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4 Best Parent PLUS Loan Refinance Lenders of April 2023

You can refinance parent PLUS loans with a private lender to lower your interest rate. Depending on the lender, you can refinance the loan in your own name or transfer the loan to your child.

By
Cecilia Clark
Mar 1, 2023

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Best Parent PLUS Loan Refinance Lenders

LenderNerdWallet RatingMin. credit scoreFixed APRVariable APRLearn more
SoFi Student Loan Refinance

SoFi Student Loan Refinance

Check rateon SoFi's website
5.0/5
Best for Transferring or refinancing parent PLUS loans

650

4.99-8.99%

5.38-9.19%

Check rateon SoFi's website
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance

Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance

Check rateon Laurel Road's website
5.0/5
Best for Transferring or refinancing parent PLUS loans

660

4.49-8.70%

4.74-8.60%

Check rateon Laurel Road's website
Brazos Student Loan Refinance

Brazos Student Loan Refinance

Check rateon Brazos' website
4.5/5
Best for Transferring or refinancing parent PLUS loans

690

4.40-6.00%

4.67-8.47%

Check rateon Brazos' website

Our pick for

Transferring or refinancing parent PLUS loans

These are the highest-rated lenders that meet all our criteria for PLUS loan refinancing, including transferring PLUS loans from parents to children.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
Check rateon SoFi's website
SoFi Student Loan Refinance

SoFi Student Loan Refinance

5.0
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

650

Fixed APR

4.99-8.99%

Variable APR

5.38-9.19%

Check rateon SoFi's website
Key factsBest for borrowers who want plenty of benefits with their refinanced student loan.
Pros
  • You can refinance parent PLUS loans in your name.
  • You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
  • Additional perks like career planning, job search assistance and entrepreneurship support available.
Cons
  • No co-signer release available.
  • Loan size minimum is higher than most lenders.
Qualifications
  • Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 700+.
  • Loan amounts: $5,000, up to your total outstanding loan balance.
  • Must have a degree: Yes, an associate degree or higher.
Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years
DisclaimerFixed rates range from 4.99% APR to 8.99% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates from 5.38% APR to 9.19% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates on 5-, 7-, and 10-year terms are capped at 8.95% APR; 15- and 20-year terms are capped at 9.95% APR. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. 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. 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. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.
Read Full Review
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance
Check rateon Laurel Road's website
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance

Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance

5.0
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

660

Fixed APR

4.49-8.70%

Variable APR

4.74-8.60%

Check rateon Laurel Road's website
Key factsBest for borrowers who want to refinance during their medical or dental residency.
Pros
  • You can refinance parent PLUS loans in your name.
  • Refinancing available for medical and dental residents.
  • You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
Cons
  • Payment postponement isn’t available if borrowers return to school.
Qualifications
  • Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Did not disclose.
  • Loan amounts: $5,000 up to your total outstanding loan balance.
  • Must have a bachelor's degree. For parent PLUS loans, the child does not need to have graduated to refinance.
Available Term Lengths5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years
DisclaimerFull Laurel Road Disclaimers. Rates as of 3/21/23, rates subject to change. Terms and Conditions Apply. All products subject to credit approval. Notice for Federal Loan Holders: The Department of Education recently announced forgiveness of $10,000 for qualifying Federal student loan borrowers and $20,000 for qualifying Pell Grant recipients. Read more here (https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief- announcement). If you refinance a federal student loan with Laurel Road, you will no longer qualify for forgiveness or federal student loan repayment options, including but not limited to Income Based Repayment (IBR), Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE), and relief offered by the federal government related to the COVID-19 pandemic (such as 0% interest rate, suspension of payments, and forgiveness). Additionally, federal student loans offer deferment, forbearance, and loan forgiveness options that are not available with Laurel Road. Please carefully consider these loss of federal benefits and consult www.studentaid.gov for the most current information. Laurel Road is a brand of KeyBank National Association. All products offered by KeyBank N.A. ©2022 STUDENT LOANS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED OR GUARANTEED. KeyCorp® All Rights Reserved. Laurel Road is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. 3 Corporate Drive, 4th fl, Shelton, CT 06484.
Read Full Review
Brazos Student Loan Refinance
Check rateon Brazos' website
Brazos Student Loan Refinance

Brazos Student Loan Refinance

4.5
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

690

Fixed APR

4.40-6.00%

Variable APR

4.67-8.47%

Check rateon Brazos' website
Key facts

Best for borrowers who live in Texas.

Pros
  • Offers more repayment terms than many lenders.
  • Offers greater-than-minimum payments via autopay.
Cons
  • Only available to borrowers in Texas.
  • Does not offer co-signer release.
Qualifications
  • Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 781 for primary borrower or 794 for co-signer (and 690 for primary borrower).
  • Minimum income: $60,000 for co-signer or primary borrower, or $30,000 for primary borrower if applying with a co-signer.
  • Loan amounts: $10,000 up to $150,000 for bachelors degree holders; $250,000 for graduate or professional degree holders.
Available Term Lengths 5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years
DisclaimerBrazos Refinance Loan fixed rates from 4.40% APR to 6.00% APR (with Auto-Pay Discount). Variable rates from 4.67% APR to 8.47% APR (with Auto-Pay Discount). Interest rates on Brazos loans are capped at 9.90%. Lowest variable rate of 4.67% APR assumes a current Thirty-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) of % plus a 2.03% margin minus the 0.25% Auto-Pay Discount. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. If approved for a Brazos loan, the fixed or variable interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the term of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. For the Brazos variable rate loan, the Thirty-day Average SOFR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. Auto-Pay Discount. The interest rate in effect will be reduced by 0.25% if either the borrower or the cosigner authorizes automated (ACH) payments from any bank account. This ACH interest rate reduction, referred to as the Auto-Pay Discount, applies only when full principal and interest payments are automatically drafted from a bank account. This interest rate reduction will not continue to apply during periods of approved forbearance or deferment. The Auto-Pay Discount will terminate if the automatic bank account payments discontinue or there are any three instances of insufficient funds at any time during the term of the loan. A borrower may requalify upon reauthorization of automatic payments from a valid bank account. 2. Refinancing Federal Loans. While refinancing government loans as well as private loans may help many borrowers, federal loans have certain benefits that can help borrowers who experience financial distress. Private loans typically don’t have the same benefits. Everyone’s situation is different, so think carefully about refinancing your government loans and talk about it with a trusted advisor. 3. Credit Review and Approval. If you choose to apply for a Brazos Student Loan, Brazos Parent Loan, or Brazos Refinance Loan and continue your application past the pre-credit eligibility stage, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit inquiry. Hard credit inquiries (or hard credit pulls) are required for Brazos to be able to issue you a Brazos loan. In addition to requiring your explicit permission, these credit pulls may impact your credit score. The initial credit review is based on review of all the information you and your cosigner (if applicable) provide during the application process and the information obtained from your credit report(s). If you pass the initial credit review, you will need to provide acceptable documentation such as your income verification before the final loan approval. 4. Brazos Education Lending Corporation (Brazos) is a part of a group of several non-affiliated nonprofit companies that are all managed by The Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Inc. and are commonly referred to as the Brazos Managed Companies. The first of the Brazos Managed Companies was organized in 1975 in Waco, Texas, as a secondary market for student loans. Since that time, the Brazos Managed Companies have, on a combined basis, served an estimated 2 million student borrowers and have helped fund an estimated $30 billion in student loans.
Read Full Review

Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:

  • Advantage Education Loan Student Loan Refinance

How to refinance parent PLUS loans

You have two options to refinance parent PLUS loans: keep the student loan in your name, or transfer it to your child. No matter which you choose, a refinance lender will pay off your existing parent PLUS loan and issue a new private loan with new terms.

1. Refinancing parent PLUS loans in your name

Parent PLUS loan interest rates from recent years range from 6.31% to 7.9%, depending on the year in which you borrowed. You may be able to get a lower rate by refinancing your PLUS loan if you have good credit and enough income to cover your expenses and debts. Here’s how:

  1. Estimate your savings. Use a student loan refinance calculator to see how much you’d save by lowering your parent PLUS loan rate.

  2. Compare refinance lenders. Shopping around is the best way to ensure you get the lowest interest rate you qualify for. The table above lists lenders that offer parent PLUS loan refinancing. Many lenders allow you to pre-qualify without harming your credit. They’ll conduct a soft credit pull to estimate your rate.

  3. Apply. Lenders will do a hard credit check before finalizing your new rate. If you’re approved, the lender will pay off your loans and you’ll make payments to the new lender. The loan will still be your responsibility to repay, not your child’s.

2. Refinancing parent PLUS loans to your child

The government doesn’t give the option to shift parent PLUS loans into a child’s name. Even if your child makes payments on your PLUS loan, you’re still ultimately responsible for the debt. However, a growing number of private lenders allow you to refinance a parent PLUS loan to your child, effectively transferring responsibility for the loan.

The process and requirements for your child to refinance parent PLUS loans in their name are the same as if they were refinancing their own student loans with a private lender. To qualify, they’ll need good credit, a strong history of making loan payments and enough income to afford payments — or a co-signer who meets those qualifications.

Should you refinance parent PLUS loans?

You should refinance parent PLUS loans in your name if you have a credit score at least in the high 600s, are comfortable giving up federal loan benefits and can qualify for a lower rate.

Refinancing doesn't make sense if you need an income-driven repayment plan, will qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness or want other federal loan entitlements — like loan discharge if you or the child you borrowed the loan for dies.

You may want to transfer parent PLUS loans to your child via refinancing in the following instances:

  • He or she can qualify for a lower rate.

  • You want to switch the repayment responsibility to your son or daughter.

  • You can't pay parent PLUS loans but your child can.

If you decide to refinance parent PLUS loans, doing so early in the repayment term — even before your parent PLUS loan deferment is over, for example — can save you the most money.

» MORE: How to pay off parent PLUS loans faster

How and when to consolidate parent PLUS loans

Federal student loan consolidation is different from refinancing. Consolidation won’t lower your interest rate, but parent PLUS loan borrowers must jump through this hoop in the following instances:

Income-Contingent Repayment is the only income-driven repayment plan for repaying parent PLUS loans. Under the plan, your monthly payments will be capped at 20% of your discretionary income or the amount of your fixed monthly payments on a 12-year loan term, whichever is lower. Your loan term will be extended to 25 years.

Parent PLUS loans can be canceled by Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you make 120 on-time payments while working for the government, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or another nonprofit that provides a qualifying public service. To get the most money forgiven, parent PLUS loan borrowers need to make all 120 payments on the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.

You can apply for federal consolidation on the Federal Student Aid website.

STUDENT LOAN REFINANCE RATINGS METHODOLOGY

Our survey of more than 29 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.

Last updated on March 1, 2023

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Parent PLUS Loan Refinance Lenders of April 2023

Frequently asked questions

  • Refinancing or sticking with the standard plan is the quickest option to repay parent loans. If you need lower payments, consider federal consolidation or the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.

  • Refinancing through a private lender is the only way to transfer parent PLUS loans to your child. He or she will need good credit — FICO score in the high 600s — and a stable income to qualify.

  • If you can’t pay parent PLUS loans, consider switching repayment plans or postponing payments temporarily. You could also refinance in your child’s name, if he or she can afford the loan.

  • Parent PLUS loans have repayment options that private loans lack or offer lesser versions of. But private loans may offer better interest rates than federal loans and lower origination fees.

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