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Student loans are usually not limited in terms of how many times they can be refinanced. Refinancing might not always be a cheap process, but the good news is that lenders usually don't charge any origination or prepayment penalties. This means you won't have to pay an extra fee on top of your refinanced loan.
How it works
Student loan refinancing involves replacing your existing student loans with a new loan from a private lender, often at a lower interest rate. By refinancing, you can potentially save money on your student loan payments and pay off your debt faster.
Enter the details of your existing loan.
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Pick a new APR and repayment term.
Here's what you could save:
You would pay this much more each month:
But you'll pay this much more interest:
How your current loan and refinanced loan compare
Your current loan:
Monthly payment:
Total interest paid:
Total payments:
Your refinanced loan:
Monthly payment:
Total interest paid:
Total payments:
Benefits of Refinancing
As mentioned, one of the key benefits of refinancing your student loans is to pay less on your loan by securing a lower interest rate than the one you currently have. Even if it’s just by a few points, having a lower interest rate can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Suppose you have $50,000 worth of student loan debt at a 7% interest rate. You’d be paying $19,665 in interest over the course of 10 years. Knock that interest down to 5%, and you’re now paying $13,639, saving you close to $6,026.
You can also apply for student loan refinancing with a cosigner to help get you a better interest rate. A cosigner is useful if they have a good credit history or a better credit score than you.
Another benefit to refinancing (if you have multiple student loans) is the simplicity of managing one large loan rather than several loans with different terms. This will help you stay on top of your loan payments.
Downsides to Refinancing
Just as there are upsides to refinancing, there are also downsides where student loan refinancing isn’t always the right move.
When refinancing, you often need to meet stricter requirements than when you initially took out your student loan. Lenders require borrowers to be creditworthy, meaning having a good-to-excellent credit score and a generally good history of making payments on time. Without this, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a better interest rate or terms than what you currently have.
Additionally, when refinancing a student loan, you’ll be locked into your new repayment plan. Your initial student loan allowed you the ability to modify your repayment plan, like changing it from a 10-year plan to a 20-year plan, for example. But with your new refinanced loan, there isn’t that kind of flexibility.
Another downside is that you lose your federal repayment protections when refinancing. While some lenders will offer some kind of deferment or forbearance option in the case that you lose your job or suffer financial hardship, it’s not quite the same as the options available through the Department of Education.
Who Should Refinance Student Loans
Student loan refinancing isn’t for everyone, so how do you know when it’s right for you and your financial situation?
Student loan refinancing is potentially a good option if:
- Your income is stable and you have good credit. The sooner you start refinancing your loans the better so that you can save money with a lower interest rate. Just remember that income and good credit are important factors when finding the best rates.
- Your current student loans have high-interest rates. You can save thousands on your student loan through refinancing if you’re able to secure a low-interest rate loan.
- You have several student loans. Consolidating and refinancing your student loans will not only save you money, but it will also save you the hassle of having to manage multiple loans.
- The grace period on your student loan has ended. Federal student loans have a six-month grace period after you graduate where you don’t have to start paying the loan back just yet. This gives graduates some time to find a job so they can afford to make their monthly payments. When it ends, it’s the perfect time to consider refinancing your student loans.
Student loan refinancing might not be the right option if:
- You plan on applying for federal loan forgiveness. These are programs that help you pay down your student loan debt, so you shouldn’t refinance your student loans if this is something you want to do.
- You want an income-based repayment plan. Similar to loan forgiveness programs, if you’re not financially stable, you won’t be able to qualify for income-based repayment plans or low payments if you refinance your student loans.
Refinance Student Loans with Bad Credit
Refinance student loans with bad credit. If you don’t have good credit, you’ll find it challenging to get a better interest rate on your loan. It’s still worth researching, especially since many lenders will allow you to get pre-approved for a loan so you can compare rates. One way around having bad credit is to add a co-signer, such as a family member or trusted friend, who has a high credit score.
How to Refinance Your Student Loans
Now that you have a better idea of the pros and cons revolving around student loan refinancing, you can move forward.
Compare lenders
The first step when refinancing your student loans is to check with multiple lenders to find the best rates. This includes not only traditional financial institutions like banks and credit unions, but also online lenders.
Online lenders like SoFi and Earnest offer student loan refinancing and are known for their low-interest rates, but you do need a minimum credit score of 650 to get approved. You can get pre-approved in a matter of minutes which will help give you an idea of what interest rates you qualify for given your financial profile.
Some information you’ll need when getting pre-approved is your contact info, degree and university, income, and total student debts. Submitting this preliminary application will only conduct a soft credit check, meaning it won’t affect your credit score. It’s only when you submit your full application that a hard credit check will be conducted.
Choose a lender
When choosing a lender, the interest rate isn’t the only thing you should base your choice on. You also want to consider what fees are involved in the loan, such as origination fees, late fees, and prepayment penalties. Some less-reputable lenders will lure you in with low-interest rates just to charge fees, so always read the terms and conditions carefully when doing your research.
Customer service is also important when taking out a loan, so chose a reputable lender with good reviews and good customer support.
Have your documents ready to go
Once you’re ready to submit your full application, you’ll need a few documents, which you’ll either have to upload to your application or send via mail, depending on the lender.
Here are a few important documents to have on hand:
- Proof of identities, like your driver’s license or social security card
- Proof of income, like a pay stub or tax form
- Statements for your private or federal student loans
- If using a cosigner, you’ll need their information too
Even if you decide to refinance your student loans, make sure to keep making your monthly payments while you wait to see if you’re approved. It can take a few weeks to get the funding for your new loan, so keep up with your current payments.
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Final Thoughts
Refinancing students loans is a popular and completely valid option when handling your student loan debt, and you can do it as many times as you want. If you have a good credit score and stable income, refinancing your high-interest student loans can save you thousands.
Get started today by comparing lenders to see what kind of rates you qualify for. Read the fine print, choose the best terms for you, and enjoy being one step closer to student debt freedom.
- Filing for bankruptcy shall not be exempt from the obligation to repay the loan.
- You may be eligible for specific educational loan benefits from your educational institution or maybe qualified for Federal student financial assistance you may receive additional information from your institution of higher education or at the website of the U.S. Department of Education.
Article Topics
Student Loans
Jessica Cotzin is a writer and the Lendstart authority on small businesses and personal loans. She has been writing about personal finance and the loans industry for a number of years, and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Florida Atlantic University.
