What Is Refinancing Student Loans, Really?

In a nutshell, student loan refinancing is when a private lender pays off your existing loans and gives you a new loan with new terms. It usually costs nothing to refinance student loans, and you can save a lot over time by lowering your interest rate.

So how does student loan refinancing work?

Let’s say you have $40,000 in private student loans with an 8% interest rate. That means you’re paying $485.31 every month for the next decade.

After applying with a private lender that offers student loan refinancing, you're approved for a lower interest rate — say 5%. That would reduce the monthly payments on your $40,000 loan to $424.26.

This would ultimately save you a total of $7,326 in interest.

Estimate your potential savings with our student loan refinance calculator

» MORE: How to refinance student loans in 7 steps

Can anyone refinance?

Not everyone can refinance student loans — and many borrowers shouldn't. Refinance companies use certain criteria to evaluate your eligibility. Generally, you need good credit (in the high 600s or above) and a stable income. If you’re lacking either, you’ll need a co-signer who qualifies.

And think of the length of your loan term when considering refinance. If you’re already halfway into paying off a 10-year loan and refinancing would only add more time to your loan term, it may not benefit you in the long run even if your monthly payment is lower.

If you refinance federal student loans, you'll lose government safety nets, like income-driven repayment, and opportunities for loan forgiveness. Refinancing private student loans doesn't have the same drawbacks.

When is the best time to apply for refinancing?

It can make sense to refinance as soon as you're eligible. That will maximize your potential savings. If you’ve started working and have built up your credit, see what kind of rate you can qualify for.

If you previously refinanced your loans, you can refinance again to lock down an even lower rate.

» MORE: 4 myths about student loan refinancing debunked

Anything else I need to know?

Here are a few more things to keep in mind before you apply:

There are a few caveats if you refinance federal (versus private) loans. Payments on federally held student loans are paused interest-free through Aug. 31, 2022, as part of relief efforts due to the coronavirus. You will give up this benefit by refinancing your federal loans.

Compare offers from multiple lenders. Get interest rates from different companies to identify the lowest one. Generally speaking, the better your credit score, the better the rate will be.