Best of
2 Best Dental School Loan Refinance Lenders of August 2025
Dentists who have good credit and won't use federal loan benefits are prime candidates for student loan refinancing.
Last updated on August 1, 2025
Written by
Assistant Assigning EditorEdited by
Head of Content, Core Personal FinanceFact Checked
Fact Checked
Written by
Assistant Assigning EditorEdited by
Head of Content, Core Personal FinanceFact Checked
Fact Checked
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Refinancing dental school loans can get you out of debt more quickly and potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Dentists can refinance dental school loans during residency or wait until they're employed full-time. But don't do either if you have federal loans and want to take advantage of the programs that come with them. Refinanced loans aren't eligible for those programs.
Our picks for refinancing during or after residency are below, as well as information that can help you decide which option is right for you.
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Why trust NerdWallet
- 35+ student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and student loans.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 43 categories and 40+ data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
Why trust NerdWallet
- 35+ student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and student loans.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 43 categories and 40+ data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Top Student Loan Refinance Lenders
Earnest Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loan Refinancing
Ad
4.5/5
Fixed APR
4.45-9.99%
Variable APR
5.88-9.99%
Min. credit score
665
4.0/5
Fixed APR
4.99-9.99%
Variable APR
5.99-9.99%
Min. credit score
650
Best Dental School Loan Refinance Lenders
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.5 /5 | None | 4.87-9.99% | 5.99-9.99% | Check Rate on SoFi®'s website | |
4.5 /5 | Mid-600s | 6.99-13.99% | 6.99-13.99% | Read Review on NerdWallet |
Our pick for
Refinancing during residency
Refinancing can save you money while you’re earning less as a resident, but your balance may increase by the time your residency ends.
Check Rate
on SoFi®'s website
SoFi Medical Professional Refinancing
Min. credit score
None
Fixed APR
4.87-9.99%
Variable APR
5.99-9.99%
- Key facts
Minimum payment during residency: $100/month.
Pros- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Dedicated Student Loan Debt Specialist available for borrowers.
Cons- No co-signer release available.
- Loan size minimum is higher than most lenders.
QualificationsAvailable Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years
Our pick for
Refinancing after residency
Read Review
on NerdWallet
College Ave Student Loan Refinance
Min. credit score
Mid-600s
Fixed APR
6.99-13.99%
Variable APR
6.99-13.99%
- Key factsBest for borrowers who want a nonstandard loan term — six or nine years, for instance.Pros
- You can choose any loan term between 5 and 20 years.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
Cons- No co-signer release available.
- Students cannot refinance a parent PLUS loan in their name.
Qualifications- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Mid-700s.
- Loan amounts: $5,000 to $300,000, depending on the highest degree earned.
- Must have a degree: Yes, an associate degree or higher.
Available Term Lengths5 to 15 yearsDisclaimerCollege 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. (1)All rates include the auto-pay 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. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 10/08/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
Should you refinance dental school loans?
When you refinance, your dental school loans are replaced with a new loan with new terms, which typically include a lower interest rate. This can save you money on the rest of your loan. There are no origination or hidden fees.
For example, say you refinance $296,500 — the average dental school debt for the class of 2023 — from an 8% APR to a 5% APR. You’d save about $452 a month and roughly $54,303 over 10 years.
Saving that much interest probably sounds pretty good. But refinancing won't be the right dental school loan repayment option for everyone.
If you have federal loans, refinancing will cost you benefits like income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). You may want or need these options, depending on your career goals. For example, if you plan to work for a nonprofit that provides dental care to those in need, you'll probably want to pursue PSLF.
But federal benefits could also be important in less obvious situations. If you want your own dental practice, for instance, an income-driven plan could cost you the least each month. This could give you the financial flexibility needed to open or purchase a practice, as well as to manage start-up or operational expenses.
These considerations don't apply to private loans because they lack similar repayment benefits. If you already have private dental school loans, refinancing makes sense whenever you can qualify for a better rate. Refinancing is also a good option if your primary repayment goal is to save on interest, pay off loans more quickly or both.
When to refinance dental school loans
If you’re doing a dental residency and want to refinance at some point, you generally have two choices for when to refinance: during or after residency.
Refinancing during your residency
If your residency program:
- Offers a stipend: You can consider refinancing during residency. For example, SoFi allows you to refinance as a resident and pay as little as $100 a month during your training; however, any unpaid interest leftover from your residency is added to your principal balance after your residency. Alternatively, if you have federal student loans, you could enter an income-driven repayment plan during residency and refinance afterwards, when your income is higher.
- Charges tuition: Refinancing during residency may not be an option. With SoFi, for instance, dental residents must prove that they’re not taking on additional debt to cover residency tuition. You may be able to defer dental school loan payments during residency, but interest will still accrue. Revisit refinancing once you’re employed.
Keep in mind that your loan balance will likely increase during residency. Whether you’re on income-driven repayment or paying $100 per month after refinancing, your payments likely won’t cover the interest as it accrues.
Refinancing dental school loans after residency
Dental school loan refinancing once you're practicing is a smart move if you have:
- Good credit. You need a score at least in the high 600s to qualify.
- Strong income. Dentistry is a high-paying profession.
- Private dental school loans. If you refinanced during your residency, you can refinance again.
- Clear career goals. Consider refinancing federal loans if you don’t plan on needing income-driven repayment or working in the public sector.
How to refinance dental school loans
Compare refinance lenders to find the one that’ll offer you the lowest rate, and look for special deals for dentists. For example, members of the American Association of Orthodontists can get 0.25% off their interest rate by refinancing with SoFi.
Also, pay attention to lenders’ loan limits. A few lenders will refinance as much student debt as you have, a couple refinance up to $500,000 and others will refinance up to $200,000. But some lenders have loan limits that may be too low for the average dentist.
Last updated on August 1, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- You can refinance dental school loans during residency, if you're doing one, or after you complete the program.
- Savings depend on your current loan terms. But refinancing $296,500 — the average dental school debt for the class of 2023 — from an 8% APR to a 5% APR, you’d save about $452 a month and roughly $54,303 over 10 years.
- Dentists should check a student loan refinance lender’s loan limits. While some will refinance all your debt, others may limit you to $200,000 or $500,000, which may not be enough for some dentists.
- Refinancing dental school loans to a lower interest rate or shorter repayment term can help you pay them off faster. Don’t refinance if you need federal loan benefits, like income-driven repayment.
Methodology
Our survey of more than 19 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing includes the top 10 lenders by market share and the top 10 lenders by online search volume, as well as lenders that serve specialty or nontraditional markets.
We consider 41 features and data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these include the availability of biweekly payments through autopay, minimum credit score and income requirement disclosures, availability to borrowers in all states, extended grace periods and in-house customer service.
The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star.
Read more about our ratings methodologies for student loan refinance and our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet's Best Dental School Loan Refinance Lenders of August 2025
- SoFi Medical Professional Refinancing: Best for Refinancing during residency, Fixed APR: 4.87-9.99%
- College Ave Student Loan Refinance: Best for Refinancing after residency, Fixed APR: 6.99-13.99%
