Guide to Refinance

Refinancing your student loans can help you simplify multiple loans, lower your rate and payment, or pay things off sooner.

You can potentially save money in the long run by refinancing your federal, private, or PLUS loans. We know every student loan situation is unique, so continue reading to learn about what to consider before deciding if you should refinance.

StudentChoice GuideToRefinance cover

You Should Consider Refinancing If:

You're paying a high interest rate on your current loans

You are juggling multiple private or federal student loans

You have a good credit history or a strong cosigner

More To Think About

Pros of Refinancing

  • One single loan with one simple monthly payment means less paperwork and hassle
  • Potentially save long-term by paying less on total interest with a shorter repayment term
  • You could lower your rate and monthly payment to help with your budget and monthly cashflow

Cons of Refinancing

  • Potential loss of certain borrower benefits associated with federal student loans*
  • Payments could be extended over a longer repayment term in exchange for a lower monthly payment
  • Shortening the repayment term (which may reduce interest paid) could raise your monthly payment

* By refinancing federal student loans, you may lose certain borrower benefits from your original loans. These may include interest rate discounts, principal rebates, income-based repayment, or some cancellation benefits that can significantly reduce the cost of repaying your loans. Read More

Student Loan Refinancing FAQs

Once your student loans have entered grace or repayment, you may have the option to refinance (and consolidate) them into a new loan with a private lender, such as a credit union. This means you can combine multiple loans into one new loan, with one payment and one interest rate.

If you utilize the federal government’s consolidation program, you may only consolidate your federal loans. If you choose to refinance and consolidate your loans with a private lender, you may be able to combine both federal and private loans.* This includes PLUS loans that may have been taken in a parent’s name, which can be refinanced by either the graduate or the parent borrower. Keep in mind that by refinancing your federal student loans with a private lender, you may lose certain borrower benefits from your original loans.

* Options and terms may vary by credit union.

Borrowers who choose to lower their monthly payment may choose a longer repayment term, which lengthens the life of your loan and can increase the long-term interest paid in exchange for a lower monthly payment.

If you’re refinancing federal loans, you are no longer entitled to the repayment options and borrower benefits you’d normally get through your federal loan—like income-based repayment, unemployment deferment, loan forgiveness programs, a grace period, and debt cancellation, such as the measures enacted by the Biden Administration in August 2022.

Our College Counselor is an excellent resource for discussing your consolidation and refinance options. You can chat via email or schedule a free, one-on-one phone appointment. Get Started

Federal Direct Consolidation Loan:

A Direct Consolidation Loan from the federal government allows you to consolidate multiple federal education loans into one loan.** The result is a single monthly payment for your federal student loans at one interest rate instead of multiple payments.

  • A Direct Consolidation Loan has a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. The rate is based on the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of 1%. There is no cap on the interest rate of a Direct Consolidation Loan.
  • Offered only via the federal government – learn more at StudentAid.gov
  • Available only for federal student loans, private loans cannot be consolidated
  • A PLUS loan made to the parent of a dependent student cannot be passed on to the student during the consolidation
  • Repayment term can be readjusted between 10-30 years

Private Student Loan Refinance:

Your credit union will pay off your existing student loans* (including federal and private) and combine them into a single new loan. You will then make a single loan payment to your credit union instead of multiple lenders.

  • Borrowers may choose fixed or variable interst rates which are then set based on your financial and credit history***
  • Refinance private and federal student loans (including parent and graduate PLUS loans) into one payment**
  • You can potentially lower your interest rate or monthly payment depending on the repayment terms you select. Federal repayment programs
    such as income-based repayment, unemployment deferment, loan forgiveness program will no longer be available.

* Subject to credit approval and Refinance loan limit. Credit approval includes verification of application information and receipt of payoff information.
** Keep in mind that by consolidating your federal student loans, you may lose certain borrower benefits from your original loans.
*** Options and terms may vary by credit union.

Learn More

Refinancing your student loans can be a great way to consolidate payments and potentially save money on interest over time. However, refinancing may not be the best option for everyone. Use these resources to help determine if refinancing could be right for you.

Don’t forget: fill out the form and download the guide!

Make sure you have our helpful tips and links saved for future reference during all milestones of your student loan refinance journey.