PNC student loans: 2024 review

New vs. refinance student loans with PNC 

All rates include a 0.50 percent discount for automatic payment enrollment.

PNC undergraduate student loans

Undergraduate borrowers are limited to borrowing between $50,000 and $75,000 per year, depending on their creditworthiness. However, the total allowable debt load (including both private and federal student loans) is $225,000 which leaves a lot of room for students to finance a more expensive college education. 

In addition, PNC offers co-signer releases — great for borrowers who've developed a credit history and want to take sole responsibility for their loans. A borrower can apply for release following 48 consecutive months of making on-time payments.

Borrowers have three in-school repayment options: 

• Immediate repayment: Begin making payments on your interest and principal while in school. This is a great option for reducing the total amount of interest you'll owe and building your credit history. 
• Full deferment: Make no payments while in school and until the end of the grace period. Accrued unpaid interest will be added to your total balance at the end of deferment, making this the most expensive option over time.
• Interest-only payments: Make payments just on accumulating interest while in school and until the end of your grace period. This also helps reduce your total owed interest and build your credit score. 

Borrowers have a six-month grace period after leaving school or dropping below half-time enrollment. Once your student loan deferment period ends, you'll have to make full payments.

PNC graduate student loans

Graduate students may borrow more than undergraduates, up to $105,000 per year, accounting for the high cost of postsecondary education. The online application is also helpful for those who may be busy balancing final exams while applying for their graduate school loans. 

PNC also offers specialized bar study, health and medical profession and health profession residency loans.

Graduate school borrowers have the same repayment options detailed above and also have a six-month grace period.

PNC student loan refinancing 

If you have private student loans with steep rates, refinancing can be a good route — especially as rates are expected to fall in the next year. PNC offers loans between $10,000 and $20,000 with a discount for autopay. 

Where PNC stands out

• Co-signer release: PNC offers a co-signer release after 48 months of on-time payments. It can be challenging to find a lender that offers this option — though among those that do, 48 months is on the longer side.
• Autopay discount: In addition to its competitive APRs, PNC offers an autopay discount. Borrowers who agree to automatic payments will receive a 0.5 percent rate discount. 
• Flexible refi requirements: PNC has fairly flexible refinancing requirements for its borrowers. The lender allows student loan refinancing for borrowers who have not yet earned their degree. 

Where PNC falls short 

• No prequalification: The lender does not allow borrowers to prequalify for their student loans. This can make it challenging for you to gauge expected monthly payments and how they will fit into your budget. 
• Undisclosed requirements: In addition to the lack of prequalification, PNC does not disclose its credit score requirements. For younger borrowers, this can be a major roadblock. 
• Not available for international students: Students traveling to the United States for their education will not be able to secure financing through PNC Bank.

PNC customer service

Borrowers can contact PNC Bank’s customer service by phone at 800-762-1001 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The institution has a fairly poor online score: 1.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with a little over 1,000 reviews. Although not all reviews are specific to student loan products, a score that low is notable.

How this lender compares

PNC Bank student loans are a good option for borrowers who plan to add a co-signer or have an account with PNC. But it is always smart to compare additional student loan rates before heading off to school. 

Do you qualify for a loan with PNC?

The qualification requirements for a student loan from PNC vary slightly by loan type.

How to apply for a student loan with PNC

When you are ready head over to the PNC website.

1. Choose the type of student loan you need to apply for.
2. Enter information about your school, the amount you need, your citizenship and if you need a co-signer to check your eligibility.
3. Continue on and enter your personal details, along with those of your co-signer if you're applying with one.
4. If you're approved for a loan and like the offered terms, you'll sign the loan and accept it.

How Bankrate rates PNC

Methodology

The Bankrate team uses a 16-point system to evaluate student loan lenders. This scoring criteria measures how lenders perform across three main categories.