7 Best Lenders to Refinance Student Loans With a Co-Signer of January 2026
These lenders allow you to release a co-signer from your refinanced student loan.
Most lenders let you refinance student loans with a co-signer, which may help you meet their eligibility criteria or get a lower interest rate. Here are lenders with this feature, plus more information about refinancing with a co-signer.
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Why trust NerdWallet
- 17 student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and consumer lending.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 41 categories and more than 50 data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Best Lenders to Refinance Student Loans With a Co-Signer
Lender | NerdWallet editorial rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.0 /5 | 680 | 4.89-9.04% | 5.54-9.12% | Compare Rates on Credible’s website | |
Best for faster repayment options and wide availability 5.0 /5 | 670 | 5.95-9.99% | N/A | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.5 /5 | Does not disclose | N/A | N/A | Read Review on NerdWallet |
Our pick for
Co-signer release after 12 months
- 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.
- 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.
- Loans aren't available in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island or West Virginia.
LendKey works with community banks and credit unions. Co-signer release policies vary by institution, but may require as few as 12 payments. Check your specific loan agreement.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Does not disclose.
- Minimum income: Does not disclose.
- Loan amounts: Minimum $7,500. Maximum depends on creditworthiness and debt-to-income ratio.
- You can refinance without a degree.
- Forbearance of 24 months is twice as long as most lenders.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Loans aren’t available in Alaska, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington D.C.
- You cannot postpone repayment if you re-enroll in school.
You will need to pass a hard credit check to release a co-signer from an Advantage Refinance Loan.
- 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.
- Forbearance of 18 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- Greater-than-minimum payments allowed via autopay.
- 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.
In addition to making 12 consecutive, on-time payments, Navy Federal requires you to provide proof of income and pass a credit check to release your co-signer.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Does not disclose.
- Minimum income: Does not disclose.
- Loan amounts: Minimum $7,500. Maximum depends on creditworthiness and debt-to-income ratio.
- You can refinance without a degree.
- Forbearance of 24 months is twice as long as most lenders.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Loans aren’t available in Alaska, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington D.C.
- You cannot postpone repayment if you re-enroll in school.
Our pick for
Co-signer release after 24 months
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 748.
- Loan amounts: $7,500 to $250,000, depending on the highest degree earned.
- Must have a degree: No.
- Income-based repayment plan available, with forgiveness after 25 years.
- Co-signer release available after 24 months.
- Students cannot refinance a parent PLUS loan in their name.
Along with a requirement to make 24 full, on-time and consecutive payments, RISLA asks borrowers to provide credit score and employment information when they apply to release a co-signer.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: 756.
- Minimum income: $30,000.
- Loan amounts: $7,500 to $200,000.
- You can refinance without a degree.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- You cannot refinance parent PLUS loans in your name.
Among other criteria, EDvestinU has a minimum FICO score requirement of 700, income of at least $30,000 or $50,000 (depending on your loan balance) and a debt–to–income ratio of 43% or less to release a co-signer.
- 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.
- Offers more repayment terms than many lenders.
- Offers greater-than-minimum payments via autopay.
- Only available to borrowers in Texas.
- Does not offer co-signer release.
Borrowers must pass a credit check and meet Brazos' other requirements to release a co-signer.
Our pick for
Co-signer release after 36 months
- 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.
- 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.
- Payment postponement isn’t available if borrowers return to school.
You will need to pass a hard credit check to release a co-signer from a refinanced Laurel Road loan.
Reasons to refinance student loans with a co-signer
Here’s why you may want to refinance with a co-signer:
Your finances aren’t strong enough
Student loan refinance eligibility varies by lender, but you’ll typically need a credit score in at least the high 600s, a debt-to-income ratio below 50% and steady income. If you can’t meet these requirements, applying with a co-signer who does may help you qualify.
You can’t qualify for a nonfinancial reason
A co-signer might help depending on the reason. For example, if you’re an international student, you may be able to refinance with an eligible co-signer. In other instances — like refinancing without a degree — adding a co-signer wouldn’t make a difference.
You can get a better interest rate
A loan with more than one borrower is less risky for the lender, which means it may offer you a better rate.
Plus, interest rates on refinance loans are credit-based in general. So even if you can qualify on your own, adding a co-signer with a stronger financial profile could improve a lender’s offer to you.
Should you refinance student loans with a co-signer?
Ask the following to decide if co-signing is the right move:
Can the co-signer afford the loan?
Co-signing a student loan makes that person responsible for it. While they may not plan to repay the loan, they’ll have to if you don’t.
The debt will also go on their credit report, meaning missed payments will hurt their credit score. Also, the loan amount could affect their ability to do things like take out or refinance other debts.
Are they already on the hook for other debt?
Most undergraduate private student loans prompt borrowers to add a co-signer early on in the application process. If you’re refinancing one of these loans, asking that person to co-sign again won’t change their responsibility.
But it could reduce their risk: By helping you get a lower payment, you may be less likely to run into trouble and able to pay the loan off faster.
Is there a plan for release?
You can refinance again to remove the co-signer; this can make sense if your financial situation improves.
If that won’t happen soon, make sure the lender offers co-signer release, which allows the co-signer to be removed from the loan after certain conditions are met. Those will likely include making a set number of consecutive, full, on-time payments and meeting the original loan’s underwriting criteria.
Not all lenders offer this option.
How to refinance student loans with a co-signer
When you apply to refinance a student loan on a lender’s website, you’ll likely be asked if you want to include a co-signer. You can then add that person’s information accordingly.
But before doing that, pre-qualify with multiple lenders — with and without a co-signer. This will let you see potential interest rates for both scenarios without affecting your credit.
Your goal should be to get the best rate possible. But if you refinance with a co-signer, you’ll have to weigh the risk that person faces versus the reward of a lower rate. For example, say the lowest rate you’re offered is 6%, and you’d be able to release your co-signer after 36 months of payments. The next-best offer is 7% — but release is available after 12 months.
A student loan refinance calculator can help you understand how much that one percentage point could save you. It will be up to you and your co-signer to determine whether that amount is worth more than a quicker path to release.
Last updated on January 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What if I miss payments on a loan with a co-signer?
Missing payments can hurt both your and your co-signer’s credit. The co-signer is legally responsible for repayment, so the lender may pursue them for missed amounts. Your relationship with the co-signer may become strained, too.
Do all lenders allow co-signers on student loan refinancing?
No. not all lenders allow co-signers, so check eligibility requirements before applying. All of the lenders in the list above and in the recap below do allow co-signers.
How we chose the best student loans
Our team of student loan experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.
17
Lenders reviewed
17
Lenders reviewed
We reviewed 17 banks, credit unions, and online lenders — including the top 10 by market share and search volume — plus lenders serving niche and nontraditional borrowers.
41
Features assessed
41
Features assessed
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories, covering dozens of features related to affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
50+
Data points analyzed
50+
Data points analyzed
Our team tracks and reassesses more than 50 data points, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, through our annual survey to lenders.
Star rating categories
We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
5.0
Overall score
NerdWallet surveyed and reviewed 17 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing. We included 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. Some lenders are NerdWallet partners, but this did not influence our selection of the winner.
We consider 41 features and more than 50 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 a wide range of 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 loans and our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet's Best Lenders to Refinance Student Loans With a Co-Signer of January 2026
- LendKey Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 12 months, Fixed APR: 4.89-9.04%
- Advantage Education Loan Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 12 months + Co-signer release after 12 months, Fixed APR: 5.95-9.99%
- Navy Federal Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 12 months, Fixed APR: undisclosed
- RISLA Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 24 months, Fixed APR: 3.99-8.74%
- EDvestinU Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 24 months, Fixed APR: 7.41-11.03%
- Brazos Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 24 months, Fixed APR: 4.39-6.89%
- Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance: Best for Co-signer release after 36 months, Fixed APR: 4.74-8.75%