Loans are an essential financial tool for students pursuing higher education, but understanding the interest rates is crucial before finalising the lender. Interest rates on education loans start from 8.50% p.a. Public sector banks offer competitive rates. Private banks may have higher rates, but they could offer more flexible repayment terms. The exact interest rate depends on various factors such as the bank, loan amount, and whether the course is domestic or abroad. Let’s see how much interest rate is charged on student loans.
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Interest Rates by Public Sector Banks
Public sector banks in India typically offer lower interest rates on education loans compared to private banks, making them an attractive option for students. For instance, the State Bank of India (SBI) has interest rates starting at 8.5%, while Punjab National Bank (PNB) offers rates from 8.20% to 11.90% p.a. depending on the scheme.
Female students can benefit from additional concessions of up to 1% in some banks. Public sector banks also do not charge prepayment fees, providing further financial flexibility for borrowers looking to repay their loans early.
| Public Banks | Interest Rates on Education Loans |
| State Bank of India (SBI) | 8.50% to 11.75% p.a |
| Punjab National Bank (PNB) | 9.50% to 11.25% p.a |
| Bank of Baroda | 9.15% to 10.20% p.a. |
| Canara Bank | 8.60% to 11.25% p.a |
| Bank of India | 9.35% to 11.85% p.a |
| Union Bank of India | 9.30% to 12.55% p.a |
| Indian Bank | 8.60% and 11.40% p.a |
| Central Bank of India | 8.10% to 11.20% p.a |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 9.75% to 12.55% p.a |
| IDBI Bank | 8.55% to 11.15% p.a |
Interest Rates by Private Sector Banks
Private sector banks in India typically offer education loans with higher interest rates compared to their public sector counterparts. For instance, ICICI Bank starts its education loan rates at 9.85%, while HDFC Bank offers loans beginning at 9.50%. These rates can go as high as 13.70% at Axis Bank, depending on the borrower’s profile and the course of study.
Private banks often provide larger loan amounts without collateral, making them suitable for students pursuing expensive courses abroad. However, they may charge higher processing fees, which can reach up to 2% of the loan amount, adding to the overall cost of borrowing. Additionally, private banks may not offer as many concessions for female students or meritorious candidates as public sector banks do.
| Private Banks | Interest Rates on Education Loans |
| HDFC Bank | Starting from 9.50% p.a. |
| ICICI Bank | 9.50 % to 14.25% p.a |
| Axis Bank | 13.70% to 15.20% p.a |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | Maximum upto 16% |
| Yes Bank | 10.99% to 14.00% p.a |
| IDFC FIRST Bank | 9.50% p.a onwards |
| Standard Chartered Bank | As shown in your facility letter |
| Federal Bank | 12.55% p.a onwards |
| RBL Bank | 10.00% p.a onwards |
| IndusInd Bank | 10.49% p.a onwards |
Interest Rates by NBFCs
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India provide education loans with interest rates typically ranging from 11% to 15%, which are generally higher than those offered by public sector banks. For example, Bajaj Finance offers rates between 13% and 32%, while HDFC Credila starts at 13.80%.
NBFCs often have flexible lending criteria and can approve loans without collateral, making them appealing to students who may not qualify for traditional bank loans. However, they usually charge processing fees of 1% to 3.93% of the loan amount, which can increase the overall cost.
| NBFCs | Interest Rates on Education Loans |
| Avanse Financial Services | 14.25% p.a onwards |
| InCred | 11.00% p.a onwards |
| Prodigy Finance | 11.15% p.a onwards |
| MPower Financing | 12.99% to 14.99% p.a |
| Auxilo | 10.25% to 14% p.a |
Factors Affecting Interest Rates on Education Loans
Interest rates are influenced by several key factors that borrowers should consider when applying for financing. Understanding these factors can help borrowers make informed decisions when seeking education loans, ensuring they secure the best possible terms for their financial needs. Here are the main determinants:
- Credit Score: A higher credit score indicates lower risk to lenders, often resulting in lower interest rates. Both the borrower’s and co-applicant’s credit profiles are scrutinized during the application process.
- Co-applicant’s Financial Profile: The financial stability and creditworthiness of a co-applicant can significantly impact the interest rate. A strong financial background can help secure more favourable terms.
- Loan Amount and Tenure: Larger loan amounts and longer repayment periods typically attract higher interest rates due to increased risk for lenders. Conversely, smaller loans may have lower rates.
- Type of Course and Institution: Loans for courses at reputed institutions or in high-demand fields (like STEM) may come with lower interest rates, reflecting a perceived lower risk of default.
- Base Rate and Floating Rate: Interest rates are often linked to the bank’s base rate set by the RBI. Floating rates can change with market conditions, affecting monthly payments over time.
- Collateral Requirements: Providing collateral can reduce the lender’s risk, leading to lower interest rates on secured loans compared to unsecured loans, which generally have higher rates.
- Existing Relationship with the Lender: A strong banking relationship can sometimes facilitate better interest rates, as lenders may offer preferential terms to loyal customers.
- Market Conditions: Economic factors and changes in monetary policy can influence overall lending rates, impacting education loan interest rates directly.
- Processing Fees: While not directly affecting the interest rate, processing fees can add to the overall cost of the loan, making it essential to consider them when comparing options.
- Special Concessions: Some banks offer concessions for female students or meritorious candidates, which can further reduce the effective ROI on student loans.
This was all about how much interest is charged on education loans. To learn more about education loans, the best bank accounts for students, forex, banking experience for global students, or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your experience with studying abroad.
FAQs
Interest rates for domestic education loans typically range from 8.25% p.a onwards, depending on the bank, loan amount, and the student’s profile.
Education loans for abroad studies can have interest rates between 9.75% onwards up to 14% p.a, with some banks offering lower rates for top-tier universities.
Interest on education loans is usually calculated on a reducing balance basis, which means interest is charged only on the outstanding loan amount.
Secured loans (with collateral) typically have lower interest rates (around 7-9%), while unsecured loans (without collateral) have higher rates (9-15%).
Public sector banks like SBI, Bank of Baroda, and Canara Bank typically offer the lowest interest rates, often starting around 8-9%.
Yes, some banks, such as ICICI, Axis, and HDFC, offer collateral-free loans for studying abroad, but the loan amount is usually limited to INR 20 lakh.
Public sector banks typically offer lower interest rates compared to private banks, which may have slightly higher rates due to the absence of government backing.
Factors like loan amount, course type, institution reputation, applicant’s academic performance, and repayment tenure affect the interest rate.
Yes, many banks, including SBI, offer a concession of 0.25% to 0.50% on interest rates for female applicants.
Besides interest, there could be processing fees, legal charges, or administrative costs, especially for loans above a certain amount or for foreign studies.
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