9 Lenders to Refinance Student Loans With Low Income

Key facts

Pros

• You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

• You can refinance without a degree.

• You can refinance while in school or during a medical residency.

Cons

• Interest rates vary by refi product.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Approximately 750.

• Loan amounts: $5,000 to $300,000. (Minimum for California residents is $10,000.)

• Must have a degree: No.

Available Term Lengths

5, 7, 10, 15 or 20

Key facts

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 Lengths

5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years

Disclaimer

Fixed rates range from 3.49% APR to 7.99% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates from 1.74% APR to 7.99% 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.

Key facts

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 degree: At least an associate degree for select professions. Borrowers in their last year of undergrad can refinance. For parent PLUS loans, the child does not need to have graduated to refinance.

Available Term Lengths

5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years

Disclaimer

All credit products are subject to credit approval. APRs shown include a 0.25% interest rate discount for AutoPay. If the borrower chooses to make monthly payments automatically by electronic fund transfer (EFT) from a bank account, the interest rate will decrease by 0.25% and will increase back if the borrower stops making (or we stop accepting) monthly payments automatically by EFT from the borrower’s bank account. The 0.25% AutoPay/EFT Discount will not reduce the monthly payment; instead, the discount is applied to the principal to help pay the loan down faster. Variable APRs are subject to increase after consummation. The current index for variable rate loans is derived from the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) and changes in the SOFR index may cause your monthly payment to increase. Borrowers who take out a term of 5, 7, or 10 years will have a maximum interest rate of 9%, those who take out a 15 or 20-year variable loan will have a maximum interest rate of 10%. There is no limit on the amount your interest rate can increase at one time. The Index is currently published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“New York Fed”). View payment examples here. KeyBank National Association reserves the right to modify or discontinue products and benefits at any time without notice.

Key facts

Pros

• Forbearance of 18 months is longer than many lenders offer.

• Greater-than-minimum payments allowed via autopay.

Cons

• Available only to existing Navy Federal Credit Union customers

• Students cannot refinance a parent PLUS loan in their name.

• You can’t see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Did not disclose.

• $7,500 minimum to $125,000 for undergraduates, or $175,000 for graduate students.

• Must have a degree: Yes, at least an associate degree.

Available Term Lengths

5, 10 or 15 years

Key facts

Pros

• You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

• You can refinance parent PLUS loans in your name.

• Loyalty discount: Borrowers with a Citizens Bank account when they apply get an additional 0.25% interest rate discount.

Cons

• Estate is still responsible for loans refinanced by parents if the borrower dies.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Does not disclose.

• Loan amounts: $10,000 to $500,000.

• Must have a degree: No.

Available Term Lengths

5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years

Disclaimer

Education Refinance Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 2.24%-8.90% (2.24%-8.90% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 2.39%-9.15% (2.39%-9.15% APR).

Key facts

Pros

• Forbearance of 18 months for 15- and 20-year loan terms is longer than many lenders.

• You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Cons

• Loans aren't available in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island or West Virginia.

• No payment postponement available if borrowers return to school or serve in the military.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 751.

• Loan amounts: $5,000 to $300,000, depending on the higest degree earned.

• Must have a degree: Yes, at least an associate degree.

Available Term Lengths

5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years

Disclaimer

See LendKey's full terms and conditions at https://www.lendkey.com/disclaimers

Key facts

Pros

• No late fees.

• You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Cons

• No formal deferment/forbearance options.

• No co-signer release.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Did not disclose.

• Loan amounts: $10,000 minimum.

• Must have a degree: No.

Available Term Lengths

7, 10 or 15 years.

Key facts

Pros

• Customizable payments and loan terms.

• Option to skip one payment every 12 months.

• You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.

Cons

• You can’t apply with a co-signer.

• Loans aren't available in Kentucky and Nevada.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 760.

• Loan amounts: $5,000 to $500,000.

• Must have a degree: No, but must be within six months of graduation and have income or a job.

Available Term Lengths

5 to 20 years

Disclaimer

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 2.99% APR to 8.24% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 1.99% APR to 8.24% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan refinance 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. The maximum rate for your loan is 8.95% if your loan term is 10 years or less. For loan terms of more than 10 years to 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 9.95%. For loan terms over 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 11.95%. Please note, we are not able to offer variable rate loans in AK, IL, MN, NH, OH, TN, and TX.

Key facts

Pros

• Married couples can refinance student loans into a single loan.

• 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.

Cons

• Estate is still responsible for the loan if the borrower dies.

Qualifications

• Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 773.

• Loan amounts: $7,500 to $300,000.

• Must have a degree: Yes, at least a bachelor’s degree.

Available Term Lengths

5, 8, 12 or 15 years

Disclaimer

Rates and offers current as of May 13, 2022. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the cost of credit calculating the interest rate, loan amount, repayment term and the timing of payments. Fixed Rates range from 4.49% APR - 6.68% APR. Fixed Rates will vary based on application terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. These rates are subject to additional terms and conditions and rates are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.