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The Ivy League is made up of eight elite private colleges, all of which are based in the Northeast. Being accepted to an Ivy League college is something some students work toward all their lives — but there’s more to gaining admission to these schools than good grades and a long list of extracurriculars.

With admission rates now hovering in the 3.4% to 5% range, there’s a heightened sense of competition among top students in high schools across the country and around the world.

Read on to learn more about Ivy League colleges, including which schools are considered “Ivies,” the benefits of going to an Ivy League college, how much they cost, and ways to make your application stand out.

What Are the Different Ivy League Schools?

Named for their ivy-covered campuses, the eight private colleges that make up the Ivy League have many things in common. However, each school has its own unique reputation and characteristics that attract different kinds of students. Here’s a closer look at these top-ranked schools.


💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

Brown University

Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown is known for its humanities programs as well as its Warren Alpert Medical School. Its open curriculum allows for a relatively free-form educational model where students are encouraged to take classes they like without having to accumulate certain requirements. Brown also gives students the option of taking as many classes as they want on the basis of pass-fail.

Columbia University

Located in New York City, Columbia is one of the most diverse Ivy League schools with 46% of undergraduates identifying as students of color. It also has one of the highest percentages of international students at any Ivy League, with 13% of its student body coming from foreign countries. This cosmopolitan college is host to renowned business, journalism, and law schools, and requires students to adhere to its core curriculum, which focuses largely on liberal arts.

Cornell University

Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell is one of the largest Ivy League universities, occupying a sprawling campus in this scenic upstate town. Known for its agriculture and engineering schools, Cornell also has strong Greek life and a wide range of athletic programs.

Dartmouth College

Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth is the most rural of the Ivies, drawing a student body interested in the outdoors and Greek life — around 60% of students participate in sororities or fraternities. Its somewhat smaller student body allows for more one-on-one attention in classes and a strong sense of community on campus.

Harvard University

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard encourages students to take a wide range of courses through their general education requirements, which allows students to broaden their interests and take advantage of intellectual curiosities. The school has 12 residential houses that seek to foster a sense of community in an otherwise imposing setting.

The University of Pennsylvania

Located in Philadelphia, Penn is known for its four distinct undergraduate colleges, including the Wharton School of Business and the College of Arts and Science. Students have the option of taking part in Greek life, and are also encouraged to explore opportunities in the greater Philadelphia area, from internships to the wide array of cultural events available.

Princeton University

Located in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University offers either a liberal arts or engineering and applied science degree for undergraduate students, with both programs including general education requirements. Princeton is known for its international affairs and engineering programs, as well as their storied eating clubs, which serve as coed dining halls and social centers for students, and are comparable to non-residential fraternities or sororities.

Yale University

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is known for its creative writing and arts programs, as well as a residential college program and an array of secret societies. It’s also home to a renowned graduate drama program and law school.

Recommended: Ultimate College Application Checklist

Benefits of Attending an Ivy League School

For those who get that coveted acceptance letter, the benefits can be worth the years of hard work it took to get in. From growing your network to gaining access to world-renowned resources and professors at the top of their field, attending an Ivy League school can set students on an accelerated path to intellectual and professional success.

Having an Ivy League school on your resume may open countless doors when it comes to applying for jobs, fellowships, or graduate programs and may provide a leg up when it comes to advancing your career.

The amount of funding available at Ivy League schools can also be a major draw. All Ivy League schools have need-blind admissions policies, meaning that admissions officers will not look at a student’s financial need when considering their application. They also have a promise to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need based on household income.

Brown, Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton take things one step further, packaging aid with no loans for each student. Ivy League schools also have incredible funding opportunities for research and travel for students, allowing them to broaden their interests and perspectives.

Recommended: Paying for College With No Money in Your Savings

The Cost of an Ivy League School and Options for Paying for Tuition

All of the Ivy League schools are private universities, which usually implies a hefty price for tuition. The average undergraduate tuition for an Ivy League school for the 2022-2023 school year was $59,961, plus room and board. But due to these universities’ impressive endowments, ranging from Brown’s $5.6 billion to Harvard’s staggering $53.2 billion, these schools are able to offer generous financial aid packages to prospective students.

While Ivy League schools do not offer merit-based or athletic scholarships, there are generally a wide variety of need-based scholarships awarded to students depending on their household income.

A student’s household income is equal to the combined gross income of all people occupying the household unit who are 15 years of age or older. Among Brown’s class of 2025, for example, 99% of students with household incomes below $60,000 received an average of $80,013 in annual financial assistance — nearly full rides, including room and board. For families making between $100,000 and $125,000, 98% of students received an average of $56,538 in annual need-based aid.

In addition to aid offered by Ivy League schools directly, students or their parents may choose private student loans to help ease the burden of paying college tuition and expenses.

Students will generally want to exhaust all ffederal student aid options (which include grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans) before considering private student loans. But if there is still a gap between federal student aid and the remaining cost of attendance, a private loan may be an option for some students.


💡 Quick Tip: It’s a good idea to understand the pros and cons of private student loans and federal student loans before committing to them.

GPA Requirements for Ivy League Schools

An impressive grade point average (GPA) is only one aspect of a student’s college application. However, to even be considered for admission to an Ivy League school, students may want to see if their own GPA falls within the average for admitted students. Among the Ivies that release statistics on accepted students’ GPAs, the average weighted GPA is about 4.0, meaning mostly As.

How to Make an Application More Competitive

In addition to a high GPA and impressive SAT and/or ACT scores, prospective students will need to prove themselves in other ways to gain admission to an Ivy League school.

Excelling in advanced courses, like honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes throughout high school may improve students’ chances of admissions, especially if students show a particular area of interest, like science or humanities.

While in the past, college admissions counselors would advise students to be “well-rounded” candidates, it’s now advisable to develop and demonstrate a passion for a particular subject area, which helps Ivies to build a more overall well-rounded student body.

Students can show their interests beyond academics by taking part in extracurricular activities. By engaging in activities early in high school and growing that interest over time, students show their commitment and enthusiasm for a particular area.

Strong interviews and letters of recommendation can also improve a student’s application, along with a strong personal essay. Ivy League admissions teams look for essays that highlight a student’s best qualities, perhaps expressed through a personal anecdote or description of a unique passion that displays a candidate’s distinctive character.

Hitting the “Submit” Button

Following the tips above may help improve a student’s Ivy League application, helping to gain admission to one or more of the most prestigious universities in the world. Of course, there are many schools that have the same academic rigor of an Ivy League, and it’s generally advisable to sprinkle in one or two “safety” schools for good measure.

But once a student has decided they want to apply to an Ivy League school, determined which is the right one for them, applied for financial aid, and completed their applications, it’s time to hit submit!

The Takeaway

If you’re hoping to attend an Ivy League college, you’ll want to consider each school’s admission rate, along with its particular academic program and financial aid statistics, to determine which is the right school to apply to.

However, it can be helpful to apply to a range of schools, both in terms of admission’s standards and tuition costs. This will give you options in case a school’s financial aid package isn’t as generous as you hoped.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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If you are gearing up to go to college, you are likely focused on maintaining a good GPA and prepping for the SAT or ACT. However, those aren’t the only factors that will get you into your dream school. Getting involved in extracurriculars in high school is often just as important as academics.

One type of extracurricular that you may want to consider is joining a club. High schools usually have a variety of clubs available for students to join. Joining a club comes with many benefits and can also make your high school experience more fun and memorable. Read on to learn more about why clubs are important and how to get involved.

Benefits of Joining a Club

The list of things-to-do while in high school can seem pretty overwhelming at times, especially when you add college preparation to the mix. There are classes to stay on top of, events and parties to attend, and soon enough college applications roll around. Balancing coursework and a social life can be a struggle, but one way to combine social life with college preparation is by joining a club.

There are a lot of benefits to joining a high school club. Many colleges like to see that applicants are well-rounded, so academic success isn’t the only way to stand out among other applicants. Clubs provide colleges with insight into what a student’s interests and passions are. In addition, they help students develop time management skills and responsibility.

Learning to balance work and fun while in high school can help make it easier to maintain that balance after entering college.

Joining a club in high school can also provide an opportunity for students to relax and have some fun. Having fun is a vital piece of creating a memorable high school experience and it can help students perform better in class.

Not only is the social time enjoyable for some students, but participation in clubs can also help students develop their “soft” skills, such as effective communication and learning to work with others.

In addition to making friends, being in a club gives students the opportunity to bond with their faculty advisor, who is usually a teacher. Building a relationship with teachers during high school is important for getting quality letters of recommendation to add to those college applications.

💡 Quick Tip: Fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee SoFi private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

Common High School Clubs

The list of high school clubs that are available at each school will differ. Generally, a school will have a variety of clubs available. These can range from clubs that are academic, like a foreign language club, to clubs that are artistic, like a creative writing club, or something that’s related to a student’s hobbies, like a video games club.

Usually, high schools will also have clubs that participate in some kind of volunteer work or community service. These can be clubs that do work in the community hospitals, in meal programs for the homeless or elderly, and much more.

Some clubs are high tech, like the robotics club, and some are more old-school, like the chess club. Schools will usually have a lot of variety in the types of clubs that exist, and there may be some clubs that are unique to just your school. Since students can often start their own clubs, there isn’t one set list of clubs that will exist at every school.

Recommended: How to Get Involved on Campus in College

Starting a Club

If students don’t like the selection of clubs available at their school (why doesn’t every school have a waffle club?) then they are generally able to start their own. Starting a new club has a lot of benefits for the students who choose to put in the work to get one up and running.

There is no list of “correct” clubs to start in high school, most colleges value students who show commitment to something they care about. It’s about the quality of the activities they spend time in, not the quantity.

Seeing that a student has started a new club will show college admissions that the student has developed leadership and organizational abilities. Starting a club shows initiative, and sometimes, students who start clubs will end up in one of the leadership positions, like President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer.

Each school will have its own process for starting a club, but there are a few steps that will be the same everywhere. The first step is, of course, figuring out what the club is about. Is it going to focus on community service, something academic? Will it be focused more on fun and entertainment?

After a topic for the club is chosen, students should figure out what the purpose and goals of the club are. If the club is about chess, will students be learning how to play? Will club members be entering tournaments together? Figuring out the purpose of the club and what its goals are before members join will help limit confusion and manage everyone’s expectations.

At most schools, the club will have to get registered after its name and purpose are defined by founding members. Registering the club makes it official and once this step is complete students can actually begin enjoying their club.

What’s next? Gaining new members and planning the first club meeting. Once the club is official and ready to start, it’s time to focus on recruitment and preparing for the first meeting.

Students should choose a date, time, and location for the first meeting before recruiting, that way they have information to give interested students on when activities will be beginning.

Before the meeting, club members should know what they plan on discussing with the new recruits and how long they want the meeting to last. Usually, the first meeting is a good time to go over the club’s purpose and goals and to get contact information from the new members.

Sometime in the first few meetings, it may be a good idea to assign leadership roles for the club. These usually include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The way these roles function can differ from club to club, but their usual responsibilities are as follows:

•   The President will lead the club and supervise meetings and activities.
•   The Vice President assists the President and takes over their roles whenever the Present isn’t available.
•   The Secretary takes notes during meetings and helps keep all members up to date on the club’s plans.
•   The Treasurer will manage the club’s budget and keep track of expenses.

Assigning leadership roles will help keep the club running smoothly and make it easier for the club to meet its goals.

💡 Quick Tip: It’s a good idea to understand the pros and cons of private student loans and federal student loans before committing to them.

Planning Ahead for College

It’s really never too soon to start planning, as well as saving, for college. The process of researching schools and then applying can be time-consuming, so the earlier students begin their research, the less last-minute cramming they’ll have to do.

A vital piece of planning for college is figuring out how to finance college. Most schools come with a pretty large price tag, but there are a variety of ways that students can help fund their college tuition.

To apply for federal financial aid, students will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This will allow you to find out if you are eligible for different forms of financial aid, including grants, scholarship, federal student loans, and work-study. Grants and scholarships usually do not need to be repaid, whereas loans do need to be repaid.

It’s recommended that students exhaust their federal aid options before looking into private student loans. Federal loans come with certain benefits that private loans do not.

If students are not eligible for federal aid, or the financial aid they receive is not enough to meet their needs, there are other options, such as private scholarships and private student loans.

Scholarships are widely available and the eligibility criteria varies for each one. Some scholarships are need-based, while others are merit-based. Scholarships are available through schools, local communities, and corporations.

Taking out private student loans is another option for helping to fund a college education. These loans are available through private lenders, including banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Rates and terms vary, depending on the lender. Generally, borrowers (or cosigners) who have strong credit qualify for the lowest rates.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Whether you’re paying for college, buying a house, or starting a business, it’s common to take on debt at some point in your life. Repaying that debt typically involves making a fixed or minimum monthly payment by a certain day each month.

But what happens if money is tight and you don’t have enough to make that monthly payment?

It might seem like making a partial payment is better than paying nothing at all. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Depending on the lender or creditor, a partial payment may be looked at the exact same way as a late or missed payment.

Though partial payments might help lower your balance and reduce the interest that accrues on your debt, lenders and creditors generally don’t see them as on-time payments and may still consider your account as in default.

If you’re thinking about making partial payments, here’s what you can expect to happen — and what you can do instead.

What is a Partial Payment?

A partial payment on a debt is any payment smaller than the minimum amount due, as specified by the creditor.

Credit cards have minimum payment amounts, which can vary depending on your balance and annual percentage rate (APR). Other types of debt, such as car loans and mortgages, typically have set monthly payments that don’t vary as much.

Partial payments typically do not typically satisfy a creditor’s payment requirements for loans, credit cards, and other debt. And, not paying the full amount could be treated the same as a missed payment.

Why Do Customers Make Partial Payments?

Generally, customers make partial payments if they’re dealing with financial hardship or other money issues that make them unable to cover all their monthly expenses.

Even a sound budget can go off the rails when emergency expenses, such as medical bills or car repairs, arise. When bills are due, paying for necessities, like food, housing, and utilities, are usually a higher priority than long-term debt.

People who are out of work due and collecting unemployment benefits may also consider making partial payments on debt for a period of time.

An unexpected turn of events, such as job loss or a major bill you didn’t see coming, are examples of why financial experts recommend starting an emergency fund. Ideally, you’d have three to six months’ worth of basic living expenses socked away.

Does a Partial Payment Affect Your Credit Score?

It could. If you pay less than the minimum amount due on a credit card or loan, it likely won’t satisfy your creditors, and they will still consider it a missed payment. In addition to hitting you with a late fee, they may also report to the credit bureaus that your payment is late.

By law, creditors can’t notify credit bureaus of a late payment until it’s 30 days past the due date. Paying the remainder of what you owe for that month prior to the 30-day mark can keep a late payment from showing up on a credit score, though you could still be liable for fees and penalties set by the creditor for making a late payment.

Because your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO® Score, having a late payment on your record can cause your score to drop.

Lenders consider a borrower’s repayment track record as a primary indicator of their ability to pay back future debt, which is why payment history is the largest component of most credit scores. Paying on time, all the time, can help build your credit score.

The impact of late and partial payments on your credit score will vary based on your existing credit history and how far behind you are on payments. Accounts that go unpaid for several months will do more harm to a credit score than a single late payment.

Over time, the impact of a late payment on your score will diminish and, after seven years, it will be removed from your credit report.

Other Downsides of Making a Partial Payment

Falling short of what you owe can create other issues besides putting a dent in your credit score. Creditors may impose fees and take additional measures to secure repayment.

Here’s a closer look at what could happen if you only make partial payments on these common types of debt.

Auto Loans

What happens to your auto loan will depend on your agreement and history with the lender. If you’ve never missed a payment before, they may be willing to accept a partial payment for now.

Depending on the state, defaulting on your car loan can mean vehicle repossession, which can involve selling the car at public auction or electronic disabling the car to prevent it from being used. It can be a good idea to check the contract terms to learn what the lender is authorized to do and when.

Credit Cards

Unless you’ve come to a prior agreement with the credit card company, partial payments likely won’t satisfy your account’s minimum payment requirements. That’s not, unfortunately, how credit cards work.

Even if you pay something towards the bill, your account will likely still become delinquent, and the credit card company may report the late payments to the credit bureaus.

Failing to pay the minimum amount on a credit card bill also typically comes with late fees. Delaying payment further can result with additional consequences, such as freezing your credit card and sending your debt to a collection agency.

Mortgages

Making partial payments on a mortgage can be considered defaulting on the loan and even trigger the foreclosure process.

Prior to foreclosure, borrowers will likely incur late fees and receive a notice of default when the mortgage payment is a few months past due.

In general, a foreclosure can’t begin until 120 days after the first missed mortgage payment. That means you have some time to pay the amount that’s past due before the lender starts the foreclosure process.

Recommended: Prepayment Penalties: Why They Exist and How to Avoid Them

Student Loans

Getting out of student debt typically doesn’t involve partial payments. Paying less than the minimum due on student loans could cause them to become delinquent one day after the payment due date unless alternative arrangements are made with lenders.

With federal student loans, your loans typically enter default when you miss or only make partial payments for 270 days. The lender can then report the default to the credit bureaus. In addition, the government can garnish your wages, and even keep your tax refund.

A possible exception: If you have an income-driven federal student loan repayment plan, your monthly payment could be as low as $0 if your income dips low enough.

With private student loans, the rules will depend on the lender. If you remain delinquent for 90 days or more, the delinquency may be reported to the credit bureaus. If the account continues to be delinquent, you could fall into default, at which point private lenders can take legal action.

Alternatives to Making Partial Payments

Before making a partial payment, you may want to consider some alternatives:

Reaching Out to Your Creditor

It can be a good idea to contact the creditor or lender before the payment is due to explain your situation and what you can afford to pay that month.

You may also want to ask about a “hardship repayment plan.” This type of plan could potentially allow you the option of minimal or no payment, a temporary reduction or suspension in account interest, or interest-only payments.

You may want to keep in mind, however, that interest-only payments won’t decrease your principal — or the size of your loan. Some programs last a month, and others up to six months or so.

Contacting a Nonprofit Credit Counseling Agency

Nonprofit credit counseling agencies can help by negotiating lower interest rates with your current creditors. This can often result in lower monthly payments. If you are able to work out a plan, the payment you make may no longer be considered a “partial payment,” but instead an agreed-upon amount.

Considering Debt Consolidation

If you have multiple credit cards with high-interest rates and you’re having trouble paying the minimum on each, you may want to look into whether a debt consolidation program might help. The process involves taking out a personal loan at a bank or other reputable lender and then using it to pay off your credit cards.

You then end up with one loan to pay back, ideally at a lower interest rate. Typically, a closed-end loan like a personal loan means higher monthly payments, since personal loans have fixed terms. This is great news for borrowers who want to pay down their debt sooner, but it might not be the right choice for everyone.

Recommended: 6 Strategies for Becoming Debt Free

The Takeaway

If cash flow is tight, you might consider making a partial payment on a debt, hoping that paying something will prevent a late fee or a late payment from showing up on your credit report.

However, borrowers don’t typically get any extra credit for making a partial effort. If the monthly minimum or fixed payment hasn’t been paid in full, the lender will likely mark the payment as missed.

While partial payments may help chip away at your account balance, you can still end up facing fees, a reduced credit score, and potentially loan default.

If you’re unable to make full payments on your debt, it can be a good idea to contact your creditor as soon as possible and see if they may be able to offer alternative payment plans, forbearance, or postponement. Budgeting and tracking your spending can help you stay on track; many banks offer helpful tools for these tasks.

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Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

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SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

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Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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If you want to sell your car but still owe money towards the purchase price, the process will be different from selling a vehicle that you own free and clear. And the process will change depending on whether you are selling the car privately, to a dealer, or are doing a trade-in.

Here, you’ll learn the step-by-steps for selling a car that you still have a loan on, as well as learn smart advice for buying your next set of wheels.

How to Sell a Car You Still Owe Money On

At a high level, selling a vehicle with a loan has three main steps:

1.    Gather important info

2.    Determine if you have positive or negative equity

3.    Pick a selling option.

You’ll explore each of these steps in more depth next.

Gather Important Info

First, get a sense of what the car is worth. This will depend upon its condition, so objectively look at your vehicle. How clean is it? How well has it been maintained? What does the body and interior look like? Examine other used cars like yours for sale and see how they’re priced.

Look at used car valuation guides, as well. They will have different values for trade-ins (when working with a dealership) than for private-party sales (when selling to an individual), and will also list retail values. Look at the one that will fit the situation.

Also, verify the payoff amount on the vehicle’s loan. This will include the principal balance plus any accrued interest and is often available online or can be obtained by calling the lender. During the conversation about selling a vehicle with a loan, you can also find out how to send the payoff amount to the lender and when the lender wants to receive it (before or after the sale of the car).

Determine If You Have Positive or Negative Equity

The vehicle’s equity is the difference between the resale value and the amount owed on it, and this number can be positive or negative.

Let’s say that a vehicle is valued at $20,000 with a loan amount of $10,000; that car has a positive equity amount of $10,000. If, though, the vehicle is valued at $20,000 and the outstanding loan amount is $25,000, then it has negative equity of $5,000. Loans on cars with negative equity are referred to as “upside-down” or “underwater.”

So, when figuring out how to sell a car with a loan, the processes will differ based on whether the vehicle has positive or negative equity as well as the selling option you select.

Pick a Selling Option

If you have a car with an outstanding loan balance — and it isn’t practical or even possible to pay it off — then selling a car with a loan can typically be handled in one of three ways:

•   Selling it to a used car dealership

•   Selling it privately to another person

•   Trading it in.

Selling a Car to a Used Car Dealership

If a car dealership will buy used cars without requiring that you buy one from them during the transaction, then the process will probably be pretty straightforward. The dealer will offer you a certain dollar amount. If you agree, they will pay off the lender in exchange for getting the vehicle’s title.

If there is positive equity on the vehicle, then you’ll get the money that remains after the loan balance is paid off. If it’s a negative equity situation, then you’d need to pay the difference between what the used car dealer is willing to pay and what it takes to pay off the loan.

For example, if a dealer offers $15,000 on a vehicle that has a $10,000 loan, then the dealer would take care of the loan payoff and provide the person selling the car the remaining money ($5,000), minus any fees involved.

In a negative equity situation, for example, if the vehicle’s value is $10,000 and the outstanding loan is $13,000, then the seller would need to chip in the difference (in this case, $3,000 plus any fees) to complete the sale and transfer the title to the buyer.

Recommended: Smarter Ways to Get a Car Loan

Selling a Car Privately

With a private sale, you might get more money than you would from a used car dealer (who needs to resell the vehicle at a profit), but you’d also need to take on more responsibility for managing the sale. This includes the transfer of title and payment of fees among other duties.

Steps to take include the following:

•   Get the current loan payoff from the lender (there will likely be interest owed beyond the principal amount).

•   Find out what paperwork they’ll need and how they want the process to work.

•   Have the buyer follow the lender’s procedures when paying for the car.

From the lender’s perspective, they want to ensure that they get paid. So, as just one possibility, they may have a buyer pay them the agreed-upon price for the vehicle. If it’s more than what’s owed, then the lender could give you the overage. If it’s less than what’s owed, you could give the bank the difference between the price and loan amount.

When selling a car with a loan privately, you’ll also need to handle any fees and forms with the motor vehicle department of your state. Then you’ll be ready to move ahead, and, if another vehicle is in your plans, decide whether to buy or lease a car.

Trading In a Car You Still Owe Money On

As a third possibility, you could trade in the car with a loan balance to a dealer as part of purchasing either a new or used car. The dealer will offer a certain amount of credit for the trade-in vehicle and if its value is more than the loan amount, that difference would go towards the purchase of the replacement vehicle.

If you’ve been saving for a car, here’s how this might work: The dealer will offer a certain amount of credit for the trade-in vehicle. If its value is more than the loan amount, that difference would go towards the purchase of the replacement vehicle.

If the loan amount is higher than the value, then the dealer may agree to combine the vehicle’s negative equity with the loan for the replacement vehicle. If this is the chosen route, the term may need to be extended to create affordable payments and this will potentially lead to more interest being paid on the new loan.

Recommended: 31 Ways to Save Money on Car Maintenance

The Takeaway

Selling a car with a loan is a little different from selling one that’s paid in full. When thinking about how to sell a financed car, it’s easier to do so if you have positive equity in your car but still can be doable with negative equity. Some options include selling to a dealer or to an individual or trading in the vehicle towards another one.

Then you can, if necessary, start a savings account so you’ll be ready to buy your next car.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

Photo credit: iStock/Sakkawokkie

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SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Many people don’t carry cash these days, preferring to make a purchase by tapping or swiping a debit card or credit card. However, there are times it can actually pay to dip into your wallet and break out the bills.

Using cash can be more secure and less costly, among other benefits.

Here, you’ll learn when it can be better to buy with cash and when plastic is preferable.

The Benefits of Cash

Here are some of the pros of using cash:

You May Get a Discount

You may be rewarded for paying cash, like paying a lower price at the gas station or when you get take-out at a restaurant.

Many businesses pay a fee for accepting credit and debit cards, so they may be willing to charge you less if you’ll pay in cash. If you frequently fill up your tank, saving even 10 to 20 cents per gallon can add up to significant savings over time.

It Can Help You Avoid Overspending

When you tap or swipe your credit or debit card, you don’t physically see your money leaving your account. Since there’s no sense of immediacy or consequence, it can be easy to spend more than you originally intended. That can lead to debt and overdraft or NSF charges.

If, on the other hand, you leave home with only the amount of money you need for the day in cash, your spending is likely to be more mindful. That could mean you may have a better chance of sticking to your budget and avoiding overspending.

There Are Fewer Security Risks

Yes, someone could rob you when you are carrying cash. However, there is less risk of identity theft or your information getting stolen when you pay with cash vs. a debit or credit card.

You Can Avoid Fees

Cash is a one-shot deal — the purchase you made won’t end up costing you a penny more. With credit and debit, however, you can end up paying additional charges down the line, from late fees to interest payments on debt.

Recommended: How to Avoid Overdraft Fees

Times When You Should Pay in Cash

Your Tab is $10 or Less

It can be a good idea to carry cash for small purchases. Many retailers have a minimum amount of money you must spend in order to use debit or credit. If your purchase is under, you’ll have to throw in extra things (you probably don’t need) to meet the minimum.

When Shopping at a Small or Local Business

Small businesses often offer discounts for cash payments, since it helps them save on bank fees. This can be an easy way to support your local businesses and save a few dollars at the same time.

You Want to Keep Advertisers at Bay

You may have noticed that after you buy something with a credit or debit card, you often get hit with ads and offers for similar products. That’s because retailers can track their customers’ spending and share their information with a third party, who can then target them with ads.

This can be annoying, and also lead to more spending if you’re enticed by an offer. Using cash makes it much harder for businesses to collect and share your information.

Times When You Shouldn’t Pay With Cash

Next, learn about the times when you should keep your wallet shut and find another, non-cash way to pay.

Buying a House

If real estate is hot where you live, you may be tempted (if you can) to plunk down cash to ensure you get that dream house before someone else does.

While buying a home with cash vs. getting a mortgage may get you the house, it may not be the most prudent move in the long run, especially if it wipes out all of your savings.

A mortgage has tax benefits and timely payments can help you build good credit. Also, there could be better uses for all that cash, like investing in the stock market or elsewhere.

Business Expenses

If you own your own business, have a side gig, or do freelance work, it can be better to use credit (or even a check) to pay for business-related purchases. You’ll likely want a paper trail so you can deduct these expenses on your tax return.

Another potential perk of using credit is that it may offer some purchase protection in event something you buy for your business that breaks or gets stolen soon after you purchase it.

Paying Service Providers

You may think a service provider, whether it’s an electrician or an auto mechanic did a good job, but only time will tell. Using credit can offer you some protection in the event that you experience problems with a service after you’ve already paid for it.

Renting a Car

Often your credit card will provide insurance on car rentals (which can help you save on renting a car), but only if you use that form of payment, as opposed to debit or cash. Using credit for the car rental can help you avoid paying for something you don’t need to purchase.

You’re Looking to Build Credit

If you need to build your credit score, one way to accomplish that is to use your credit card on a regular basis and show that you’re responsible by paying what you owe each month, consistently and on time.

When Buying Electronics

Using your credit card instead of cash for electronics can be a big advantage if your credit card offers extended warranties as a cardmember benefit. This allows you to get peace of mind without having to pony up for the store’s warranty. And, you can simply pay off the balance as soon as the bill comes.

You’re Looking to Track Your Spending

If you’re looking to see where your money is going so you can track your spending and set up a monthly budget, it can be easier if you pay with credit or debit.

Your financial institution may even offer you a pie chart of your spending, broken down into categories. Seeing everything in black and white can help you become better at budgeting.

Alternatives to Using Cash

Paying in cash has its pros and cons. If you decide that you want to pay with something other than cash, here are some alternatives.

Cash vs Credit Cards

A credit card can be a good alternative to cash if you are able to pay it off in full every month, and you do. If managed well, credit cards (even secured credit cards) can help you build credit to buy a home or another large purchase in the future.

Cash vs Debit Cards

A debit card can be a good substitute for cash, as long as you know there’s money in the bank. By using a debit card, you’re not incurring any new high-interest debt. As long as you are not incurring any overdraft fees, or withdrawing money from ATMs that charge high fees, debit cards can be a simple way to make purchases.

Cash vs Financing or Loans

It can sometimes be better to pay for a major purchase, like a car or a home, with a loan rather than cash if the interest rate is lower than what you could likely earn by investing that money.

However, you’ll also want to keep in mind that there is risk involved in investing in the stock market, so there is always a chance that you could lose money.

Recommended: Leasing vs. Buying a Car: What’s Right for You?

The Takeaway

Even as we move towards a more cashless society, it can be important to keep cash in your wallet and use it for certain everyday expenses.

Paying in cash can help you garner discounts at local businesses, stick to your budget, avoid paying overdraft and interest fees, protect against identity theft, and keep advertisers from targeting you.

There are times, however, when it can make more sense to pay with credit rather than cash. These can include: when you’re making business purchases and buying electronics and/or you’re looking to build credit or closely track your spending.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

Photo credit: iStock/towfiqu ahamed

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SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

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