Private lenders that refinance student loans base rates they offer on the loan term, the borrower’s risk profile, and a rate index. Typically, the most financially stable applicants get the lowest rates.
When the goal is a lower rate, lower monthly payments, or both, the fixed or variable rate you qualify for makes all the difference.
Here’s a look at what you need to know about how interest rates for student loan refinances work.
Student Loan Refinancing, Explained
When you refinance, you take out a new private loan and use it to pay off your existing federal or private student loans. The new loan will have a new repayment term and interest rate, which hopefully will be better.
Most refinancing lenders offer fixed or variable interest rates and terms of five to 20 years. Shortening or lengthening your existing student loan term or terms can affect your monthly payment and the total cost of your new loan. The two key ways to save money by refinancing are:
• A shorter repayment term
• A lower rate
Then again, someone wanting lower monthly payments might choose a longer term, but that may result in more interest paid over the life of the loan.
There are no fees to refinance student loans. Nor is there any limit to the number of times you can refinance. Lenders will want to see a decent credit score, a stable income, and manageable debt. Adding a cosigner may strengthen your profile.
Refinancing federal student loans into a private student loan renders federal benefits moot.
Is Consolidation the Same as Refinancing?
Student loan consolidation and refinancing are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are not technically the same thing. Student loan consolidation most often refers to a federal program that allows you to combine multiple types of federal student loans into a single loan. The new loan will have a new term of up to 30 years, but the new rate will not be lower.
Refinancing of student loans is offered by private lenders, such as banks and credit unions. Federal and/or private student loans are refinanced into one new loan that ideally has a better rate.
What Are Interest Rates?
Interest rates are the amount lenders charge individuals to borrow money. When you take out a loan, you must pay back the amount you borrowed, plus interest, usually represented by a certain percentage of the loan principal (the amount you have remaining to pay off).
When interest rates are high, borrowing money is more expensive. And when interest rates are low, borrowing can be cheaper.
Interest rates can be fixed, variable, or a hybrid. For fixed interest rates, lenders set the rate at the beginning of the loan, and that rate will not change over the life of the loan.
A variable interest rate is indexed to a benchmark interest rate. As that benchmark rises or falls, so too will the variable rate on your loan. Variable-rate loans may be best for short-term loans that you can pay off before interest rates have a chance to rise.
Hybrid rates may start out with a fixed interest rate for a period of time, which then switches to a variable rate.
How Is Interest Rate Different From APR?
While interest rates refers to the monthly amount you’ll need to pay to borrow money, annual percentage rate (APR) represents your interest rate for an entire year and any other costs and fees associated with the loan.
As a result, APR gives you a better sense of exactly how expensive a loan might be, and helps when comparing loan options.
What Factors Influence Student Loan Interest Rates?
Interest rates for federal student loans are set by Congress each year. Federal loans use the 10-year Treasury note as an index for interest rates. These rates apply to all borrowers.
Private lenders, on the other hand, will look at other factors when determining interest rates, such as credit score. Typically, lenders see those with higher scores as more likely to pay off their loans on time, and may reward this with lower interest rates. Lenders see borrowers with lower scores as being at greater risk of defaulting on their loans. To offset the risk, they tend to offer higher interest rates.
Some lenders offer a rate discount if you sign up for their autopay program.
What Drives Student Loan Refinancing Rates?
Student loan refinancing rates are driven by many of the same factors that drive rates on your initial loan, such as credit score. You may want to consider refinancing during this era of low rates or if your financial situation has improved. For example, if you’ve increased your income or you’ve paid off other debts and your credit score received a boost, you may look into refinancing your loans at a lower interest rate.
Many graduates haven’t had much time to build a credit history. A cosigner with good credit may help an individual qualify for a refinance at a lower rate. Cosigners share responsibility for loan payments, of course. So if you miss a payment, they’ll be on the hook.
Refinance Student Loans With SoFi
You might choose to refinance student loans when interest rates remain low or your financial situation has improved, potentially providing access to a new private student loan at a lower rate.
Refinancing may be a good move for borrowers with higher-interest private student loans and those with federal student loans who don’t plan to use federal programs like income-driven repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or forbearance.
A student loan refinancing calculator can help you determine how much you might save by refinancing your student loans.
FAQ
How are student loan refinancing rates calculated?
Lenders base interest rates largely on factors like an applicant’s credit history, income, and debt.
Does refinancing save you money?
When you refinance your student loans with a new loan at a lower interest rate, you will pay less interest over the life of the loan, given the same or similar loan terms.
What is an average interest rate for student loans?
The average rate among all student loans, federal and private, is 5.8%, according to Education Data researchers. Private student loan rates have a wide range for fixed- and variable-rate loans. For the 2022-2023 school year, the interest rate on Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans for undergraduates is 4.99%, the rate on Direct Unsubsidized loans for graduate and professional students is 6.54%, and the rate on Direct PLUS loans for graduate students, professional students, and parents is 7.54%. The interest rates on federal student loans are fixed and are set annually by Congress.
SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Photo credit: iStock/Kateryna Onyshchuk
SOSL0222023
