INvestEd has been offering student loans, parent loans, and refinance loans at affordable rates for over 45 years. The lender also offers information on college planning at more than 1,000 events annually.
While INvestEd can be a great refinancing option due to its low rates, not everyone can borrow with this lender, as loans are restricted to Indiana residents and those attending school in the Hoosier State.
This INvestEd student loan refinancing review offers insight into the lender and its offerings so you can decide if it's right for you.
INvestEd student loan refinancing review
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INvestEd: Best for Forbearance
To determine the best student loan refinancing companies, Credible evaluated lenders based on several different categories, including: rates and fees, loan terms, eligibility, repayment options, and customer support. We assigned a score out of five stars to each lender based on our findings.
Read our full methodology.
Min. Credit Score
670
Fixed APR
5.54 -
Variable APR
7.49 -
Loan Amount
$5,000 - $250,000
Term
5, 10, 15, 20
Expert Insights
INvestEd stands out among student loan refinance lenders for providing 24 months of general forbearance, significantly longer than many others. This extended relief makes it a strong option for those seeking flexibility during financial hardship. INvestEd does not require a degree to refinance and sets a $36,000 minimum income threshold.
Best for: Extended forbearance
INvestEd offers more repayment flexibility on refinance loans than some private lenders, including extended forbearance when you’re facing financial hardship.
If you’re struggling financially, you can be granted up to two forbearances in any 12-month period, with a duration between one and three months. Over the life of the loan, you can put your loan into forbearance for a cumulative total of 24 months. This is twice as long as some other lenders.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Competitive interest rates
- Cosigner release is possible after 12 payments
- Extended forbearance is available
- Offers borrower education resources
Cons
- Available only to Indiana residents and students attending Indiana colleges
- Full application required to find your rate; no prequalification
- Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents can qualify
- Strict eligibility requirements related to income, credit score, and credit history
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for student loan refinancing with INvestEd, you must:
- Be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Have a FICO score of 670 or higher
- Have an annual income of $36,000 or higher
- Have a debt-to-income ratio (including all student loans and other debts) below 40% to 50% of your gross monthly income, depending on income level
- Have been continuously employed over the prior year, unless you are disabled, receiving a verified income, are retired, or recently graduated
- Have no delinquencies of 60 or more days over the past 2 years
- Have no repossessions, foreclosures, or wage garnishments
- Have no bankruptcies in the past 5 years
- Have no history of defaulting on private or government student loans
If you can't qualify for a refinance loan on your own, you can apply with an eligible cosigner. Your cosigner can be released from their obligation after 12 consecutive, on-time payments if you meet certain criteria.
Borrowing limits
INvestEd allows you to refinance your student loans if you have:
- A minimum of $5,000 in loans
- A maximum of $250,000 in loans
Current student loan refinance rates
Repayment terms
INvestEd offers borrowers the option to repay their refinance loan over the following terms:
- 5 years
- 10 years
- 15 years
- 20 years
Good to know
Interest will capitalize on your loan at the end of any qualifying deferment period.
Notable benefits
INvestEd offers a choice of fixed- or variable-rate refinance loans at very competitive rates, making it an affordable borrowing option.
Borrowers can also qualify for an interest rate reduction of 0.25 percentage points for opting to make automatic payments, and can qualify for cosigner release after just 12 months of on-time payments.
What to consider before refinancing student loans with INvestEd
INvestEd requires you to submit a full application to find out your personalized rate, unlike other lenders that provide rate quotes and pre-approval with a soft credit check only. The good news is that you receive an instant decision when you apply.
On the downside, INvestEd only provides student loan refinancing to Indiana residents and those attending Indiana schools. The lender also has a refinance loan maximum of $250,000, so borrowers with very high balances may not qualify.
How to apply for student loan refinancing with INvestEd
To apply for refinancing with INvestEd:
- First, consider whether refinancing is right for you. If you have federal student loans, you'd be giving up important borrower benefits by refinancing, so be aware of this downside.
- Next, decide if you'll apply to refinance with a cosigner or without a cosigner, as you'll need to include your cosigner’s information in your application. A cosigner with good to excellent credit can help you get approved for a lower rate.
- Visit INvestEd’s website and click “Apply Now” to submit your application.
- Complete the required forms.
If you’re approved, you can select an interest rate (fixed or variable) and repayment term for your refinance loan. If you want to repay your loan faster, you can choose a shorter term. Keep in mind that a shorter loan term will give you higher monthly payments, while a longer term will give you lower payments, but you’ll pay more in total interest.
Why you can trust our Credible experts
The Credible editorial team is independent and unbiased. Partners do not influence our editorial content. To help you find the best student loan for your situation, we conduct thorough research and analyze thousands of lender data points. Using data-driven methodologies, we score criteria that are important to you. This allows us to objectively rank student loan lenders and products. To learn more, read our methodology below.
Methodology
To determine INvestEd’s lender rating, Credible collected more than 1,000 points of data on two dozen private student loan refinance companies and evaluated them on several different categories: repayment options, eligibility, interest rates, loan terms, and customer support. We assigned a score out of five stars to each lender based on our findings. Below are the weightings assigned to the general categories for the best student loan refinance companies — which comprise individual criteria that are also weighted.
- Repayment options: 30%
- Eligibility: 25%
- Interest rates: 20%
- Loan terms: 15%
- Customer support: 10%
While the best lender for you will depend on your unique needs and financial circumstances, these findings should help answer your questions and assist you in your search for the best student loan.
Learn more about our methodology.
FAQ
Who is eligible to refinance student loans with INvestEd?
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What types of student loans can be refinanced through INvestEd?
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What interest rates and terms does INvestEd offer for refinancing?
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Does INvestEd require a cosigner, and is there a cosigner release option for refinancing?
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Are there discounts or benefits when refinancing with INvestEd?
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