Smart Borrower No-Essay Scholarship & Loan Forgiveness Grant

While this scholarship has been awarded, we have a long list of 38 easy scholarship opportunities for you to take advantage of.

Most Bold.org students already carry significant student debt, or they soon will.

60% of Bold.org students say that to continue their education, they expect to need private loans in addition to any federal aid they receive, expecting to need an additional $40,000 on average.

Of Bold.org students that already have loans, the average interest rate is 6.5%, on the high end of the interest rate range typically available to students.

Unfortunately, student loans are an extremely difficult world to navigate, and one wrong decision can set you back years.

For a 10-year $40,000 loan at 6.5% interest, reducing that interest rate to 3% means saving nearly $100 a month in loan payments and saving nearly $10,000 in reduced interest over the lifetime of the loan!

Getting your loans right is one of the most important financial decisions you can make as a student.

To help you get the best loan rates possible, we’ve partnered with Credible, a platform that lets you compare rates* for new loans and loan refinances to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

We recommend Credible because it’s free, doesn’t affect your credit score,** and shows you rates in minutes.*

This scholarship will favor students who apply earlier—who are bold and seize the day without procrastinating.

How to Apply

This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who makes the effort to get the best rates on their loans via Credible’s loan comparison platform, using the links below.

• If you expect you’ll need a private loan in the future, compare your interest rates for new loans.
• If you already have a loan, compare your loan refinancing rates.

Be sure to check your rates before applying! Applications from students who have not checked their rates will not be considered.

*Prequalified rates are based on the information you provide and a soft credit inquiry. Receiving prequalified rates does not guarantee that the Lender will extend you an offer of credit. You are not yet approved for a loan or a specific rate. All credit decisions, including loan approval, if any, are determined by Lenders, in their sole discretion. Lowest rate advertised is not available for all loan sizes, types, or purposes, and assumes a very well qualified borrower with an excellent credit profile.

**Requesting prequalified rates on Credible is free and doesn't affect your credit score. However, applying for or closing a loan will involve a hard credit pull that impacts your credit score and closing a loan will result in costs to you.