12 to 48 months
Co-signer release is a feature you want to look for in a private student loan. Most lenders allow your name and legal liability to be removed from the loan once the borrower has made a certain number of on-time payments. That number ranges from 12 to 48 months, depending on the lender.

What percentage of student loans are cosigned?

Roughly 90% of private student loans are originated with a cosigner, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Private lenders might ask you for a cosigner if you don’t have a positive or robust credit history.

What happens if I cosigned a student loan?

But by cosigning their loan, you’re not just sharing the strength of your creditworthiness. You’re agreeing to take full responsibility for that credit card, car loan or student loan if they can’t — or won’t — pay.

Can a co-signed student loan be discharged?

Using them is kind of like paying for college with credit cards, except unlike with credit cards, the debt can’t be discharged. It’s too late to tell you that you shouldn’t have co-signed loans so close to retirement or any time you would be unable to take over the payments.

When do student loans start to affect your credit?

When payments start on student loans — usually within six months of graduation — the co-signer’s credit score could drop if the new graduate isn’t making monthly payments on time or not repaying the loan at all.

What happens when a cosigner of a credit card defaults?

You’re agreeing to take full responsibility for that credit card, car loan or student loan if they can’t — or won’t — pay. If they become delinquent or default, it’s up to you to fulfill the debt and take over their payments, effectively making you, the cosigner, the primary borrower on a loan that wasn’t yours to begin with.