority of students receive instant decisions
  • Students can apply with co-borrowers directly in the application
  • More accurate placement into appropriate financing products

Students are placed into funding brackets (Elite, Standard, Enhanced) based on our AI assessment. Higher-credit students generate higher upfront payments to your school, while students with limited credit are seamlessly directed to our 0% Payment Plan.

These brackets are established using data from over $1 billion in career training loan originations and may be adjusted periodically based on updated repayment trends.

Important note: Regardless of which bracket a student falls into, they are considered fully paid by your school once funded. The student’s repayment obligation exists exclusively between Climb and the student.

Elite Access not available for Computer Science programs. Upfront percentages vary by industry and loan terms.

Once Climb disburses upfront funding for a student loan, that student is considered fully paid by your school. You will not receive any additional payments for that student—the single upfront payment is complete and final.

From that point forward, the student’s repayment obligation exists exclusively between Climb and the student. Your school has zero liability if the student defaults, and you keep the full upfront payment regardless of the student’s future payment performance.

They’re automatically offered our 0% Interest Payment Plan, ensuring no student is turned away while maintaining steady monthly cash flow for your school.

Higher-credit students generate larger upfront payments (75-100% of tuition), while students with limited credit use our 0% APR* Payment Plan for consistent monthly revenue. Both options are risk-free for your school

Absolutely. Climb complements existing payment options like scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, and internal financing.

Absolutely. Climb complements existing payment options like scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, and internal financing.

Typically, within 5-10 business days after your partnership agreement is signed.

Comprehensive onboarding webinar, continuous partner support via AI-assisted chat and live email—and real-time borrower assistance with our live-chat-available student success team.

No. Climb fully manages the administrative responsibilities—your team simply monitors your school’s performance via our intuitive School Portal.

Your school is fully protected either way. For Climb Loans, you keep the entire upfront payment with zero liability. For Payment Plans, you only receive what students actually pay, with no risk to your school.