Refinancing can help graduates lower the rate of interest on their student loans. They can save money on the total cost of their loans if they are eligible for the process.
Zina Kumok, a graduate of journalism in Indiana University, shared how she was able to repay her $24,000 balance in federal student loan debt. She decided to keep track of her progress by creating a blog named Debt Free After Three. True enough, she was able to complete paying off her debt just three years after graduating from college.
One thing she regretted, though, was that she had a huge interest on her loans because she did not refinance to a lower rate. NerdWallet collated a list of companies that can help graduates with refinancing their student loans.
To qualify, graduates will need a credit score in the mid-600s or higher and a steady income. The first part of the list, which shows the companies that partnered with student loan refinancing marketplace Credible, can be found here. The companies below are not found on Credible.
CommonBond requires students to have an average credit score of 750 or higher to qualify for refinancing. A loan balance between $10,000 to $500,000 is also eligible for the process. It is an online-only lender by loan servicer Firstmark Services.
DRB is a traditional bank lender bv loan servicer Mohela. It also requires an average credit score of 750 or higher. The minimum student loan balance eligible for refinancing is $5000 while the maximum is up to the full balance of a student's loans.
LendKey is another marketplace that provides students with offers from multiple lenders. It has partnered with over 300 community banks and credit unions. It only requires an average credit score of 680. Loan balances for undergrads range from $7,500 to $125,000 while graduate student loan balances range from $7,500 to $175,000.
Purefy requires an average credit score of 770. Students with a loan balance that ranges from $7,500 to $150,000 are eligible for refinancing. It is an online-only lender by loan servicer PenFed Credit Union.
SoFi requires a 774 credit score and also lets students with a minimum of $5,000 student loan balance up to their full balance be eligible for refinancing. It is an online-only lender by loan servicer Mohela.
