REFINANCE STUDENT LOANS

Lenders & Refinance Rates

Below is a list of the lenders we researched and reviewed, sorted by lowest available fixed APR. Click on a lender’s name to learn more about our findings.

Note: the APRs below include any available discount, such as a 0.25% reduction for setting up automatic payments.

Advantage

*Borrowers need special approval to refinance more than $200,000 in student loans.

Advantage has very user-friendly policies but did not merit our top score due in part to a lengthy minimum loan term and an uptick in negative user feedback for its parent company, Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has logged a steady increase in complaints from KHEAA customers over the last few years.

Advantage may be a good lender for borrowers who struggle financially. Relief options include graduated repayment, loan rehabilitation services, and discretionary financial hardship forbearance. Advantage is also one of the only lenders to truly charge zero fees, with no fees hidden in contract disclosures.

For more information on Advantage, read our full review.

BECU

BECU is an established credit union, but fixed rates are among the industry’s highest. Refinancing requires a relatively high debt minimum. BECU’s website is sparse with details, offering little incentive for interest rates. Elsewhere online, few consumer reviews are available. Finally, consumer complaints have risen steadily in the past five years, with a sudden 63% jump in 2020 (and subsequent 9.7% increase in 2021).

For more information on BECU, read our full review.

Brazos

Brazos is a nonprofit direct lender with some of the lowest rates available. Refinancing with Brazos includes repayment options for borrowers who experience financial hardship. Brazos is one of the few refinance lenders to accept applications from nonresidents (with co-signer; only certain visas qualify).

Specializing in education loans, Brazos garners consistent positive feedback from industry professionals, consumers, and former employees. Unfortunately, co-signer release is unavailable.

For more information on Brazos, read our full review.

Citizens Bank

*The variable rate cap is the greater of 21.00% or Prime Rate plus 9.00%.

Citizens Bank is part of Citizens Financial Group, a $180 billion company; its large size may excuse the high rate of complaints filed with the CFPB. User experience varies significantly and seems dependent on interactions with individual customer service representatives; some borrowers report exceptional experiences with knowledgeable staff while many complaints recount frustrating interactions with agents unwilling or unable to answer fundamental questions.

Citizens Bank earned extra points for accepting refinance applications from nongraduates and nonresidents (each with certain restrictions) and for its policy offering post-active duty deferment for members of the military.

For more information on Citizens Bank, read our full review.

College Ave

Overall, College Ave is an average lender and loan processor with some exceptional offerings, including excellent customer service according to consumer reviews. Refinance borrowers have a wide range of term options, and applicant requirements are very reasonable.

For more information on College Ave, read our full review.

CommonBond

*Hybrid rates are only available for terms of 10 years.

CommonBond, Inc. has some of the most user-friendly policies in the industry, including flexible rates and terms, a low variable rate cap, and limited applicant restrictions. CommonBond was founded in 2012 by three business students who wanted more corporate accountability and transparency from their lenders.

CommonBond refinance loans are serviced by CommonBond Lending LLC, eliminating the complication of a third-party servicer. Note that further restrictions may apply for residents of Michigan, Rhode Island, and Washington.

For more information on CommonBond, read our full review.

Credible

Credible Operations, Inc. or Credible Labs, Inc. may be the best-known marketplace lender. It may also be one of the most transparent. Credible operates under 21st Century Fox, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

Credible does not originate loans. Instead, it acts as a third-party aggregator that allows student borrowers to compare rates and terms from multiple private lenders with one application.

For more information on Credible, read our full review.

Discover

While Discover Bank has some of the most flexible deferment options available, consistently negative user experience and a history of litigation are red flags. Among CFPB public consumer complaints against private student loan servicers, 5% are about Discover Bank.

Refinance program disclosures include an aggressive loan default policy (refinance loans that enter default are due immediately in their entirety) and explicitly states, “Discover may sell or transfer a refinance loan to another institution at any time” (meaning your lender could change overnight).

For more information on Discover, read our full review.

Earnest

Earnest would likely be an A+ lender were it not for a 2017 acquisition by Navient Corporation and the subsequent uptick in consumer complaints. Despite this, Earnest remains a merit-based, data-driven direct lender and a favorite among industry experts.

Some of Earnest’s exceptional offerings include flexible applicant requirements and options for debt relief, such as temporary hardship forbearance that includes unpaid maternity/paternity leave. Note that Earnest has not been implicated in ongoing lawsuits against parent company Navient alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

For more information on Earnest, read our full review.

EDvestinU

Though less than a decade old, EDvestinU® is reputable as a nonprofit direct lender and part of the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) Network under the New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corporation (NHHELCO).

EDvestinU is a trustworthy lender that is more accessible than some other lenders, with no degree requirement and availability in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

For more information on EDvestinU, read our full review.

ELFI

ELFI is an online-only student loan refinancing program through SouthEast Bank, a locally-owned financial servicer in Farragut, Tennessee. ELFI has low rates and average requirements to qualify for refinancing, such as a bachelor’s degree and a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or lower. The only conditions borrowers may take issue with are the relatively high standard fees and lack of co-signer release.

For more information on ELFI, read our full review.

First Republic Bank

First Republic Bank is unique in that it offers student loan refinancing and consolidation loans as personal lines of credit. While this line of credit does not qualify for educational tax benefits, it does give you the option to pay off debts that are not usually covered by student loans.

To refinance with First Republic, you must have or open a First Republic ATM Rebate Checking Account; closing your account triggers an immediate 5.00% interest rate increase. First Republic also offers a prepayment rebate of up to 2% of the original loan balance if you pay off your loan in full within 48 months.

For more information on First Republic, read our full review.

First Tech Federal

First Tech Federal discloses neither credit nor graduation requirements, and the website refers to additional unspecified requirements.

While First Tech offers refinancing options most lenders do not – including loan options with balloon payments or 1- to 10-year interest-only periods – this credit union charges some hidden fees.

For more information on First Tech, read our full review.

iHelp

iHelp offers a fixed-hybrid rate and income-based repayment plan (via ZuntaFi). Aside from these options, this lender is underwhelming. iHelp charges excessive fees, including a collection fee of up to 25% of the principal balance.

With uncapped variable rates that are only available on 20-year loans, iHelp appears to benefit financial institutions to the detriment of the borrower.

For more information on iHelp, read our full review.

INvestEd

While lender marketplaces are typically founded as private companies, INvestEd is the commercial name for Indiana Secondary Market for Education Loans, Inc., a public, nonprofit organization. All INvestEd loans are serviced by American Education Services (AES)* and backed by First Merchant Bank.

INvestEd services are available only to residents of Indiana and student borrowers who have attended an Indiana University.

For more information on INvestEd, read our full review.

ISL

The Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation (ISLLC) does business as ISL Education Lending, a nonprofit direct lender. ISL offers special student loan refinance options, including in-school refinancing and 0% interest for a limited time to certain military members.

ISL’s loan servicer, Aspire, is the lender’s for-profit subsidiary.

For more information on ISL, read our full review.

Laurel Road

Laurel Road specializes in student loan refinancing and financial services for healthcare professionals, offering special rates and benefits to practicing medical professionals. Borrowers have the option to transfer debt from parent to child and apply for generous debt relief options, including reduced payments, deferment, or partial deferment.

Keycorp acquired Laurel Road in 2019. KeyBank services all refinance loans; refinancing is available in 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

For more information on Laurel Road, read our full review.

Lend-Grow

Founded in February of 2019, Lend-Grow, Inc. is a private, Virginia-based company that bills its marketplace the best resource for borrowers to find small, local financial institutions. Lend-Grow partners with over 500 lenders, including “hyperlocal” and national lenders.

For more information on Lend-Grow, read our full review.

LendKey

LendKey Technologies, Inc. matches borrowers with banks and credit unions from the local level to national financial institutions. Recently acquired by KeyBank, LendKey offers student loans, refinancing, and home improvement loans.

For more information on LendKey, read our full review.

MEFA

Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority or MEFA is an established nonprofit creditor with some unique requirements. For example, MEFA only refinances loans that have been repaid on time for the previous 12 consecutive months. Furthermore, loans must have been used to attend a not-for-profit degree-granting institution.

MEFA deals solely in education loans. Eligibility requirements are reasonable, and a degree is not necessary.

For more information on MEFA, read our full review.

Mpower Financing

Mpower Financing (sometimes stylized as MPOWER) works with graduates who do not have citizenship but currently live in the United States. Mpower refinances international loans and accepts payments from foreign banks.

Applicants do not need a credit score; Mpower works with borrowers to build U.S. credit history.

For more information on Mpower, read our full review.

NaviRefi

NaviRefi is an invite-only refinancer for borrowers who either have student loans (parent loans are ineligible) from Navient Corporation or other current business with Navient. Refinancing includes undisclosed fees. Navient also fails to disclose a variable rate cap and certain eligibility requirements.

NaviRefi has not been implicated in ongoing lawsuits against parent company Navient Corporation and its subsidiaries Navient Solutions LLC and Pioneer Credit Recovery alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

For more information on NaviRefi, read our full review.

Navy Federal

Navy Federal Credit Union was recently charged and fined $28.5 million by the CFPB for violation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In 2020, Navy Federal paid $25 million after a class-action lawsuit found that the institution improperly collected excess overdraft fees; checks went out in February 2021.

Navy Federal’s most redeeming quality is its range of options for parent borrowers. Parent borrowers may consolidate loans for multiple children or refinance before their student has graduated. Services are available in all 50 states, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

For more information on Navy Federal, read our full review.

Nelnet Bank

Previously U-fi, Nelnet Bank is an online-only subsidiary of Nelnet, Inc. Nelnet Bank has not been explicitly implicated in any lawsuits involving Nelnet, Inc., although most ongoing litigation predates the bank’s November 2020 founding.

Few consumer reviews about Nelnet Bank are available, but Nelnet, Inc. is the subject of 10% of CFPB consumer complaints about student loan servicers. Nelnet Bank’s low interest rates and option to transfer debt from parent to child saved this refinance lender from a failing score.

For more information on Nelnet Bank, read our full review.

PenFed

Pentagon Federal Credit Union stands out due to its unique benefits. For example, spouses may transfer a debt balance or refinance jointly. PenFed offered variable rates until 7/1/2021; it is unclear if variable rates will become available again. Refinancing is only available to U.S. citizens.

For more information on PenFed, read our full review.

PNC Bank

PNC Bank, one of the largest banks in the United States, processes and services its own Education Refinance Loan (PERL). While the PERL has no graduation requirement, degree-holders qualify for lower interest rates. Borrowers must display a steady income over the previous two (2) years. Borrowers may incur fees for late payments, and PNC Banks may sell or transfer a refinance loan to another institution at any time.

For more information on PNC Bank, read our full review.

Purefy

Purefy is a student loan marketplace with federal and private student and parent loan refinancing tools. Purefy originates student refinance loans in its partnership with Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed); Purefy-originated refinance loans allow borrowers to combine debt with a spouse or assume the debt of a parent.

This lender is best for borrowers who plan to refinance their student loans with PenFed but would also like to compare other rates. While Purefy has an inherent bias for PenFed as their loan servicer, it promotes multiple recommended student refinance lenders.

For more information on Purefy, read our full review.

RISLA

Rhode Island Student Loan Authority or RISLA is the non-profit financer behind the College Planning Center of Rhode Island. This lender offers low rates, unique borrower protections and comes highly recommended by financial analysts at major media outlets.

Borrowers who refinance with RISLA may apply for income-based repayment plans. Part-time students qualify for refinancing, and loans are serviced in-house. Stringent credit requirements and fees kept this lender from earning an A+.

For more information on RISLA, read our full review.

SELF Refi

SELF Refi is the Minnesota Office of Higher Education’s student loan refinance program. It is a decent lender with strict requirements. For example, refinance borrowers must maintain Minnesota residency. The program is only available to students; parent loans are ineligible.

SELF Refi offers the same starting rates and terms to all qualifying borrowers regardless of financial standing. They are also one of the few refinance lenders to advertise general COVID relief: from 3/13/2020 through 9/30/2020, SELF set all interest rates to 0% due to COVID-19.

For more information on SELF Refi, read our full review.

SoFi

Social Finance, Inc. is an online-only finance corporation with some stand-out offerings that include transferring debt from parent to child and unemployment protection with job placement assistance.

SoFi is currently subject to a nationwide class-action lawsuit alleging lending discrimination. This is not to be confused with the 2018-19 Federal Trade Commission inquiry alleging SoFi misrepresented how much money consumers have saved or will save using its products. Because these legal issues both deal directly with SoFi’s lending programs, we advise potential borrowers to refinance with caution and keep a record of every communication with SoFi representatives.

For more information on SoFi, read our full review.

Sparrow

Sparrow is a student loan marketplace that allows applicants to compare rates under different conditions. For example, they may compare offers with an improved credit score, with a co-signer, and with a higher income. This service is free to borrowers, and more than one lender in Sparrow’s marketplace refinances loans for international students.

Founded in 2020, there is relatively little feedback from customers available on public forums. Sparrow’s role in refinancing is limited to the application period, however, so long-term customer experience is irrelevant.

For more information on Sparrow, read our full review.

Splash Financial

Founded in 2015, Splash Financial, Inc. is an education loan refinancing platform specializing in educational financing for medical and health professionals. Splash is an affiliate of LendULink, LLC.

For more information on Splash Financial, read our full review.

SuperMoney

SuperMoney LLC launched its student loan refinance lender marketplace in November of 2018. Though relatively small, early reviews are mostly positive. The company web site, however, lacks transparency; this is alarming considering the emphasis on corporate transparency both on the company’s web site and in its marketing.

For more information on SuperMoney, read our full review.

UW Credit Union

The University of Wisconsin Credit Union offers a speedy turnaround; the refinance loan process takes 2-4 weeks from application to loan dispersal. Borrowers may apply for interest-only payments for the first two (2) years of the loan’s term. Membership is open to students, faculty, staff, and alumni (and their families) of Wisconsin’s massive public postsecondary system.

For more information on UW Credit Union, read our full review.

Yrefy

Yrefy is one of the only lenders that will refinance defaulted loans. This lender offers income-based repayment and loan rehabilitation services, making it a good option for borrowers with distressed or delinquent loans.

For more information on Yrefy, read our full review.