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Average Student Loan Debt for Law School

There are several options to manage your law school debt, including student loan forgiveness programs or refinancing.

Emily Guy Birken Emily Guy Birken Edited by Maddie Lloyd Updated September 9, 2022

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."

While studying law could lead to a lucrative legal career, it can also be expensive. The average law student graduates with $130,000 in student loan debt, according to the American Bar Association (ABA). Additionally, many new lawyers end up with lower annual incomes than their total loan balances, which can make it difficult to repay the debt.

Here’s the average law school debt in several categories:

  • Average law school debt
  • Cost to repay law school debt
  • Average interest rates on law school loans
  • Typical loan balances and interest rates for law school grads
  • Percentage of grads passing the bar
  • Average time to repay law school loans
  • Average earnings with a law school degree
  • Law school debt and earnings by school
  • How to pay off law school debt

Average law school debt

Here’s a look at the average law school debt and earnings for graduates nationwide, according to data reported by the ABA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • Average law school debt: $108,000
  • Average education debt after law school: $130,000
  • Median salary with a law school degree: $127,990
  • Average salary with a law school degree: $148,030
  • Average time to repay law school debt: 20-25 years

Before you attend law school, it’s important to understand the full cost involved so you can make the right decisions with your finances. In general, lawyers graduate with higher student loan debt balances than their incomes, which leads to longer repayment times.

Average law school debt by year

Graduation yearLaw school debt onlyCumulative debt at graduation
1999-2000$51,800$57,500
2003-2004$71,300$82,100
2007-2008$82,800$94,400
2011-2012$126,600$140,400
2015-2016$129,300$142,900
2019-2020$164,742$171,036
2020-2021$108,000$130,000
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, American Bar Association

The chart above shows average total education debt for law school graduates is:

  • For the class of 1999-2000: $57,500
  • For the class of 2019-2020: $130,000

That’s an increase of 126%, without adjusting for inflation.

Keep in mind that total education debt includes both law school and pre-law debt taken on to earn a bachelor’s degree. Excluding pre-law debt and looking only at loans taken out for law school, average law school debt at graduation averaged:

  • For the class of 1999-2000: $51,800
  • For the class of 2019-2020: $108,000

That’s an increase of 108%, without adjusting for inflation.

See More: U.S. Student Loan Debt Statistics

Cost to repay law school debt

Law school students take on far more debt than other grad students. The cost to repay law school debt depends primarily on three factors:

  1. The interest rates on your loans
  2. How how long it takes you to pay your loans back
  3. Whether you’ll qualify for loan forgiveness
Tip: One way to potentially reduce your overall repayment costs is through refinancing. If you qualify for a lower interest rate, you could save money on interest charges and even pay off your loans faster.

Keep in mind that while you can refinance both federal and private student loans, refinancing federal student loans will cost you access to federal benefits and protections — such as income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs.

You can use our calculator below to see how much you could save by refinancing your student loans.

Step 1. Enter your loan balance

? Enter the remaining amount of the loans you’d like to refinance $

Step 2. Enter current loan information

? Enter the average annual interest rate of the loans you’d like to refinance %
? Enter the monthly amount you currently pay on your loans (or enter remaining term) $
? Enter the amount of time left to repay your loan (or enter monthly payment) years

Step 3. Enter your new loan information to start calculating your savings

? Enter an estimated new interest rate. %
? Enter the monthly amount to pay on your new loan (or enter new loan term) $
? Enter the amount of time you have to repay your loan (or enter monthly payment) years
Lifetime Savings Increased Lifetime Cost $
New Monthly Payment $
Monthly Savings Increased Monthly Cost $

If you refinance your student loan at % interest rate, you can save will pay an additional $ monthly and pay off your loan by . The total cost of the new loan will be $.


Does refinancing make sense for you?
Compare offers from top refinancing lenders to determine your actual savings.

Check Personalized Rates

Checking rates won’t affect your credit score.


Average interest rates on law school loans

If you’re taking federal student loans for pre-law and law degrees, there are three interest rate tiers — one for undergraduates, one for graduate students, and one for PLUS loans. Many lawyers have all three types of loans by the time they graduate from law school.

Based on average student loan interest rates in recent years, a typical law school graduate would have the following loan balances and interest rates:

Loan typeAmount borrowedAverage interest rate*
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
(for undergrad students)
$41,6004.60%
Direct Unsubsidized Loans
(for graduate students)
$61,5006.16%
Direct PLUS loans
(for graduate and professional students)
$56,9007.20%
* Averages based on federal interest rates from 2006-22.

Typical loan balances and interest rates for law school grads

Graduate and professional students are allowed to take out a lifetime total of $138,500 in Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. Keep in mind that the annual borrowing limit for grad students on these more affordable loans is $20,500.

What this means is that students earning a law degree in three years will be able to borrow no more than $61,500 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans for grad students. After this, law students will need to consider costlier Grad PLUS Loans or private student loans to cover their unmet funding needs.

Tip: If you’re wondering how competitive your loan is, the loan score tool below can help. Just enter your APR, credit score, monthly payment, and remaining balance (estimates are fine) to see how your loan stacks up.
Loading widget - loan-score-tool

Check out: Best Law School Loans

Percentage of grads passing the bar

Graduating from law school is only one hurdle on the path to becoming a lawyer. New law school graduates must also pass the bar exam in the state where they’d like to practice law in order to start their careers.

The bar is a notoriously difficult exam, but the good news is 79.86% of first-time bar exam takers passed it in 2021, according to the American Bar Association.

Unfortunately, taking the bar exam could also add to your debt. The exam itself can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,300 or more, according to JD Advising. Additionally, many exam takers will need to pay for a prep course that could cost upward of $4,000, as well as the cost of lodging for the multi-day exam.

Tip: Law school graduates who fail the bar on their first try have the option to take the test again. In some cases, the cost to retake the bar exam is lower than the first-time fee. However, you might end up paying a higher fee if you are already licensed and need to take the bar to practice in another state.

If you need help paying for the bar exam and its associated expense, a bar exam loan could be a good option. This is a type of personal loan specifically designated to help cover bar exam costs.

Before taking out a bar exam loan, it’s important to consider as many lenders as possible so you can find the right loan for you. Here are a couple of Credible’s partner lenders that offer bar exam loans:

Lenders that offer bar exam loansLoan amountFees
citizens bank$1,000 - $16,000
($225,000 aggregate loan limit)
None
$1,000 - $15,000None
Compare rates without affecting
your credit score. 100% free!


Compare Now

Average time to repay law school loans

The repayment period for your law school loans will depend on a number of factors, including your choice of repayment plan, income, and whether you’ll qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness as a government or nonprofit worker.

For law school grads, the average time to repay student loans after graduation is:

  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): 10 years
  • Standard repayment plan: 10 years
  • Income-driven repayment (REPAYE): 17 years

The table below illustrates how your repayment plan impacts the time you’ll spend paying off the average law school debt of $130,000 with a weighted interest rate of 5.23%. You can also see how some borrowers might save more money and pay their loans off faster by refinancing their loans.

Repayment planMonthly paymentYears of paymentsTotal repayment cost
REPAYE with Public Service Loan Forgiveness*$304 to $397 (first, last)10$41,860 ($125,361 forgiven)
REPAYE without Public Service Loan Forgiveness*$314 to $707 (first, last)25$146,147 ($52,977 forgiven)
Standard 10-year repayment plan$1,394 (fixed)10
$167,222
Refinance into 10-year loan at 4.25% $1,639 (fixed)10$196,680
*Assumes an average income of $56,900 (the median entry-level salary for public defenders in 2022) and that the borrower is unmarried.

Average earnings with a law school degree

While graduating with six-figure education debt isn’t ideal, many lawyers are able to earn a high annual salary that’s nearly equal to their total debt. According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyers earned the following in 2021:

  • Median: $127,990
  • Average: $148,030

Earnings with a law school degree

IndustryAverage salary
State government$101,110
Local government$113,680
Federal government$147,100
Lawyers (all)$148,030
Legal services$150,130
Management of companies and enterprises$198,900
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The chart above highlights that lawyers who work for state and local governments can expect to earn less than the average law school graduate. Working for the federal government can provide a more generous salary.

Landing a job with a law firm as a provider of legal services, or as a member of a company or enterprise legal staff, often provides the biggest paycheck.

Law school debt and earnings by school

The amount of student debt you take on and the salary you can expect post-graduation can both be impacted by which law school you attend. In general, the most prestigious universities have the highest price tags.

However, starting a legal career after graduating from a highly respected alma mater can often command a higher salary that makes it possible to repay the higher debt.

Schools that are less selective, on the other hand, can leave graduates deeply in debt and without a clear path to a six-figure income.

SchoolMedian debtMedian incomeDebt-to-income ratio
Harvard University$133,617$158,2000.84
Columbia University in the City of New York$165,314$180,3000.92
New York University$183,857$175,8001.05
University of California-Berkeley$151,136$135,4001.12
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$145,182$126,8001.14
The University of Texas at Austin$106,598$90,1001.18
University of California-Los Angeles$121,453$96,6001.26
University of Florida$84,508$56,9001.49
Fordham University$151,250$99,0001.53
Georgetown University$163,688$105,0001.56
Brooklyn Law School$119,909$66,1001.81
University of California-Hastings College of Law$137,787$67,6002.04
George Washington University$163,300$74,3002.2
Loyola Marymount University$144,200$63,7002.26
South Texas College of Law Houston$132,415$56,9002.33
Stetson University$137,217$49,3002.78
American University$177,226$55,3003.2
Southwestern Law School$193,653$45,0004.3
Western Michigan University-Thomas M. Cooley Law School$162,011$36,0004.5
Florida Coastal School of Law$198,655$35,3005.63
The 20 largest law schools by number of degrees granted, ranked by recent graduates' debt-to-income ratio. The lower the ratio, the more manageable the debt. Median debt figures are for 2016-2017. Income is for 2015-2016 graduates. Some schools that do not report data excluded. Source: U.S. Department of Education.

Students who take on debt that doesn’t exceed their annual earnings will have the easiest time repaying their loans. The chart above shows that among the nation’s 20 biggest law schools, the average debt-to-annual-income ratio can be much higher than the ideal of one or less.

Average debt-to-income ratio at the nation’s largest law schools

Law school vs. other graduate programs

While studying law can lead to a fulfilling career for many, it’s not your only option for graduate studies. If you’re considering other career options, it’s important to consider how much other programs cost. Here’s how law school debt stacks up against other degree types:

Graduate programAverage student loan debt
Masters of Business Administration (MBA)$66,300
Law school$130,000
Veterinary school$157,146
Pharmacy school$173,561
Medical school$203,062
Dental school$301,583
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Association of Medical Colleges, American Dental Education Association

How to pay off law school debt

Some lawyers may be able to land a high-paying job right out of law school that will easily allow them to pay off their student loan debt. But that isn’t the case for all new lawyers, especially those who choose a career in public service.

If your debt-to-income ratio is high, you might wonder how you will ever be able to pay off your law school debt. Thankfully, there are a few options available that could help you more easily manage your debt.

1. Qualify for loan forgiveness

Pursuing PSLF could be a good idea for federal student loan borrowers who plan to work as public defenders or prosecutors or to work for nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to underserved communities.

Under this program, you could have your loans forgiven after working for an eligible employer and making qualifying payments for 10 years.

Tip: There are also several other law school loan forgiveness and assistance programs available that could help you get some or all of your loans forgiven.

2. Choose a repayment plan

In addition to the 10-year standard repayment plan, there are also several federal student loan repayment options available, including:

  • Graduated repayment plan: On this plan, your payments will start low and increase every two years. This could be helpful if you expect your income to rise over time.
  • Extended repayment plan: This type of plan lets you extend your repayment term up to 25 years, which could reduce your monthly payments. You can choose between a standard extended repayment plan with fixed payments or a graduated repayment plan that starts with lower payments that gradually increase. Also keep in mind that you’ll pay more in interest over time by extending your repayment term.
  • Income-driven repayment plan: With this kind of plan, your payments are based on your income — typically 10% to 20% of your discretionary income. Additionally, any remaining balance could be forgiven after 20 to 25 years, depending on the plan you choose.

If you’re wondering how long it’ll take to pay off your student loans, enter your current loan information into the calculator below to find out. Use the slider to see how increasing your payments can change the payoff date.

Enter loan information

? Enter the remaining balance of your loans $
? Enter the average annual interest rate of your loans %
? Enter the amount of time left to repay your loan years

+ $0
Total Payment $
Total Interest $
Monthly Payment $

If you increase your payments by $ monthly on your $ loan at %, you will pay $ a month and pay off your loan by Jan 2021.


Does refinancing make sense for you?
Compare offers from top refinancing lenders to determine your actual savings.

Check Personalized Rates

Checking rates won’t affect your credit score.

3. Refinance law school debt

In some cases, it might be a good idea to refinance your law school debt — however, this isn’t the right choice for everyone. If you’re thinking about refinancing your loans, here are some possible benefits to keep in mind:

  • Might get a lower interest rate: Depending on your credit, you might qualify for a lower interest rate through refinancing. This could save you money on interest and even help you pay off your loans faster.
  • Could reduce your payments: If you opt to extend your repayment term through refinancing, you could lower your monthly payments and lessen the strain on your budget. Just remember that this also means you’ll pay more in interest over time.
  • Can combine multiple student loans: It can be difficult to keep track of multiple student loans with different payments and interest rates. Through refinancing, you can combine your loans — leaving you with just one loan and payment to manage. You also have the option to refinance all or just some of your loan balance.

And here are a few drawbacks to think about:

  • Loss of federal benefits: If you refinance federal student loans, you’ll no longer have access to federal benefits or protections — including income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness programs.
  • Lack of repayment options: Private refinanced loans don’t offer the variety of repayment options that come with federal student loans. For example, you generally won’t be able to sign up for an income-driven or extended repayment plan.
  • Fewer options for poor or fair credit: Most law school loan refinance companies require borrowers to have good to excellent credit to be eligible for refinancing — a good credit score is usually considered to be 700 or higher. There are also several lenders that offer refinancing for bad credit, but these loans usually come with higher interest rates compared to good credit loans.
Tip: If you’re struggling to get approved for refinancing, consider applying with a cosigner to improve your chances. Even if you don’t need a cosigner to qualify, having one could get you a lower interest rate than you’d get on your own.

If you decide to refinance your law school loans, remember to consider as many lenders as you can to find the right loan for your needs. Credible makes this easy — you can compare your prequalified rates from our partner lenders in the table below in two minutes.

LenderFixed rates from (APR)Variable rates from (APR)Loan terms (years)Loan amounts

brazos student loan refinance

Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.4%+ 4.54%+ 5, 7, 10, 15, 20$10,000 up to $250,000
(depending on degree)
  • Fixed APR: 4.4%+
  • Variable APR: 4.54%+
  • Min. credit score: 690
  • Loan amount: $10,000 to $400,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Military deferment, forbearance
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must have a credit score of at least 720, a minimum income of $60,000, and must be a resident of Texas
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Does not disclose
  • Cosigner release: No
  • Loan servicer: Firstmark Services
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 - $149,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $200,000 - $400,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Does not disclose


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
5.39%+1 5.39%+1 5, 7, 10, 15, 20$10,000 to $500,000
(depending on degree and loan type)
  • Fixed APR: 5.39%+1
  • Variable APR: 5.39%+1
  • Min. credit score: Does not disclose
  • Loan amount: $10,000 to $750,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Immediate repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay, loyalty
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have at least $10,000 in student loans
  • Customer service: Email, phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 24 to 36 months
  • Loan servicer: Firstmark Services
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 to $149,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: Less than $150,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
5.24%+2 5.24%+2 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20$5,000 to $300,000
(depending on degree type)
  • Fixed APR: 5.24%+2
  • Variable APR: 5.24%+2
  • Min. credit score: Does not disclose
  • Loan amount: $5,000 to $300,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15
  • Repayment options: Military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: All states except for ME
  • Customer service: Email, phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 24 to 36 months
  • Loan servicer: College Ave Servicing LLC
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 to $149,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: Less than $300,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes

edvestinu student loan refinance

Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
7.41%+5 7.29%+5 5, 10, 15, 20$1,000 to $250,000
  • Fixed APR: 7.41%+5
  • Variable APR: 7.29%+5
  • Min. credit score: 700
  • Loan amount: $7,500 to $200,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and submit two personal references
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 36 months
  • Loan servicer: Granite State Management & Resources (GSM&R)
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $150,000 to $249,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $150,000 to $199,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing : Yes


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.83%+3 3.99%+3 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20$10,000 to $250,000
  • Fixed APR: 4.83%+3
  • Variable APR: 3.99%+3
  • Min. credit score: 680
  • Loan amount: $10,000 to $250,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Forbearance
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: None
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have at least $15,000 in student loan debt, and have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved school
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: No
  • Loan servicer: Mohela
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $250,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $250,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
5.61%+4 6.61%+4 5, 10, 15, 20$5,000 to $250,000
  • Fixed APR: 5.61%+4
  • Variable APR: 6.61%+4
  • Min. credit score: 670
  • Loan amount: $5,000 to $250,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Customer service: Email, phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: Yes
  • Max undergraduate loan balance: $250,000
  • Max graduate loan balance: $250,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS refinancing: Yes


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
6.94%+ 7N/A5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20Up to $300,000
  • Fixed APR: 6.94%+ 7
  • Variable APR: N/A
  • Min. credit score: 670
  • Loan amount: Up to $300,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20
  • Time to fund: Usually one business day
  • Repayment options: Academic deferral, military deferral, forbearance, death/disability discharge
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Available in all 50 states
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 24 months
  • Max. undergraduate loan balance: $300,000
  • Max. graduate balance: $300,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS loans: Yes
  • Min. income: None


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.49%+ 4.38%+ 5, 7, 10, 15Up to $300,000
  • Fixed APR: 4.49%+
  • Variable APR: 4.38%+
  • Min. credit score: 700
  • Loan amount: $5,000 to $300,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15
  • Max. undergraduate Loan Balance: $125,000
  • Time to Fund: 10 to 30 days
  • Repayment options: Immediate repayment, forbearance
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have already graduated with at least an associate degree from an eligible institution
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 12 months
  • Loan servicer: LendKey Technologies Inc.
  • Max. graduate Loan Balance: $175,000
  • Credible Review: LendKey Student Loans review
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: No


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
5.1%+ N/A7, 10, 15$10,000 up to the total amount of qualified education debt
  • Fixed APR: 5.1%+
  • Variable APR: N/A
  • Min. credit score: 670
  • Loan amount: $10,000 up to the total amount
  • Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 15
  • Repayment options: Military deferment, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: None
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have at least $10,000 in student loans
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: No
  • Loan servicer: AES
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: No maximum
  • Max. Gradaute Loan Balance: No maximum
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
5.49%+ N/A5, 8, 12, 15$7,500 to $300,000
  • Fixed APR: 5.49%+
  • Variable APR: N/A
  • Min. credit score: 670
  • Loan amount: $7,500 to $300,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 8, 12, 15
  • Repayment options: Does not disclose
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: None
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen and have and at least $7,500 in student loans
  • Customer service: Email, phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 12 months
  • Loan servicer: PenFed
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $300,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $300,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
5.29%+ N/A5, 10, 15$7,500 up to $250,000
(depending on highest degree earned)
  • Fixed APR: 5.29%+
  • Variable APR: N/A
  • Min. credit score: 680
  • Loan amount: $7,500 to $250,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15
  • Repayment options: Academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Available in all 50 states; must also have at least $7,500 in student loans and a minimum income of $40,000
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Does not disclose
  • Cosigner release: No
  • Loan servicer: Rhode Island Student Loan Authority
  • Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $150,000 - $249,000
  • Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $200,000 - $249,000
  • Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
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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

Matt Carter contributed to the reporting of this article.

About the author
Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken

Emily Guy Birken is a Credible authority on student loans and personal finance. Her work has been featured by Forbes, Kiplinger’s, Huffington Post, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.

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