Cosigner Release for Private Student Loans in 2026: Sallie Mae’s 12-Payment Industry-Leading Timeline, Citizens Bank’s 36, College Ave and SoFi’s 24, Ascent’s 24-36, Earnest’s No-Release Policy, Why CFPB Documented That 90% of Cosigner Release Applications Get Denied, and the FDCPA Validation + Refinancing + Discharge Path That Cuts Cosigner Exposure Up to 50%

Informational content only. Not legal advice. Private Student Relief is a consulting organization, not a law firm. Individual results vary by lender, loan terms, and circumstances. Last reviewed: May 2026.

Approximately 92% of private student loans originated in 2024-2025 required a cosigner for approval — typically a parent, grandparent, guardian, or spouse whose credit history supports the loan. Cosigning creates full legal liability for the cosigner: the debt appears on the cosigner’s credit report, affects their debt-to-income ratio for future borrowing, and requires payment if the primary borrower fails to pay. Nearly every private student lender offers a “cosigner release” program that in theory allows the primary borrower to remove the cosigner from the loan after meeting specific criteria — Sallie Mae requires 12 on-time principal and interest payments (industry-leading short timeline); Discover legacy required 12 consecutive; Citizens Bank requires 36; College Ave requires 24; SoFi requires 24 consecutive full principal and interest payments; Laurel Road requires 36; Ascent requires 24-36 depending on product; Earnest offers no cosigner release program and requires refinancing instead. In practice, however, a 2015 CFPB study found that private student lenders rejected 90% of cosigner release applications — a figure that led to significant CFPB enforcement action and Compliance Bulletin guidance but that has not fundamentally shifted approval rates. For cosigners seeking release, denial is the statistical norm rather than the exception. Beyond release applications, cosigners face specific risks: some legacy private loan contracts trigger automatic default if the cosigner dies or files bankruptcy (a practice CFPB has criticized and many lenders removed but some legacy contracts retain); Chapter 13 codebtor stay under 11 U.S.C. § 1301 provides temporary protection but does not permanently resolve cosigner obligation; and refinancing eliminates the cosigner only if the primary borrower independently qualifies for new credit. For cosigners whose release application was denied and whose primary borrower cannot refinance independently, the practical framework combines FDCPA validation (cosigners have full consumer rights under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g), potential Holder Rule claims where school misconduct applies, and the broader Private Student Loans Forgiveness alternatives framework that reduces cosigner exposure when release fails.

How Does Cosigner Release Work for Private Student Loans?

Cosigner release is a lender-specific contractual program that allows the primary borrower to remove the cosigner from a private student loan after meeting specific criteria. It is not a federal statutory right; each private lender establishes its own cosigner release program terms, and lenders can modify or discontinue these programs at their discretion. Understanding how cosigner release actually works — including the mechanics, timing, eligibility criteria, and the critical difference between release and refinancing — is the foundation of any cosigner release strategy.

The primary borrower initiates the application. Cosigner release applications must be initiated by the primary borrower — the student who took out the loan and had the cosigner support the credit approval. Cosigners themselves cannot initiate the release process regardless of their willingness or ability to be released. This is one of the most consequential structural features of cosigner release: even if a cosigner desperately wants to be removed from the loan, the release depends entirely on the primary borrower’s willingness to apply and ability to meet criteria. Cosigners have no direct legal path to force release. Communication between the primary borrower and cosigner about the release timeline and application is essential; otherwise, the cosigner remains liable indefinitely regardless of their circumstances.

The two-part qualification standard. Every cosigner release program requires the primary borrower to demonstrate both (1) a satisfactory payment history on the loan (typically a specific number of consecutive on-time principal and interest payments), and (2) independent creditworthiness sufficient to assume full responsibility for the loan without the cosigner’s support. The two-part test means that primary borrowers who make on-time payments but have thin credit files, low income, or other credit concerns will typically be denied release even after meeting the payment history requirement. Conversely, primary borrowers with strong credit but missed payments during the qualifying period will also be denied. Both criteria must be met simultaneously.

Payment counting rules. Not every payment counts toward the required qualifying payments. Interest-only payments made during in-school, grace, or separation periods generally do not count. Fixed reduced payments (like Sallie Mae’s $25 fixed in-school option) do not count. Payments made during hardship forbearance or modified repayment programs do not count. Late payments (typically 30+ days past due, but sometimes counted at 15+ days) do not count. Only full principal and interest payments made on time during active repayment count toward the required consecutive payment total. This narrow definition means the qualifying window is often longer than the “12 payments” or “24 payments” number initially suggests.

Cosigner release vs refinancing — the critical distinction. Cosigner release is a modification to the existing loan that removes the cosigner from the obligation while keeping the loan itself intact. The interest rate, term, and other loan features stay the same. Refinancing, by contrast, replaces the existing loan with a new loan (typically from a different lender) issued in the primary borrower’s name only — automatically eliminating the cosigner from the original obligation because the original loan is paid off. Refinancing avoids the release program’s approval process but requires the primary borrower to independently qualify for new credit at competitive terms. For borrowers whose credit has improved substantially since the original loan, refinancing can both eliminate the cosigner and secure a lower interest rate. For borrowers whose credit has not improved sufficiently, refinancing may not be available at reasonable terms and cosigner release becomes the primary path.

Application processing time. Once submitted, cosigner release applications typically take 30 days to process. During processing, the primary borrower’s account should remain current and no additional forbearance or modification requests should be submitted. Approval or denial notification is sent to both the primary borrower and the cosigner (with the cosigner’s permission, which is typically obtained during the application). If approved, the cosigner is removed from the loan effective immediately or at the next billing period, depending on lender procedures. If denied, the reasons for denial are typically provided along with information about the borrower’s right to re-apply after specific waiting periods (often 12 months).

What Are the Cosigner Release Requirements at Major Private Lenders?

Cosigner release requirements vary substantially across private student loan lenders. Understanding each lender’s specific criteria — the number of qualifying payments required, the credit standards for the primary borrower, and any product-specific restrictions — is essential for planning a cosigner release strategy. The most current requirements at major private lenders are outlined below; requirements are subject to change and should be verified directly with each lender before planning.

Sallie Mae Smart Option — industry-leading 12-payment timeline. Sallie Mae’s Smart Option Student Loan offers one of the shortest formal cosigner release timelines among major lenders: 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments. Alternative pathway: lump sum payment equal to 12 required principal and interest payments. The full requirements include: proof of graduation or completion of certificate program; borrower is of legal age to enter a binding contract in home state; U.S. citizenship or permanent residency at time of application submission; proof of income (W2, paystub within 60 days, tax return, Social Security income statement, or SSDI statement); current on all Sallie Mae loans with no 30+ day past due in the last 12 months; no hardship forbearance or modified repayment program in the 12 months before application; credit check demonstrating no bankruptcy, foreclosure, student loan default, or 90-day delinquencies on any loans in the last 24 months. Interest-only or $25 fixed payments made during in-school, grace, or separation periods do NOT count toward the 12 required payments. As of May 2026, parent loans that originate after May 2026 are not eligible for cosigner release at Sallie Mae — a notable restriction affecting new parent-borrower originations.

Discover (legacy portfolio). Discover exited new private student loan originations in 2024, but its legacy portfolio remains active. Historical Discover cosigner release requirements included 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments plus creditworthiness assessment. For legacy Discover borrowers with existing loans, cosigner release applications may still be accepted; verify current procedures directly with Discover’s servicer.

Citizens Bank — 36-payment timeline. Citizens Bank requires 36 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments for cosigner release, plus creditworthiness assessment demonstrating the primary borrower’s independent ability to assume the loan. The longer timeline compared to Sallie Mae reflects Citizens Bank’s more conservative release standards. Applications are processed through Citizens Bank’s servicer portal.

College Ave — 24 consecutive payments. College Ave requires 24 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments plus credit review. The lender has published extensive documentation of cosigner release procedures and offers online application submission.

SoFi — 24 consecutive full principal and interest payments. SoFi requires 24 consecutive full principal and interest payments (not interest-only or reduced payments) plus creditworthiness assessment. SoFi’s cosigner release program is available for both original SoFi private student loans and SoFi refinance loans that originally included cosigners.

Laurel Road — 36 on-time payments (refinanced loans). Laurel Road requires 36 on-time payments for cosigner release, applicable to their student loan refinance products.

Ascent — 24-36 payments depending on product. Ascent Funding requires 24 consecutive on-time payments for their Non-Cosigned Outcomes-Based Loan (which has different qualifying criteria for the primary borrower) and 36 consecutive on-time payments for standard cosigned products. Ascent’s cosigner release program has been available for several years and includes standard credit review requirements.

Earnest — no cosigner release program. Earnest is notable for NOT offering a formal cosigner release program. Cosigners on Earnest loans have only one path to removal: refinancing the loan through a different lender (Earnest itself, another private lender, or federal consolidation if federal loans). The absence of a cosigner release program is a significant consideration for borrowers evaluating Earnest as a lender.

Why Do 90% of Cosigner Release Applications Get Denied?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a landmark 2015 report documenting that private student lenders rejected approximately 90% of cosigner release applications. Subsequent CFPB enforcement action and Compliance Bulletin 2018-01 addressed some cosigner release practices, but historical rejection rates have remained substantially elevated. Understanding why cosigner release applications fail — and what borrowers can do to maximize approval probability — is essential for cosigner release strategy.

Credit criteria denials. The most common denial reason cited by CFPB was inadequate credit history in the primary borrower to assume the loan independently. Private student lenders typically require the primary borrower to have credit scores substantially higher than the standard prime lending threshold, low debt-to-income ratios (often below 43%), stable employment history (typically 2+ years at the same or comparable employer), and no derogatory credit events in the last 24 months. Recent college graduates entering their first jobs often cannot meet these standards even if their payment history on the specific student loan is perfect. The credit criteria essentially require the primary borrower to have already established substantial credit history and income beyond what the original loan was based on.

Hardship forbearance disqualification. Nearly every private lender disqualifies borrowers who used hardship forbearance during the qualifying payment period (typically 12-36 months before application). Sallie Mae disqualifies borrowers who had any student loans in hardship forbearance or modified repayment in the 12 months before application. The disqualification applies to any private or federal student loans, not just the specific loan for which release is requested. For borrowers who face temporary hardship during the qualifying window — job loss, illness, family financial crisis, natural disaster — the forbearance that helps them survive the hardship also disqualifies them from cosigner release for a subsequent 12+ months. This is one of the most consequential rejection factors CFPB has criticized.

Payment counting errors and disputes. Servicers frequently count qualifying payments incorrectly. Interest-only payments made after the borrower entered active repayment may or may not count depending on specific promissory note terms. Payments made 15-29 days late may be considered “on-time” for standard billing purposes but “late” for cosigner release qualifying purposes. Payments made through refinancing or consolidation activity may reset counters. Servicer decisions about payment counting are frequently opaque, and CFPB has documented significant inconsistency in servicer application of counting rules. Borrowers who believe they have met the payment count often find their application denied because the servicer disagreed on which payments counted.

Documentation requirements. Cosigner release applications require substantial documentation: proof of graduation (diploma or official transcript), proof of income (W2, paystub within 60 days, tax return, disability documentation), proof of citizenship or permanent residency, and comprehensive employment history. Incomplete or improperly formatted documentation is a common denial reason. Servicers typically do not provide substantial assistance with completing applications correctly — the borrower is expected to submit compliant documentation. Errors in documentation lead to denial, requiring re-application after resolving the documentation issues.

Servicer discretion. Even when all objective criteria are met, cosigner release approval remains at the lender’s discretion. The lender can consider factors beyond the specific requirements — general credit assessment, portfolio-wide risk assessment, servicing history, and other subjective factors. Applications that appear to meet all criteria are still sometimes denied on servicer discretion, and the reasons provided may be general rather than specific. Appeals are available at most lenders but rarely result in overturned decisions.

What Happens to Cosigner Obligation If the Cosigner Dies or Files Bankruptcy?

Cosigner death and bankruptcy are common triggers for complex private student loan complications. Some legacy private loan contracts historically included “automatic default” clauses that placed the loan in default immediately if the cosigner died or filed bankruptcy — even if the primary borrower had continued making all payments. CFPB documented and criticized these practices, resulting in industry changes, but the situation for individual borrowers depends heavily on the specific promissory note terms.

Auto-default clauses — historical and residual. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau documented in 2014 that many private student loans included auto-default provisions triggered by cosigner death or bankruptcy. These clauses effectively converted “cosigning” into “guaranteed default risk regardless of borrower payment performance” — a practice CFPB characterized as problematic for both cosigners and borrowers. Following CFPB Compliance Bulletin 2018-01 and industry response, major private lenders including Sallie Mae, Wells Fargo (now Firstmark), Discover, and Navient removed automatic default clauses from new originations. However, legacy loans originated before the industry response may retain these clauses. The specific promissory note terms determine whether auto-default applies to any particular loan.

Death discharge programs — 5 lenders offer voluntary programs. Five private student loan lenders are commonly recognized as offering voluntary death discharge as a contractual benefit: Sallie Mae Smart Option (discharges the loan if the primary borrower dies), Discover legacy (discharges upon primary borrower death), Wells Fargo legacy (discharges upon primary borrower death), Laurel Road (case-by-case for death), and New York Higher Education Services Corporation. Discharge applies to the primary borrower’s death, not the cosigner’s death. For cosigners whose primary borrower dies, these discharge programs eliminate the cosigner’s obligation as well (because the loan itself is discharged). For cosigners whose own death is the concern, the loan typically continues with the primary borrower as the remaining obligor — cosigner death discharges the cosigner’s obligation but not the loan itself.

Cosigner bankruptcy — Chapter 13 codebtor stay under 11 U.S.C. § 1301. If a cosigner files bankruptcy, the effect on cosigner obligation depends on the type of bankruptcy filed. Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges the cosigner’s obligation on non-priority unsecured debts, potentially including private student loans if they qualify for discharge under Section 523(a)(8) (see Day 19 of our series). Chapter 13 bankruptcy provides the “codebtor stay” under 11 U.S.C. § 1301 — during the Chapter 13 plan period (3-5 years), the lender or holder cannot pursue collection actions against the cosigner. But after Chapter 13 case closes, the codebtor stay ends and cosigner obligation resumes unless the underlying loan was fully paid through the plan or discharged. Cosigner bankruptcy is a serious step with significant credit consequences; consult a bankruptcy attorney experienced in student loan cases before filing solely to eliminate cosigner obligation.

Primary borrower bankruptcy — impact on cosigner. When the primary borrower files bankruptcy, the effect on the cosigner is different. The primary borrower’s bankruptcy discharge (if student loans are dischargeable under Section 523(a)(8), either qualified or non-qualified) eliminates the primary borrower’s obligation but does not eliminate the cosigner’s. The cosigner remains fully liable for the full loan balance and any collection actions the lender chooses to pursue. This is often surprising for both primary borrowers and cosigners. For cosigned loans specifically, discharge of the primary borrower’s obligation typically leaves the cosigner as sole obligor. Chapter 13 provides temporary codebtor stay protection during the plan period; Chapter 7 does not.

What Actually Works for Cosigners When Release Is Denied?

For cosigners whose formal release application was denied — the statistical majority based on CFPB documented rates — the practical framework combines multiple alternative mechanisms. No single alternative typically eliminates cosigner obligation as cleanly as a successful release; the combined approach addresses different aspects of the cosigner situation and often produces better outcomes than repeatedly reapplying to the release program.

Refinance the loan without the cosigner. If the primary borrower’s credit and income have improved enough since the original loan, refinancing through a different lender (or through the original lender’s refinance product) creates a new loan in the primary borrower’s name only and eliminates the cosigner from the original obligation. Refinancing requires the primary borrower to independently qualify for competitive terms — typically credit score 680+, stable employment 2+ years, income supporting debt service, and low debt-to-income ratio. Available refinancing lenders include SoFi, Earnest, Laurel Road, Citizens Bank, College Ave, LendKey, and others. Compare terms carefully; some refinancing offers extend loan term substantially (reducing monthly payment but increasing total interest), while others extend better rates but shorter terms. Federal loans should not be refinanced into private (permanent forfeiture of PSLF, IDR, and other federal benefits — see prior guides).

Lender-specific death and TPD discharge for cosigners. For cosigners whose primary borrower experiences death or total permanent disability, the 5 lenders offering voluntary discharge programs (Sallie Mae Smart Option, Discover legacy, Laurel Road, Wells Fargo legacy, and New York Higher Education Services Corporation) can eliminate the entire loan obligation — which automatically removes the cosigner from further liability. This is a discharge of the loan itself, not just cosigner release. Documentation requires official death certificates or VA disability rating documentation. Apply directly to the lender’s discharge program.

FDCPA validation under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g — cosigners have full consumer rights. When a private student loan is in collections and being pursued against either the primary borrower or the cosigner, both parties have full FDCPA rights to demand validation from third-party debt collectors. Cosigners can send validation demands independently — they don’t require the primary borrower’s participation. The collector must produce the original signed promissory note, complete payment history, and chain-of-ownership documentation. Older cosigned loans that have been transferred multiple times frequently have documentation gaps that cannot satisfy validation requirements, producing settlement at 30-50% of balance or practical unenforceability. This works equally against cosigner debt as against primary borrower debt.

Hardship settlement — combined primary borrower and cosigner leverage. When both the primary borrower and the cosigner face documented hardship, settlement leverage is often stronger than either party alone. A cosigner in retirement age with fixed income, combined with a primary borrower whose employment is unstable, presents settlement negotiators with two-party hardship documentation that supports lower settlement offers. Documented cosigner medical conditions, income limitations, or family financial obligations all support settlement positioning. Settlement of the underlying debt eliminates both primary borrower and cosigner obligation because the loan itself is resolved.

FTC Holder Rule claims when school misconduct applies. For cosigned loans tied to schools with documented misconduct (for-profit school accreditation issues, closed schools, misrepresentation of outcomes), the FTC Holder Rule under 16 C.F.R. § 433.2 preserves claims against the loan holder that apply equally to primary borrower and cosigner obligations. Successful Holder Rule claims can eliminate the entire loan, removing both parties’ obligations. Documentation matters — school marketing materials, recruiter communications, subsequent adverse findings against the school, and enrollment records support the claim.

Cosigner Release for Private Student Loans in 2026: Key Facts

Cosigner release for private student loans is a lender-specific contractual program that allows the primary borrower to remove the cosigner after meeting specific criteria — but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau documented in a 2015 report that private student lenders rejected approximately 90% of cosigner release applications. Nearly every major private student loan lender offers a formal cosigner release program with substantially variable requirements: Sallie Mae Smart Option requires 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments (industry-leading short timeline) plus proof of graduation, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, proof of income, current standing on all Sallie Mae loans with no 30+ day past due in last 12 months, no hardship forbearance in last 12 months, and credit check demonstrating no bankruptcy, foreclosure, defaulted student loans, or 90-day delinquencies in last 24 months (parent loans originating after May 2026 excluded from Sallie Mae’s release program under new policy). Discover legacy (no new originations post-2024) required 12 consecutive on-time payments. College Ave requires 24 consecutive on-time payments. SoFi requires 24 consecutive full principal and interest payments. Citizens Bank requires 36 on-time payments. Laurel Road requires 36 on-time payments for refinanced loans. Ascent requires 24-36 payments depending on product. Earnest offers no formal cosigner release program — cosigners can only be removed through refinancing. Interest-only, $25 fixed, or in-school payments do not count toward qualifying payment requirements at most lenders. Only the primary borrower can initiate the release application; cosigners have no direct legal path to force release. Applications typically process within 30 days.

Common reasons for cosigner release denials include inadequate primary borrower credit history, hardship forbearance during the qualifying payment period, payment counting disputes with servicers, incomplete documentation, and servicer discretion — many of which the CFPB has documented and criticized. Some private student loan promissory notes originated before 2018 retained “automatic default” clauses triggered by cosigner death or bankruptcy — CFPB Compliance Bulletin 2018-01 addressed these practices, and major lenders removed them from new originations, but legacy loans may retain these provisions requiring individual promissory note review. Five private lenders (Sallie Mae Smart Option, Discover legacy, Laurel Road, Wells Fargo legacy sold to Firstmark Services 2020-2021, and New York Higher Education Services Corporation) offer voluntary death and total permanent disability discharge as contractual benefits — applicable to primary borrower death or TPD, which automatically removes the cosigner from further liability by discharging the loan itself. Cosigner Chapter 13 bankruptcy provides temporary codebtor stay protection under 11 U.S.C. § 1301 during the 3-5 year plan period but does not permanently resolve cosigner obligation unless the underlying loan is fully paid through the plan or discharged. Primary borrower bankruptcy discharges the primary borrower’s obligation but does not eliminate cosigner obligation — the cosigner remains fully liable regardless of the primary borrower’s discharge.

For cosigners whose formal release application was denied, the practical framework combines multiple alternative mechanisms rather than repeatedly reapplying to the release program. Refinancing the loan through a different lender (SoFi, Earnest, Laurel Road, Citizens Bank, College Ave, LendKey, others) creates a new loan in the primary borrower’s name only, automatically eliminating the cosigner from the original obligation — requires primary borrower to independently qualify for competitive terms (typically credit score 680+, stable employment 2+ years, income supporting debt service, low debt-to-income ratio); federal loans should NOT be refinanced into private (permanent forfeiture of PSLF, IDR forgiveness, federal Closed School Discharge, federal Borrower Defense, federal TPD, and other federal benefits). FDCPA validation under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g — cosigners have full consumer rights to demand validation from third-party debt collectors independently; older cosigned loans transferred multiple times frequently fail validation, producing settlement at 30-50% of balance. Hardship settlement combining primary borrower and cosigner hardship documentation typically produces stronger settlement offers than either party alone; settlement of the underlying debt eliminates both parties’ obligations. FTC Holder Rule claims under 16 C.F.R. § 433.2 for cosigned loans tied to schools with documented misconduct can eliminate the entire loan. Bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) — Chapter 13 codebtor stay under 11 U.S.C. § 1301 for temporary protection; Chapter 7 discharge of qualified education loans (Brunner test) or automatic discharge of non-qualified education loans can resolve the underlying obligation for both parties. A free case review identifies which combination fits your specific cosigner situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cosigner Release and Cosigner Rights

Cosigner release for private student loans is a lender-specific program with substantially variable requirements — Sallie Mae’s 12-payment industry-leading short timeline versus Citizens Bank’s 36-payment standard, with College Ave, SoFi, Ascent, Laurel Road, and Discover legacy at various points in between, and Earnest offering no formal release program at all. But the CFPB has documented that 90% of cosigner release applications historically get denied, driven by rigid credit criteria, hardship forbearance disqualification, payment counting disputes, and servicer discretion. For cosigners whose formal release application was denied — the statistical majority — the practical framework combines multiple alternative mechanisms: refinancing when the primary borrower can independently qualify; contractual death and TPD discharge at 5 lenders; FDCPA validation using cosigners’ full consumer rights; hardship settlement leveraging combined party hardship; FTC Holder Rule claims when school misconduct applies; and bankruptcy under Section 523(a)(8) with Chapter 13 codebtor stay protection where structural hardship warrants. The combined approach is the foundation of Private Student Loans Forgiveness alternatives for cosigners. A free case review identifies which combination fits your specific cosigner situation.

Disclaimer: Informational content only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Henry Silva is a debt specialist, not a licensed attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor. Private Student Relief is owned and operated by Joco and is a private student loan payment relief consulting organization — not a law firm, debt settlement company, debt consolidation company, loan provider, or U.S. Department of Education representative. We do not assume consumer debt, make payments to creditors on your behalf, or process cosigner release applications on behalf of borrowers. We help clients reduce their private student loan payments by matching them with a vetted partner provider that performs FDCPA-compliant debt validation, hardship negotiation, or consolidation strategies under independent business credentials. Ratings, BBB accreditation, and industry tenure referenced belong to our partner provider. Individual results vary based on financial circumstances. Not available in South Carolina or Mississippi. Cosigner release program terms (Sallie Mae Smart Option 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments plus proof of graduation, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, proof of income, current standing on all Sallie Mae loans, no 30+ day past due in last 12 months, no hardship forbearance in last 12 months, credit check with no bankruptcy/foreclosure/default/90-day delinquencies in last 24 months, parent loans originating after May 2026 excluded; Discover legacy 12 consecutive on-time payments with no new originations post-2024; College Ave 24 consecutive on-time payments; SoFi 24 consecutive full principal and interest payments; Citizens Bank 36 on-time payments; Laurel Road 36 on-time payments for refinanced loans; Ascent 24-36 payments depending on product; Earnest no formal cosigner release program) reflect publicly available lender program terms at last review; specific program requirements may change and should be verified directly with each lender before planning. CFPB findings on cosigner release rejection rates (approximately 90% based on 2015 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report; subsequent CFPB Compliance Bulletin 2018-01 addressed cosigner death and bankruptcy auto-default practices) reflect publicly available CFPB documentation. Five private lenders offering voluntary death and total permanent disability discharge programs (Sallie Mae Smart Option, Discover legacy, Laurel Road, Wells Fargo legacy sold to Firstmark Services 2020-2021, New York Higher Education Services Corporation) reflect publicly available lender program offerings; specific program terms vary. Statutory references (FDCPA 15 U.S.C. § 1692g and § 1692k; CFPB Regulation F 12 C.F.R. § 1006; FTC Holder Rule 16 C.F.R. § 433.2; 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) student loan discharge; 11 U.S.C. § 1301 Chapter 13 codebtor stay; 11 U.S.C. § 362 automatic stay; IRC Section 221(d)(1) qualified education loan definition; Higher Education Act) are summarized for educational purposes; consult licensed consumer protection and bankruptcy professionals for case-specific advice. Report suspected FDCPA violations at ftc.gov and consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Last reviewed: May 2026.