Refinance rates from private lenders, ranked by APR for borrowers looking to lower their rate or payment.
Lowest starting fixed APR among lenders in our set.
You have stable income and good credit and want the lowest possible rate.
Refinancing federal loans forfeits federal protections like income-driven repayment.
Fixed-rate-only lender for borrowers who want payment predictability.
You want predictable payments with no variable rate risk.
No variable rate option if you'd prefer a potentially lower starting rate.
High loan ceiling suited for graduate and professional degree debt.
You have high-balance graduate or professional school debt.
High loan amounts require strong income and credit qualification.
Credit-union backed rates for members.
You're open to credit union membership for a better rate.
Requires opening a membership account first.
Lowest starting rate in our set, on a variable-rate basis.
You're comfortable with rate fluctuation for a potentially lower starting cost.
Variable rates can rise over the life of the loan.
APR range reflects the spread of rates offered based on creditworthiness and whether you choose fixed or variable.
Fixed vs. variable fixed rates stay constant for the loan term; variable rates can change periodically based on market index rates.
Top Pick reflects our editorial ranking based on rate, terms, and borrower protections — partners marked this way may also compensate us.
Refinancing federal loans forfeits federal repayment protections. Consider this carefully before applying.
Refinancing federal loans means giving up federal protections like income-driven repayment plans, loan forgiveness programs, and certain deferment options — it generally makes more sense if you have stable income and won't need those protections.
A fixed rate stays the same for the life of the loan, giving payment predictability. A variable rate can start lower but may rise or fall over time based on market conditions.
Many private lenders offer a cosigner release option after a set number of on-time payments (commonly 12–24), which lets the cosigner be removed from the loan once you qualify independently.
We may receive compensation from lenders when you submit an application through our link. This doesn't affect your rate or approval odds.
3 guides on student loans — how it works, how to choose, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Refinancing federal loans into a private loan can lower your rate — but it also permanently trades away protections that are easy to underweight until you need them.
Read more → (6 min read)Beyond the federal-vs-private trade-off, here's how to think through whether refinancing is the right move for your specific situation right now.
Read more → (6 min read)These plans can meaningfully lower your monthly payment based on income — but they come with trade-offs around total interest and timeline that are worth knowing upfront.
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