Education Loan Interest Rates

Learn about the most recent student loan interest rates offered by India's biggest banks so you may compare them and choose the one that best fits your needs. Education loans come with interest rates that vary based on the bank, the loan amount, and whether the student has a co-applicant. Education loan interest rates offered by various banks in India range from 4.00% p.a. to 16.00% p.a.

Updated On - 05 Sep 2025
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What is an Education Loan Interest Rate?

An educational loan interest is the percentage charged by banks or financial institutions on the amount borrowed to fund education. This rate determines the extra amount a borrower will need to repay along with the principal loan amount.

Compare Education Loan Interest Rates

Given below is the list of interest rates offered by different banks in India: 

Banks

Interest Rates

Processing Fees

State Bank of India

7.15 p.a. to 10.15% p.a.

Loans up to Rs.7.5 lakh- Nil 

Punjab National Bank

4.00% p.a. to 11.85% p.a.

  1. For Indian Students- Nil 
  1. For studies in Abroad- 1% Minimum Rs.10,000 
  1. For PNB Pravasi Shiksha Loan: 1% of the loan amount, Minimum Rs.10,000 
  1. For PNB Kaushal - Nil 

IDFC FIRST Bank

9.50% p.a. onwards

Up to 1.5% of the Loan Amount or as per any bank-specific scheme

Bank of Baroda

Starting from 7.10% p.a. onwards

  1. Baroda Vidhya – Nil 
  1. Baroda Gyan – Above Rs.7.5 lakh, 1% of loan amount up to Rs.10,000  
  1. Baroda Scholar – 1% of loan amount up to Rs.10,000 

Canara Bank

10.35% p.a. 11.10% p.a. 

Minimum processing fees or Nil  

Bank of Maharashtra 

7.10% p.a. to 10.30% p.a.

Nil

HDFC Bank

10.50% p.a. onwards

  1. Up to loan amount Rs.7.5 lakh- Nil 
  1. Above Rs. 7.5 lakh- 1% 

Indian Overseas Bank

9.25% p.a. to 10.50% p.a.

Contact the bank

ICICI Bank 

10.25% p.a. to 14.00% p.a.

Up to 2% of the loan amount plus GST

Karnataka Bank

9.18% p.a. onwards

Contact the bank

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank

11.55% p.a. to 11.60% p.a.

  1. No processing charge for studies in India
  2. 1% of the loan amount for studies in abroad

Karur Vysya Bank

11.00 p.a. to 13.50% p.a.

  1. For Loans Above Rs. 7.50 lakh: Rs. 5,000 + GST 
  1. For 783 Product: Rs. 10,000 + GST 

Axis Bank

3.50% p.a. to 13.00% p.a.

Up to 2% of the loan amount + GST

IDBI Bank

4.00% p.a. to 11.50% p.a.

  1. For studies in India: Nil 
  1. For studies abroad: 1% of the loan amount (Maximum: Rs.5,000) 
  1. For other management quota students: 1% of loan amount + service tax, minimum Rs.1000 + tax. 

Bank of India

7.10% p.a. to 12.35% p.a.

Nil

UCO Bank

7.85% p.a. to 11.20% p.a.

  1. For UCO Aspire Scheme - 0.50% of the loan amount (maximum: Rs. 10,000) + GST 
  1. For other schemes- Nil  

Federal Bank

11.25% p.a. to 15% p.a.

Contact the bank

Kotak Mahindra Bank

Maximum up to 16% p.a.

Nil

* Most of the banks offer zero processing Fee for courses in India. Please contact the bank for more details.

Education Loan Interest Rates by Regional Rural Banks

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are scheduled commercial banks in India that are owned by the government. Here is a list of RRBs in India that are offering various education loan schemes at competitive interest rates: 

Name of Bank

Interest Rates 

Processing Fees

Assam Gramin Vikash Bank

9.45% p.a. to 9.95% p.a.

  1. Nil for studies in India
  2. 1% of the loan amount (Maximum: Rs.11,800) for studies abroad

Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank

8.5% p.a.

Contact the bank

Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank

10.50% p.a. to 12.00% p.a.

Contact the bank

Baroda UP Bank

10.50% p.a. (subject to loan amount)

Contact the bank

J&K Grameen Bank

10.95% p.a. to 12.20% p.a. 

  1. Up to Rs. 4.50 lakh: NIL
  2. Above Rs. 4.50 lakh (For studies in India): 0.25% of the loan amount
  3. Above Rs. 4.50 lakh (For studies abroad): 0.50% of the loan amount

Karnataka Gramin Bank

10.50% p.a. to 11.50% p.a.

Contact the bank

Kerala Gramin Bank

10.50% p.a. to 13.60% p.a.

  1. Nil for studies in India
  2. 1% of the loan amount for studies abroad

Maharashtra Gramin Bank

11.95% p.a. to 13.45% p.a.

Contact the bank

NBFC Education Loan Interest Rates

Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC) offer education loans to help students achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education. The education loan interest rates for leading NBFCs in India are listed below:

Name of NBFC

Interest Rates 

Processing Fees

Bajaj Finance

10.00 % p.a. onwards

Up to 3.93% of the loan amount

Tata Capital

11.30% p.a. to 15.25% p.a.

Up to 2% + applicable taxes

Types of Interest Rates in Education Loans

The type of interest rate that student loans have is set by the bank. Certain banks offer loans with fixed interest rates for the term of the loan.

Some possess interest rates connected to the Lending Rate determined by the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) for a year. If this were reset on a regular basis, the student loan's interest rate might fluctuate.

Education Loan Interest Rate Comparison Chart

Factors that Determine Education Loan EMI

There are many factors that determine how much your Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) will be on your education loan. These factors would be:

  1. Interest rate on the loan
  2. Loan amount repayment tenure

How to Calculate Your EMI on Education Loans

The formula that is used to calculate your education loan Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) would be:

EMI Amount = [P x R x (1+R)^N]/[(1+R)^N-1]

P = Principal amount

R = Rate of Interest

N = Number of years for repayment (this is calculated in months)

You can also use an online EMI calculator for a comprehensive EMI amortisation chart. You might use a free online education EMI calculator for this.

All you need to do is enter the required loan amount, the current interest rate, and the desired repayment time in the relevant boxes. Depending on the calculator, you may either type the numbers into the fields or use the slider to alter the figures.

Once you have supplied the necessary information, a complete breakdown of your principal and interest rate as well as an amortisation table will be displayed immediately.

Factors to Consider When Taking an Education Loan

There are many factors to look out for when choosing an education loan. These would be:

  1. Eligibility criteria
  2. Courses for which the loan is applicable
  3. Collateral required, if any
  4. Guarantor required
  5. Margin amount
  6. Interest rate
  7. Loan amount
  8. Repayment tenure

Eligibility Criteria for Education Loan Interest Rates

The eligibility criteria may differ from one lender to the other, but these are the common criteria that you have to meet to be approved for an education loan:

  1. Indian national
  2. Age: Up to 35 years for non-employed individuals and up to 45 years for employed individuals
  3. Proof of admission into the educational institution
  4. Valid educational certificates showing a good academic record (of more than 50% marks)
  5. Guarantor's income proof or credit history
  6. Passport / i20 form/ visa in case of studies abroad

Documents Required for Education Loan Application

These are some of the documents required to complete your loan application:

  1. Fully filled in application form with passport-size photographs affixed as required
  2. Bank Statements and proof of income
  3. In some cases, Statement of purpose (SOP)
  4. Admission letter on letterhead of the educational institute  
  5. Academic certificates of the applicant
  6. Marksheets of entrance examination, if any
  7. Scholarship document, if any
  8. Declaration that no loan has been availed from another lender
  9. Proof of identity such as Aadhaar card / passport / driving license / Permanent Account Number (PAN) card, etc.
  10. Proof of address or residence such as utility bills / ration card / Aadhaar cardpassport , etc.
  11. Proof of age such as birth certificate or 10th standard certificate.

FAQs on Education Loan Interest Rates

  • Do education loan interest rates vary for different courses?

    No, interest will be levied by lenders on all education loans. 

  • What courses are eligible for education loan interest rates?

    For accredited vocational courses, diplomas, undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional programs, you are eligible to apply for an education loan.

  • How do education loan interest rates affect loan approval?

    As per the guidelines of the RBI, education loans are priority products. Therefore, education loans can be easily availed and almost all lenders offer them. However, the eligibility criteria must be met and the relevant documents must be submitted to avail an education loan. 

  • Are there any tax benefits that can be availed on an education loan?

    Yes, you can avail tax benefits on the interest payments of your education loan. This will come under Section 80C and Section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

  • When do I start repaying my loan?

    This will depend on the lender, but for most lenders, the repayment tenure will start either at the end of your course or a few months after you get a job. This is a moratorium period after your course ends.

  • Is any collateral required?

    According to RBI guidelines, banks cannot obtain collateral security for education loans of up to Rs.4 lakh.

  • Can I add a co-applicant to my loan?

    For many banks, a co-applicant is mandatory for an educational loan. This can be a parent, guardian, spouse, or a parent-in-law.

  • Who can be my co-borrowers?

    Parents, guardians, and spouses can be co-borrowers. The applicant's chances of getting a successful loan application are high if the co-borrower possesses a regular source of income and a good credit history.

  • What is the tenure offered on an education loan?

    In most cases, the average tenure for an education loan is between 5-7 years. However, for larger loan sums, certain lenders may provide a longer term of up to 15 years.

  • Do banks impose a prepayment penalty on education loans?

    The majority of banks do not impose a prepayment penalty on education loans. However, you must confirm with your bank/lender about the same.

  • Can I take a second education loan if my first loan is still active?

    Yes, you can get a second education loan in India even if your first loan is active. To get another loan, banks will look at your academic performance, credit score, and repayment history before approving it.

  • What does employment verification in an education loan mean?

    Some banks carry out independent verification of the cosigner's employment history, which usually consists of the student's parent or guardian or spouse (if they are married). The prospective lender can reject the loan application if the provided information cannot be verified. 

News on Education Loan Interest Rates

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Maharashtra Leads in Education Loans, SBI on Top Among Banks

The State Bank of India (SBI) gave out the highest amount of education loans among public sector banks, with a total of Rs.32,311.02 crore between 2022–23 and 2024–25 (provisional). It was followed by Union Bank of India, which lend Rs.14,558.77 crore, and Bank of Baroda with Rs.8,468.53 crore. Other banks such as Canara Bank (Rs.7,094.19 crore), Punjab National Bank (Rs.5,004.71 crore) also provided education loans to students. While these loans have helped many students but still some borrowers are facing difficulties in paying back loan. For example, SBI reported unpaid loans of Rs.372 crore in 2023, Rs.382 crore in 2024, and Rs.336 crore in 2025 (provisional), showing that the repayment situation has stayed more or less stable. Among the states, Maharashtra received the highest amount of education loans, with Rs.11,426.47 crore. Kerala came next with Rs.8,937.78 crore, followed by Andhra Pradesh with Rs.8,101.06 crore and Tamil Nadu with Rs.7,198.63 crore. On the lower side, regions like Lakshadweep (Rs.0.17 crore), Mizoram (Rs.9.93 crore), Arunachal Pradesh (Rs.10.40 crore), and Nagaland (Rs.19.76 crore) had the least amount of loan disbursals. 

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The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has released the results for the four-year and post-basic B.Sc. For the Nursing entrance examination 2025, the document verification and counselling process for the B.Sc. Nursing (Post-Basic) will be held on 11 August and 12 August 2025, respectively. For a Four-Year B.Sc. Nursing, the document verification will take place on 13 August and 14 August 2025. Candidates who appeared for the exam on 27 July 2025 can now check and download their results on the official website of pgimer.edu. Candidates can click on the B.Sc. Nursing Results 2025 link and log in using their credentials to download the scorecard.  

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