Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as "Credible."
Federal student loans can be a good way to pay for college, especially because they come with borrower protections.
But if you have good credit, you might be able to save more money with a lower interest rate if you refinance federal student loans. However, there are pros and cons to consider first.
Here’s what to know before you refinance federal student loans:
- Can you refinance your federal student loans?
- Is refinancing a good idea right now?
- Benefits and risks of refinancing
- Refinancing vs. consolidation
- How to refinance federal student loans
- Frequently asked questions
Can you refinance your federal student loans?
Yes, you can refinance federal student loans like most other types of student loans. When you refinance a federal student loan, you’ll pay it off with a new private student loan.
Keep in mind that if you refinance your federal loans, though, you’ll lose access to federal benefits — including income-driven repayment and student loan forgiveness programs.
Is refinancing student loans a good idea right now?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal student loan payments and interest accrual have been paused by the CARES Act through May 1, 2022. If you refinance your federal student loans, you’ll no longer be eligible for this administrative forbearance.
Because of this, it might be a good idea to wait before refinancing, depending on your situation.
Just enter your APR, credit score, monthly payment, and remaining balance (estimates are fine) to see how your loan stacks up.
Learn More: Coronavirus Relief for Federal Student Loan Borrowers in Place Through 2021
Benefits and risks of refinancing
While refinancing your federal student loans might be a good choice in some cases, it isn’t right for everyone. If you’re thinking about refinancing your student loans, it’s important to consider the pros and cons first.
Benefits | Risks |
|
|
Advantages of refinancing
Here are some of the benefits of refinancing to keep in mind:
- You could get a lower interest rate. If you refinance, you might qualify for a lower interest rate, which could save you money over the life of your loan.
- You could get a lower monthly payment. If you choose a longer repayment term, you could get a lower monthly payment. Just keep in mind that extending your repayment means you’ll pay more in interest over the life of your loan.
- You could pay off your loans sooner. If you’re able to get a lower interest rate by refinancing, you’ll have fewer interest charges over the life of your loan. Because of this, you might be able to pay off your loan faster than if you hadn’t refinanced.
If you choose to refinance, be sure to consider as many refinancing lenders as possible to find the right loan for you. Credible makes this easy — you can compare your prequalified rates from our partner lenders in the table below in just two minutes.
Lender | Fixed rates from (APR) | Variable rates from (APR) | Loan terms (years) | Loan amounts |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2.94%+ | N/A | 10, 15, 20 | $7,500 up to up to $200,000 (larger balances require special approval) |
|
||||
![]() | 2.35%+ | 2.45%+ | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 | $10,000 up to $250,000 (depending on degree) |
|
||||
![]() | 3.74%+1 | 1.99%+1 | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 | $10,000 to $500,000 (depending on degree and loan type) |
|
||||
![]() | 3.49%+2 | 3.44%+2 | 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 | $5,000 to $300,000 (depending on degree type) |
|
||||
![]() | 5.44%+ | 5.39%+ | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 | $5,000 to $500,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 3.41%+5 | 3.46%+5 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | $1,000 to $250,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 2.73%+3 | 1.86%+3 | 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 | $15,000 to $250,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 3.47%+4 | 2.45%+4 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | $5,000 - $250,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 4.44%+ 7 | N/A | 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 | Up to $300,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 2.69%+ | 2.14%+ | 5, 7, 10, 15 | Up to $300,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 3.45%+ | N/A | 7, 10, 15 | $10,000 up to the total amount of qualified education debt |
|
||||
![]() | 4.49%+ | N/A | 5, 8, 12, 15 | $7,500 to $300,000 |
|
||||
![]() | 4.29%+ | N/A | 5, 10, 15 | $7,500 up to $250,000 (depending on highest degree earned) |
|
||||
Compare personalized rates from multiple lenders without affecting your credit score. 100% free! |
||||
All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | 1Citizens Disclosures | 2College Ave Disclosures | 5EDvestinU Disclosures | 3 ELFI Disclosures | 4INvestEd Disclosures | 7ISL Education Lending Disclosures |
Drawbacks of refinancing
And here are a few of the risks to be aware of when it comes to refinancing federal student loans:
- You’ll lose access to deferment and forbearance options. There are various situations that might qualify you for federal deferment or forbearance. If you refinance, you’ll no longer have access to these programs. Instead, the ability to pause payments will be at the discretion of your lender.
- You’ll lose access to income-driven repayment. Once you refinance, you can’t sign up for any of the income-driven repayment plans. Instead, your repayment options will depend on the terms from your lender.
- You won’t qualify for federal student loan forgiveness. Unlike federal student loans, a refinance private student loan won’t qualify for student loan forgiveness programs.
Check out: Student Loan Refinancing Risks
Refinancing vs. consolidation
The terms refinancing and consolidation are often used interchangeably. However, they mean something different for federal student loans.
- Federal student loan consolidation: You can consolidate your federal loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan. While this won’t lower your interest rate, you can extend your repayment term up to 30 years to lower your monthly payments — though this means you’ll pay more in interest over time. Federal consolidation also lets you maintain your federal benefits.
- Private student loan refinancing: This process (also known as private student loan consolidation) lets you combine multiple student loans — leaving you with just one loan and payment to manage. Depending on your credit, refinancing might get you a lower interest rate. Or you could opt to extend your repayment term to reduce your payments. Just remember that refinancing federal loans will cost you access to federal benefits.
Federal student loan consolidation | Private student loan refinancing | |
---|---|---|
Are federal loans eligible? | Yes | Yes |
Are private loans eligible? | No | Yes |
Will it combine all my loans into one? | Yes | Yes |
Will I get a lower interest rate? | No | Possibly (depending on your credit) |
Is a credit check required? | No | Yes |
Will I keep my federal benefits? | Yes | No |
How to refinance federal student loans
If you’re ready to refinance your federal student loans, follow these four steps:
- Shop around and compare rates. Be sure to compare your rates from as many lenders as possible to find a loan that fits your needs. This might include deciding between a fixed or variable rate, considering different loan repayment terms, and more.
- Pick a loan option. After comparing lenders, choose the loan option that best suits your needs.
- Complete the application. Once you’ve picked a lender, you’ll need to fill out a full application and submit any required documentation, such as tax returns or pay stubs. Also be prepared to provide information regarding each of the loans you want to refinance.
- Manage your payments. If you’re approved, continue to make payments on your old loans while the finance is processed. Afterward, you might consider signing up for autopay so you won’t miss any future payments — many lenders offer a rate discount to borrowers who opt for automatic payments.
If you decide that refinancing is right for you, you can easily compare your rates from multiple lenders with Credible after filling out a single form.
See Your Refinancing Options
Credible is 100% free!
Find out: Cost to Refinance Student Loans: Fees & Discounts Explained
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to several commonly asked questions about refinancing federal student loans:
What types of loans are eligible?
Most federal student loans are typically eligible for refinancing, including Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Parent PLUS Loans. You can refinance all or some of your federal student loan balance into a new private loan.
You’ll also need to meet the lender’s other requirements, which often includes a minimum credit score and verifiable income.
Learn More: How to Refinance Your Student Loans
Are there fees that come with refinancing federal loans?
There might be fees that come with refinancing your federal student loans, depending on the lender. Some common fees include:
- Origination fees
- Loan application fees
- Prepayment penalties
- Late fees for missed payments
If you refinance through Credible, though, you won’t have to worry about prepayment penalties, loan application fees, or origination fees since our partner lenders don’t charge these. This could help you save money by refinancing with Credible right from the start.
What credit score do I need?
Every lender has its own requirements for refinancing student loans, which often includes having a minimum credit score to qualify. For example, most of Credible’s refinancing partners accept credit scores between 670 and 700.
If you don’t meet a lender’s credit requirements, having a creditworthy cosigner might help you qualify for a loan.
Learn More: Refinancing Student Loans With Bad Credit
Do I need a cosigner?
While more than 90% of private student loans you take out during school have a cosigner, having a cosigner isn’t required for all refinance loans. If you have decent credit and income to qualify for a loan on your own, you won’t need one.
Keep in mind, though, that even if you don’t need a cosigner, having one could help you qualify for a lower interest rate.
What happens if I can’t make my payments?
If you can’t make your payments on a refinanced student loan, it’s a good idea to contact your lender as soon as possible. They might have options to temporarily pause your payments.
If you’re dealing with a long-term financial hardship, you might consider refinancing again to extend your repayment period, as this could reduce your monthly payments. Just keep in mind that this can also lead to paying more in interest over the life of the loan.
Keep Reading: 11 Strategies for Paying Off Your Student Loans Faster
We encourage you to provide honest and thorough feedback about your experience (not the experiences you’ve heard from other people), the good as well as the bad. But, we also want you to follow these content guidelines. The comments or responses that Credible posts under its official account are not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any of the financial institutions unless specifically stated otherwise in the response. Please keep in mind that the financial institution has no obligation to monitor any comments, questions or reviews you post and is therefore not responsible for ensuring your posts and/or questions are answered.