Written by
Hanneh BarehamWriter, Personal Loans and Debt Relief
Hanneh Bareham has been a personal finance writer with Bankrate since 2020. She started out as a credit cards reporter before transitioning into the role of student loans reporter. She is now a writer on the loans team, further widening her scope across multiple forms of consumer lending.
Hannah has been editing for Bankrate since late 2022. They aim to provide the most up-to-date information to help people navigate the complexities of loans and make the best financial decisions.
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Refinancing can save you time and money, but it's not always the best route for every borrower. Here are a few factors that everyone should consider before making the jump to refinance a student loan.
Rising interest rates
Rapidly rising rates should be a primary consideration when determining the best time to refinance. Due to sky-high inflation, the Federal Reserve has been hiking rates at a historic level in an attempt to cool the economy. When the Federal Reserve hikes rates, private student loans are impacted and lenders raise their minimum and maximum rates in response. While rates are higher than usual at this time, borrowers looking to refinance private loans shouldn't wait for them to drop. No one can be certain on how the Fed will respond to the economy, but it's predicted that rates will continue to rise.
If you've been thinking about refinancing your private loans for a while, now may be the time to do it. You'll lock in the lowest rate possible and can always refinance again in the future to score better terms. Just make sure you're applying for a fixed rate loan. Variable interest rates are subject to change based on the Fed and will likely only increase, while fixed rates don't change during the life of the loan.
Loan type
Borrowers who have high interest or variable-rate private student loans should consider refinancing as soon as possible due to the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in an attempt to combat inflation. Variable-rates fluctuate based on market activity, so it's best to lock in the lowest rate possible before another potential rate hike.
With student loan forgiveness currently in limbo, those with federal student loans should re-consider refinancing until after the payment pause expires or a decision is made on Biden's debt relief plan. Payments are set to resume no later than 60 days after June 30, 2023. Refinancing before this date will cause you to forfeit the remainder of the pause – and any potential extensions in the future – as private lenders only provide company-specific benefits to borrowers.
Federal loan benefits
Those who refinance their federal loans lose out on all of the federal benefits and repayment programs, including loan forgiveness. Before refinancing, it's best to take a step back and examine every federal option, as most private lenders don't offer nearly as many hardship or payment relief programs.
The U.S. Department of Education offers occupation and income-based forgiveness and repayment programs, like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment. Plus, borrowers can apply for financial hardship payment relief at any time. While most private lenders provide some relief programs, it's rare to see a company boast a portfolio of benefits comparable to the Education Department's offerings.
Long-term goals
If you have a mix of federal and private debt, assess your financial situation to determine whether refinancing is absolutely necessary before signing on the dotted line.
Consider your current financial situation, loan balance and the resumption of student loan payments to gain a holistic view of what your refinancing goals are. If you're looking to save money on interest charges, make sure to apply for a lender only if you're guaranteed a lower rate through prequalification.
If your credit is in good health but you're looking for a more manageable monthly payment, then refinancing may be your best bet if you don't qualify for any federal programs.
What refinancing could mean for you
Student loan refinancing can be a big help to your finances, but only in the right situation.
Here's what refinancing could look like if you:
If you only have private student loans with high interest rates, then refinancing could save you a significant amount of money over time and would simplify your monthly payment. However, you must first qualify for a better rate and therefore, be in good financial standing with a good to excellent credit score.
If you only have federal student debt, it'll likely be a good idea to look into consolidating your loans into a federal Direct loan before refinancing with a private lender. You can only consolidate federal student loans into a Direct loan and end up saving money in interest depending on your credit.
If you don't end up with more favorable terms, then consider refinancing. Just keep in mind that consolidation allows you to remain eligible for federal benefits.
Most borrowers choose to refinance a mix of federal and private loans. For eligible borrowers, it saves money by setting one, uniform rate. It also simplifies repayment by consolidating the multiple payments into one, monthly payment.
However, borrowers with federal loans will likely want to hold off on refinancing until official news is released from the Biden administration regarding forgiveness or payments resuming.
If you want to refinance right now, it doesn't make sense to pull the trigger unless you can ensure the new loan has better terms and a lower interest rate. Due to the rates, skip over a lender if it doesn't offer prequalification. It's likely that you'll end up with a higher rate unless your current interest is extremely high.
Most lenders have strict income approval requirements; most set an annual minimum of around $30,000. Those who don't have a predictable or sufficient income likely won't get approved without the help of a co-signer. While there are lenders that cater to those with a low-income, they typically have higher rates, so check the interest ranges before applying.
A co-signer is someone who takes on legal responsibility for the loan and signs the contract as well. If you miss a payment, the co-signer must pay and their credit could be negatively affected, so it's important that all parties involved are aware of the potential consequences of co-signing.
International students can have a harder time qualifying for a refinance loan than those studying domestically. Most lenders that cater to international students require a co-signer in strong financial health.
Your eligibility may also depend on your program of study and status. Some lenders won't accept students unless they've graduated and may disclude specific certification or degree programs. Check the lender's website to make sure you meet the requirements prior to applying.
Most lenders don't allow current students to refinance their student loans before graduating. Some may accept those who are close to graduating and have already accepted a job with a set salary, but it's not likely that every lender has that leniency.
See how much you could save with refinancing
A student loan refinance calculator can help you parse through lenders to find the offer that'll save you the most money. After pre qualifying, you can enter in the predicted loan details and compare them with your current details to see how your new monthly payment, interest costs and repayment timeline could change.
How to refinance your loans with Bankrate in 3 steps
1.Shop around
Shop around and explore multiple lenders to find the company that best suits your needs. Look specifically at the requirements, APR ranges and repayment terms.
Most lenders require good credit and a steady income to qualify for the best rates. Consider using a co-signer to get better rates and improve your approval odds.
2.Prequalify and compare offers
Prequalify for as many lenders as possible to find the most competitive rates for your situation.
Prequalifying won't impact your credit score and allows you to see your predicted rates and approval odds. It likely won't be worth applying if the lender does't offer prequalification.
3.Lock in the better terms
After finding the lender with the best rates and benefits, lock in your predicted offer and apply on its website. If approved, the lender will contact you with further details.
Have all of the personal and financial documents listed on the lender's website on-hand to ensure a smooth application process.
Ready to compare student loan refinancing options?
Comparing options and lenders can be an overwhelming process, as many companies offer similar services. It's best to focus on the details listed in the company's terms and conditions to factor in any hidden fees and rate increases.
Thankfully, there are resources available that do all of the hard work for you by listing out all the lender details; all you need to do is apply. Use our resource below to sift through the best lenders and find the company that'll help you reach your long-and short-term financial goals.
The listings that appear on this page are from companies from which this
website receives compensation, which may impact how, where and in what
order products appear. This table does not include all companies or all
available products. Bankrate does not endorse or recommend any companies.
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Get student loan refinance offers
Answer a few questions in two minutes or less to see which student loans you pre-qualify for. It's free and will not impact your credit score.
The Bankrate scoring system evaluates lenders' affordability, availability and customer experience based on 11 data points selected by our editorial team.
An annual percentage rate (APR) represents the interest and fees you'll pay on top of your initial amount every month. A fixed rate will not change during your repayment period.
The range of loan amounts that a lender will service. The maximum value is the largest amount a lender will give although this amount may not be available to borrowers who don’t have good or excellent credit. Amount ranges may vary for non-loan products. Term refers to the amount of time you have to repay the loan.
The minimum credit score typically required to qualify for a loan with a given lender. Exact thresholds are not always disclosed by a lender and in certain cases the minimum score is the best estimate based on publicly available information. Credit score refers to FICO 9.0 unless otherwise stated.
4.0
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
4.96-
10.24%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$25k- $500K
Term: 5-25 yr
Min. Credit
660
Low rates for loans over $5000
No Maximum loan amount
See your rates in 3 minutes without affecting your credit score
No application or origination fees and no prepayment penalties
Friendly customer service available via phone, email, and live chat
See disclaimers at: https://www.splashfinancial.com/disclaimers/
Splash Financial, Inc. (NMLS #1630038), licensed by the DFPI under California Financing Law, license # 60DBO-102545
* Fixed loans feature repayment terms of 5 to 20 years. For example, the monthly payment for a sample $10,000 with an APR of 5.47% for a 12-year term would be $94.86. Variable loans feature repayment terms of 5 to 25 years. For example, the monthly payment for a sample $10,000 with an APR of 5.90% for a 15-year term would be $83.85.
** To check the rates and terms you qualify for, Splash Financial conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, the lender will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
General Disclosure
Terms and Conditions apply. Splash reserves the right to modify or discontinue products and benefits at any time without notice. Products may not be available in all states. Rates and terms are subject to change at any point prior to application submission. The information you provide is an inquiry to determine whether Splash’s lending partners can make you a loan offer. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status and meet lender underwriting requirements. Lowest rates are reserved for the highest qualified borrowers and may require an autopay discount of 0.25%. Splash does not guarantee that you will receive any loan offers or that your loan application will be approved. If approved, your actual rate will be within a range of rates and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, creditworthiness, income and other factors. This information is current as of March 2, 2023. You should review the benefits of your federal student loan; it may offer specific benefits that a private refinance/consolidation loan may not offer. If you work in the public sector, are in the military or taking advantage of a federal department of relief program, such as income-based repayment or public service forgiveness, you may not want to refinance, as these benefits do not transfer to private refinance/consolidation loans.
Fixed APR: Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. Fixed rate options range from 4.96% (with autopay) to 10.99% (without autopay).
Variable APR: Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. Variable rate options range from 4.99% (with autopay) to 10.89% (without autopay). Variable rates are derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001).
Apply on partner site
4.1
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
4.40-
11.83%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$5k- $500K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
660
Compare real, pre-qualified rates from up to 10 lenders in under 2 minutes
No hidden fees, origination fees or prepayment penalties
Checking your rates won't affect your credit score
Variable rates will fluctuate over the term of the borrower's loan with changes in the LIBOR rate. The maximum variable rate on the Education Refinance Loan is the greater of 21.00% or Prime Rate plus 9.00%. Rates are subject to change at any time without notice. Your actual rate may be different from the rates advertised and/or shown above and will be based on factors such as the term of your loan, your financial history (including your cosigner’s (if any) financial history) and the degree you are in the process of achieving or have achieved. While not always the case, lower rates typically require creditworthy applicants with creditworthy co-signers, graduate degrees, and shorter repayment terms (terms vary by lender and can range from 5-20 years) and include loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts, where applicable. Loyalty and Automatic Payment discount requirements as well as Lender terms and conditions will vary by lender and therefore, reading each lender’s disclosures is important. Additionally, lenders may have loan minimum and maximum requirements, degree requirements, educational institution requirements, citizenship and residency requirements as well as other lender-specific requirements.
Apply on partner site
4.0
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
5.24-
10.68%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$5k- $300K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
660
2-Minute rate check with no impact on your credit score
No origination fees or prepayment penalties
Network of 300+ community lenders means higher chances for approval and lower rates
Available for private and federal, undergraduate and grad school student loans
0.25% Interest Rate Reduction with automatic payments
One of the largest unemployment protection offers in the market; up to 18 months
Cosigner release available after 12 monthly payments
Rates displayed are reserved for the most creditworthy consumers who enroll to make automatic monthly payments. Your initial rate will be determined after a review of your application and credit profile, and it may be based on your credit score, level of degree earned, and the availability and credit score of a cosigner applicant. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may result in a better chance of loan approval and/or lower interest rate. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Refinancing via LendKey.com is only available for applicants with qualified private education loans from an eligible institution. Loans that were used for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not eligible for refinancing with a lender via LendKey.com. If you currently have any of these exam preparation loans, you should not include them in an application to refinance your student loans on this website. Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents in an eligible state to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account and any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to accept a loan offer from a credit union lender. If you are not a member of the credit union lender, you may apply and become a member during the loan application process if your meet the lender's eligibility criteria. Lenders participating on LendKey.com reserve the right to modify or discontinue the products, terms, and benefits offered on this website at any time without notice. LendKey Technologies, Inc. is not affiliated with, nor does it endorse, any educational institution.
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4.3
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
4.41-
16.99%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$5k- $300K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
680
Competitive fixed and variable rates starting at 4.42%*
Four different repayment options
Choice of loan terms (5, 8, 10, and 15 years)*
No application, origination or disbursement fees
Borrow up to 100% of your school's cost of attendance*
*College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
Information advertised valid as of 09/13/2023. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
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4.7
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
4.99-
9.99%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$1k- $500K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
650
Easy online application!
No origination fees, late fees, and no insufficient fund fees. Period
Flexible repayment options to help you find the right loan for you
0.25% discount when you set up autopay*
0.125% discount for returning borrowers and families with multiple children in college
UNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.44% to 14.70% annual percentage rate ("APR") (with autopay), variable rates from 5.49% to 13.97% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.99% to 14.48% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 5.99% to 13.97% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 6.50% to 14.83% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 6.32% to 14.03% APR (with autopay). For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. Interest rates for variable rate loans are capped at 13.95%, unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the repayment option you select, the term and amount of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Information current as of 07/19/2023.
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4.5
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
4.96-
8.99%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$5k- $500K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
650
Lower rates based on your future potential and full financial profile, not just your FICO score
Flexible terms that let you pick your exact monthly payment
Lifetime service provided in-house. Unlike other lenders, we will never pass you off to third-party servicers
No fees for origination, prepayment, or loan disbursement
Two-minute rate check with no obligation at www.earnest.com
Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.67% APR to 16.15% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.64% APR to 16.45% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.
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4.0
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
6.80-
10.99%
with AutoPay
Loan Amount
$10k- $750K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
620
You can see if you'll qualify and what rate you'll get without a hard credit check
You can refinance Federal PLUS Loans in your name
Loyalty discount: Borrowers with a Citizens account when they apply get an additional 0.25% interest rate discount
Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates are based on the 30-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of August 1, 2023, the 30-day average SOFR index is 5.07%. Variable interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the SOFR index, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable interest rate is the greater of 21.00% or the prime rate plus 9.00%.
Fixed Rate Disclosure: Fixed rate ranges are based on applicable terms, level of degree, and presence of a co-signer.
Lowest Rate Disclosure: Lowest rates are only available for the most creditworthy applicants, require a 5-year repayment term, interest-only repayment and include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty Discount and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.
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4.2
Bankrate Score
Fixed APR From
5.23-
8.69%
Loan Amount
$10k- $500K
Term: 5-20 yr
Min. Credit
680
Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score,Submit online application in minutes,No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties,Low rates and flexible repayment terms to fit your needs and goals,Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process
The interest rate and monthly payment for variable rate loans may increase after closing. Your actual interest rate may be different from the rates shown above and will be based on the term of your loan, your financial history, and other factors, including your cosigner’s (if any) financial history. For example, a 10 year loan with a fixed rate of 6% would have 120 payments of $11.00 per $1,000 borrowed. Education Loan Finance Parent Loans are limited to a maximum of the 10-year term.