Earnest Student Loan Refinancing Review

Earnest is one of the most reputable and well-known student loan refinancing lenders. Earnest is best for borrowers with good credit who want student loan payment flexibility as well as flexible loan terms.

In this Earnest student loan refinance review, we will discuss:

• Earnest student loan refinance: Rating
• Earnest student loan refinance: Pros and Cons
• Earnest student loan refinance: Overview
• Earnest student loan refinancing: Details
• Is Earnest student loan refinancing right for you?

Earnest student loan refinance: Rating

Best For: Earnest is the right choice for borrowers who want to customize their student loan repayment so they can pay off student loans faster.

Overview

Variable APR:

5.89% - 9.74%

Fixed APR:

3.95% - 9.74%

Minimum Credit Score:

650

Minimum Income:

None

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5-20 years

Borrower Residency:

All States except NV

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

No

Earnest student loan refinance: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Customize your student loan payments and loan terms.
• Fast approval process.
• No late fees.
• Ability to skip one student loan payment every 12 months.
• Refinance even if you have an incomplete bachelor’s or associate’s degree 

Cons:

• Student loan refinancing not available in Kentucky and Nevada.
• No option to apply with a cosigner.

Earnest student loan refinance: Overview

Earnest is a leading, innovative student loan lender based in San Francisco. Earnest allows you to choose your own student loan interest rate matched to your loan term. Earnest also offers industry-leading repayment flexibility on its student loans. For example, you can choose your exact minimum monthly payment and student loan terms. You can also increase your payments and make extra payments to pay off your student loans faster.

Earnest prefers borrowers with a history of financial responsibility, stable income and minimal credit card or personal loan debt. Earnest’s underwriting process evaluates more than your credit score. Earnest also incorporates savings, education and earnings potential.

Advantages of Refinancing With Earnest

Here is what we like about Earnest:

• Customize your student loan payments and loan terms.
• You can choose to make bi-weekly payments to save money on interest.
• You can increase your payment anytime to pay off your student loans faster.
• You can skip a payment and make it up later.
• Earnest looks beyond credit score to approve you for student loan refinancing, and will incorporate savings, education and earnings potential.

Drawbacks of Refinancing With Earnest

Earnest can improve in these key areas:

• Expand student loan refinancing to all 50 states.
• Allow borrowers to apply with a cosigner.

Earnest student loan refinancing review: Details

Is Earnest right for you?

Earnest has an excellent reputation and is a trusted student loan refinancing leader. Earnest caters to borrowers with good to excellent credit and high income. The average Earnest member earns enough income to pay student loans, other debt obligations and monthly living expenses. 

Finally, Earnest wants to ensure that you make all your student loan payment each month on-time, and do not have any delinquencies or bankruptcies. Earnest members need to have a strong financial and credit profile, since you can’t apply with a co-signer.

Top Picks For Student Loan Refinancing

November 2024

Advertiser Disclosure

Fixed APR ?APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is the price you pay to borrow money. Fixed APR means that your interest rate will always stay the same. Even if interest rates change, your interest rate or monthly payment will not. Fixed APR includes a 0.25% discount when you enroll in autopay.

Variable APR ?APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is the price you pay to borrow money. Variable APR means that your interest rate can fluctuate over time, which can increase or decrease your monthly student loan payment. Typically, a variable-rate loan has a lower introductory rate than a fixed-loan rate loan. Variable APR includes a 0.25% discount when you enroll in autopay.

APR

4.49% - 9.99%

5.99% - 9.99%

4.49% - 9.99%

Get My Rate

View Details

on SoFi's website

Overview

Variable APR:

5.99% - 9.99%

Fixed APR:

4.49% - 9.99%

Minimum Credit Score:

650

Minimum Income:

None

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,000 ($10,000 in CA)

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years

Borrower Residency:

All states

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

Yes

Review:

SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Review

3.95% - 9.74%

5.89% - 9.74%

3.95% - 9.74%

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View Details

on Earnest's website

Overview

Variable APR:

5.89% - 9.74%

Fixed APR:

3.95% - 9.74%

Minimum Credit Score:

650

Minimum Income:

None

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5-20 years

Borrower Residency:

All States except NV

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

No

Review:

Earnest Student Loan Refinancing Review

5.19% - 9.74%

5.99% - 9.74%

5.19% - 9.74%

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View Details

on NaviRefi's website

Overview

Variable APR:

5.99% - 9.74%

Fixed APR:

5.19% - 9.74%

Minimum Credit Score:

680

Minimum Income:

None

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,001 ($10,001 in CA)

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5-20 years

Borrower Residency:

All States except NV

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

No

Review:

NaviRefi Student Loan Refinancing Review

4.88% - 8.44%

4.86% - 8.49%

4.86% - 8.49%

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on ELFI's website

Overview

Variable APR:

4.86% - 8.49%

Fixed APR:

4.88% - 8.44%

Minimum Credit Score:

680

Minimum Income:

$35,000

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$10,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years

Borrower Residency:

All States

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

Yes

Review:

ELFI Student Loan Refinancing Review

4.84% - 9.99%

5.89% - 9.99%

4.84% - 9.99%

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on Splash's website

Overview

Variable APR:

5.89% - 9.99%

Fixed APR:

4.84% - 9.99%

Minimum Credit Score:

640

Minimum Income:

None

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5 – 20 years

Borrower Residency:

All states

Hardship Deferment:

Varies

Co-signer Option:

No

Review:

Splash Financial Student Loan Refinancing Review

5.89% - 10.98%

7.02% - 12.44%

5.89% - 12.44%

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on Citizens' website

Overview

Variable APR:

7.02% - 12.44%

Fixed APR:

5.89% - 10.98%

Minimum Credit Score:

Not disclosed

Minimum Income:

$24,000

Fees:

No prepayment or origination fees

Minimum Loan Amount:

$10,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years

Borrower Residency:

All states

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

Yes

Review:

Citizens Student Loan Refinancing Review

4.99% - 8.90%

5.29% - 9.20%

4.99% - 9.20%

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on Laurel Road's website

Overview

Variable APR:

5.29% - 9.20%

Fixed APR:

4.99% - 8.90%

Minimum Credit Score:

680

Minimum Income:

None

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years

Borrower Residency:

All States

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

Yes

Review:

Laurel Road Student Loan Refinancing Review

5.49% - 9.75%

5.53% - 12.18%

5.49% - 12.18%

Get My Rate

View Details

on LendKey's website

Overview

Variable APR:

5.53% - 12.18%

Fixed APR:

5.49% - 9.75%

Minimum Credit Score:

680

Minimum Income:

$24,000

Fees:

None

Minimum Loan Amount:

$5,000

Details

Eligible Loans:

Private & Federal

Eligible Degrees:

Undergraduate & Graduate

Loan Terms:

5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years

Borrower Residency:

All states, except ME, ND, NV, RI, WV

Hardship Deferment:

Yes

Co-signer Option:

Yes

Review:

LendKey Student Loan Refinancing Review

Checking Your Rate Doesn't Affect Your Credit Score

Disclosures: SoFi | Earnest | NaviRefi | ELFI | Splash Financial | Citizens | Laurel Road | LendKey