Credit scores will drop for more student loan borrowers, data shows
Data shows credit dip for student loans borrowers.
In 2023, the Biden administration's widespread student loan forgiveness plan was struck down by the Supreme Court. Despite this, President Biden has been busy unveiling targeted federal loan forgiveness to qualifying borrowers. Since the administration took office in 2020, the total amount of forgiven student debt has reached over $136 billion.
Although widespread student loan cancellation is no longer a reality, millions of Americans could still qualify for forgiveness. With the 2024 election just around the corner, Biden has been on a roll with cancellation proposals and policies, and it doesn't seem like the administration has plans to stop anytime soon.
Now more than ever, it's crucial to be aware of what's going on with the Education Department and how your balance could benefit.
Since general student debt cancellation is no longer an option, only those who qualify for certain federal programs will be eligible for forgiveness moving forward. However, if you haven't previously qualified for these programs, that doesn't necessarily mean that you won't ever be eligible.
As the only legal way to enact debt cancellation, the administration has turned to amending these programs to make more borrowers eligible. An example of this is those who work in select public service professions may be eligible for cancellation through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. A 2022 waiver that has been extended permanently opened up eligibility for thousands by amending the payment count regulations.
Individuals who fall below a certain income and family size threshold may also qualify for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. IDR plans base your monthly payment size on your family size and annual income. After making 120 qualifying payments, your remaining federal balance will be forgiven.
In 2022, President Joe Biden announced a plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans for qualifying borrowers. In the summer of 2023, the Supreme Court ruled the plan as unconstitutional in a 6-3 decision.
The Biden-Harris administration proposed that the HEROES Act gave them the jurisdiction to enact such a measure. This act authorizes the Secretary of Education to "waive or modify" provisions of the Higher Education Act to "ensure that borrowers are not placed in a worse position financially in relation to their student loans as a result of a war, other military operation, or national emergency."
However, using the HEROES Act to cancel existing student loans was deemed as unconstitutional. Justice Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States, wrote in Biden v. Nebraska that the ruling violated the constitution. "The HEROES Act allows the Secretary [of Education] to ‘waive or modify’ existing statutory or regulatory provisions applicable to financial assistance programs under the Education Act but… does not allow the Secretary to rewrite that statute to the extent of canceling $430 billion of student loan principal.”
This decision did not impact forgiveness in general, but it did effectively put an end to the widespread cancellation proposal. The Higher Education Act allows the administration to continue making federal student loan program amendments.
Throughout 2024, the Biden-Harris administration has unveiled multiple federal student debt cancellation programs — most recently, a $6.1 billion forgiveness provision for those who attended the Art Institutes.
Here are some of the most recent student loan cancellation measures that have been announced by the Department of Education, broken up by month.
February 2024
$1.2 billion in federal student loans was automatically discharged for qualifying borrowers under a provision made to a new income-driven repayment plan — the SAVE Plan. The SAVE (Saving on A Valuable Education) plan allows for lower monthly payments than other IDR plans. It also is the only plan that automatically covers extra unpaid monthly interest.
March 2024
Due to a payment provision made to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, 77,700 borrowers had their federal debt forgiven. An additional 380,000 public servants were also notified of their future forgiveness under the program.
April 8, 2024
Biden announced his plans to cancel "runaway interest" on federal student loan debt. Should this proposal make it out of the negotiated rulemaking process intact, borrowers could see up to $20,000 accrued interest forgiveness by fall 2024.
April 12, 2024
An additional $7.4 billion in debt forgiveness was announced for 277,000 borrowers overall, with $3.6 billion of that going to over 200,000 borrowers enrolled in SAVE. The Education Department also announced further fixes to PSLF and IDR plans, impacting 65,800 and 4,600 borrowers respectively.
May 2024
Biden announced his intent to forgive federal student loan debt for over 300,000 former students of the now-defunct private school system, the Art Institutes. Thanks to the borrower defense to repayment program, the borrowers will be receiving this immediate forgiveness since the school was found to have engaged in misleading advertising practices.
You may still be eligible for student loan forgiveness even without the blanket loan forgiveness discussed. Many federal loans may qualify for another forgiveness program, so be sure to know what professions, loan types, and repayment plans qualify.
Your future federal loans may qualify for a forgiveness program, as long as they are publicly funded. Private student loans do not qualify for forgiveness programs.
If you are currently enrolled as an undergraduate student, you’ll want to start thinking now about the repayment process so that you know what you could be eligible for. For example, certain federal repayment plans will qualify you for eventual forgiveness, like PSLF and IDR plans.
If you don't qualify or are seeking a new adventure as you approach graduation, research states that offer loan repayment incentives. The incentives are usually offered to qualifying professionals who become full-time residents.
You may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness based on your employer. Members of the military may also qualify for various student debt relief programs, including deferment, caps on interest rates, and loan discharge.
Co-signers on Parent PLUS loans may still reach loan forgiveness if the student becomes eligible for PSLF. Alternatively, eligible borrowers may consolidate their debts into a Direct Consolidation Loan and apply for an income-based repayment plan. After a number of qualifying income-based repayments, any remaining balance can be forgiven.
Pell Grant recipients may borrow student loans as a part of their broader financial aid packages. You are likely to qualify for subsidized student loans and other types of aid based on financial need.
Your private student loans aren't eligible for federal student loan forgiveness programs. Check with your private student loan servicer to see if it offers payment hardship relief or loan forgiveness.
Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) are privately owned and thus do not qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs. For your FFEL loan to be eligible for PSLF, you will need to consolidate it into a Direct Consolidation Loan.
The student loan payment pause that placed borrowers in forbearance during the COVID-19 pandemic ended in September 2023. Though this sweeping payment pause has ended for most borrowers, you may still qualify for federal payment forbearance or deferment.
These short-term relief plans temporarily freeze your federal payments while keeping your account in good standing. They're offered by the Education Department as hardship relief programs and don't result in forgiveness.
Forbearance lasts up to 12 months at a time. Although payments are not required, interest will continue to accrue. Your deferment period will differ based on the loan type. For individuals with Subsidized and Perkins Loans, interest won't accrue during this period.
Data shows credit dip for student loans borrowers.
Congress might cap federal student loans limits, which could have consequences.
Nearly eight million borrowers are stuck in SAVE. Here’s what to do next.
In default? Here’s what you should know.
Data shows credit dip for student loans borrowers.
Congress might cap federal student loans limits, which could have consequences.
Nearly eight million borrowers are stuck in SAVE. Here’s what to do next.
In default? Here’s what you should know.
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The Bankrate scoring system evaluates lenders' affordability, availability and customer experience based on 11 data points selected by our editorial team. | An annual percentage rate (APR) represents the interest and fees you'll pay on top of your initial amount every month. A fixed rate will not change during your repayment period. | The range of loan amounts that a lender will service. The maximum value is the largest amount a lender will give although this amount may not be available to borrowers who don’t have good or excellent credit. Amount ranges may vary for non-loan products. Term refers to the amount of time you have to repay the loan. | |
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Fixed APR from 3.99- 8.29% | Loan amount $7.5k-$250K | 1. ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR): Reflects the estimated total cost of the loan, including upfront fees ($0), accruing interest, and the effect of capitalized interest. Interest begins accruing after each loan disbursement. The rate shown is for a 5-year term, with a cosigner, with RI Advantage, and includes the 0.25% interest rate reduction for using the auto-pay feature. If the monthly payment is calculated to be less than $50 per month for the entire term, the lowest payment is $50 per month with the term reduced. Not all borrowers qualify for the lowest rate. The rate you will receive (immediate repayment ranging from 3.99% – 8.04% APR with auto-pay) (and deferred repayment ranging from 5.99% – 8.99% APR with auto-pay) is based on the term of the loan if the loan is cosigned (which lowers your rate), your credit score & financial history, your cosigner's credit score (if applicable), and other factors. The first payment will be due approximately 30 days after the loan is completely disbursed (immediate repayment) or following the 6-month grace period after you leave school (deferred repayment). The rates and terms disclosed above are available while funds last. New funds may be subject to different rates and/or terms. | |
Fixed APR from 3.99- 6.95% | Loan amount $10k-$400K | ![]() The Brazos Student Loan Refinance Rates displayed are based upon the repayment term selected and the creditworthiness of the borrower or co-signer, and include the 0.25% Auto-Pay Discount. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. The lowest APR calculations assume the highest creditworthy borrower with a 60-month repayment term. The highest APR calculation assumes the lowest creditworthy borrower with a 240-month repayment term. Fixed Rates are set at the time the loan is made and will not change over the life of the loan. Variable Rates and corresponding APRs may increase over the life of the loan, but will never exceed 9.90%. The variable interest rate is based on an index of the 30-day Average SOFR plus a Margin. The lowest variable rate APR displayed is based on the current SOFR index of 4.31% plus a 0.25% margin, minus the Auto-Pay Discount. The Variable Rate will adjust monthly and the loan payment may increase or decrease monthly to provide for amortization over the selected term. The Variable Rate product is only available to Texas Residents. AutoPay Discount. The interest rate in effect will be reduced by 0.25% if either the borrower or cosigner authorizes automated (ACH) payments from any bank account. The Auto-Pay Discount only applies when full principal and interest payments are automatically drafted from a bank account and does not apply during periods of approved forbearance or deferment. Certain other terms and conditions apply. | |
Fixed APR from 4.15- 9.56% | Loan amount $7.5k-$200K | ![]() EdvestinU Refinance Loan
APR or "annual percentage rate" is a calculation of what the loan will cost, taking into consideration interest, fees and length of loan. Accordingly, the APR is subject to increase or decrease due to factors such as changes in principal due to the capitalization of interest or presence of a cosigner.
Lowest rate requires application with a cosigner and 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction for automatic debit. Once the repayment period commences, the borrower may enroll in automatic debit. APR’s provided include a 0.25 percent interest rate reduction for authorizing our loan servicer to automatically debit your payments each month from your bank account. Monthly and total payment estimates reflected may vary from initial disclosed amounts. Interest rate reductions for utilizing automatic debit will be reflected after loan servicer’s periodic loan payment evaluation.
Granite Edvance and EdvestinU student loan products are offered by Granite Edvance Corporation (NMLS ID# 1527348 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) and may be funded by Granite Edvance Corporation or by Bank of Lake Mills, member FDIC. Granite Edvance and EdvestinU are brand names of Granite Edvance Corporation.
Granite Edvance In-School Loan Products
APR or "annual percentage rate" is a calculation of what the loan will cost, taking into consideration interest, fees and length of loan. Accordingly, the APR is subject to increase or decrease due to factors such as changes in principle due to the capitalization of interest or presence of a cosigner.
Lowest rate requires application with a cosigner and 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction for automatic debit. Private Loans that are in a deferment (including borrowers who elect deferred repayment), grace period, or forbearance are not eligible to enroll and receive the automatic debit benefit until they enter into repayment. Once the repayment period commences, the borrower may enroll in automatic debit. Borrowers electing to enroll in interest-only or immediate repayment are eligible to enroll in automatic debit once the initial disbursement on the loan has been made.
APR’s provided include a 0.25 percent interest rate reduction for authorizing our loan servicer to automatically debit your payments each month from your bank account. Monthly and total payment estimates reflected may vary from initial disclosed amounts. Interest rate reductions for utilizing automatic debit will be reflected after loan servicer’s periodic loan payment evaluation.
The Granite Edvance Student Loan requires the borrower to be a resident of NH or attending college in New Hampshire.
Granite Edvance and EdvestinU student loan products are offered by Granite Edvance Corporation (NMLS ID# 1527348 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) and may be funded by Granite Edvance Corporation or Bank of Lake Mills, member FDIC. Granite Edvance and EdvestinU are brand names of Granite Edvance Corporation. | |
Earnest | Fixed APR from 4.25- 10.49% | Loan amount $5k- No Max | Earnest |
Fixed APR from 4.49- 9.99% | Loan amount $7.5k- No Max | ||
Fixed APR from 4.54- 9.29% | Loan amount $5k-$250K | ![]() Terms and Conditions ApplyRates displayed are reserved for the most creditworthy consumers who enroll to make automatic monthly payments. Your initial rate will be determined after a review of your application and credit profile, and it may be based on your credit score, level of degree earned, and the availability and credit score of a cosigner applicant. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may result in a better chance of loan approval and/or lower interest rate. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Refinancing via LendKey.com is only available for applicants with qualified private education loans from an eligible institution. Loans that were used for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not eligible for refinancing with a lender via LendKey.com. If you currently have any of these exam preparation loans, you should not include them in an application to refinance your student loans on this website. Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents in an eligible state to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account and any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to accept a loan offer from a credit union lender. If you are not a member of the credit union lender, you may apply and become a member during the loan application process if your meet the lender's eligibility criteria. Lenders participating on LendKey.com reserve the right to modify or discontinue the products, terms, and benefits offered on this website at any time without notice. LendKey Technologies, Inc. is not affiliated with, nor does it endorse, any educational institution. AutoPay Discount & Lowest Interest RateSubject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments. The lowest advertised APR is only available for loan terms of 5 years and is reserved for the highest qualified applicants, taking into consideration the applicant’s credit and other factors. As of 06/07/2025 student loan refinancing rates range from 4.54% to 9.09% Fixed APR with AutoPay. | |
Fixed APR from 4.88- 8.44% | Loan amount $10k- No Max | Loan Interest Rates & FeesYour Starting Interest Rate (upon approval)The interest rate you pay will be determined after you apply. It will be based upon your credit history, the loan term you select, and other factors. If approved, we will notify you of the rate you qualify for.Your Interest Rate during the life of a loan: Fixed-Rate LoansYour rate is fixed and will depend on the loan term that you select. This means that your interest rate will never change during the life of your loan.Your Interest Rate during the life of the loan: Variable-Rate Loans(1)Your rate is variable. This means that your rate could move lower or higher than the rates on your disclosure. Although the interest rate will vary after you are approved, the maximum interest rate that could apply will be included in your loan agreement.The variable interest rate will be based on a publicly available index, the Prime Rate of Interest, as published in the Money Market Section of the Wall Street Journal. These variable rates will be calculated and set each month by adding a margin between -2.64% to 0.74% to the Prime Rate. Loan Fees & Example
Federal Loan Alternatives and Disclosure Regarding BenefitsYou may be able to consolidate your outstanding federal loans into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan. The current interest rate for a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan is the weighted average of the interest rates being consolidated rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent.Think carefully before taking out a loan with ELFI, the education loan refinance program offered by SouthEast Bank, to pay off your federal loans. If you refinance your federal loans through ELFI, you will not be able to select income-contingent repayment or other flexible payment plans that are available to federal student loan borrowers. In addition, federal student loans offer deferment and forbearance options that may not be available to you if you take out a loan with ELFI.Private education loans are not eligible to be included in a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan.See https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/federal-vs-private for a description of the benefits and repayment options available to federal student loan borrowers. Next Steps
Reference NotesDisclosure Regarding Federal LoansSee your loan agreement for important disclosures about the consequences of refinancing federal student loans with ELFI.Interest Rate
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Fixed APR from 5.54- 9.90% | Loan amount $5k-$250K | ![]() INvestEd Refinance Loan Disclosures
Subject to credit approval, loans are made by INvestEd or Bank of Lake Mills. Bank of Lake Mills does not have an ownership interest in INvestEd. Bank of Lake Mills is Member FDIC.
1These rates are expressed as APR.
Rates shown are for eligible, creditworthy applicants and requires shortest length of repayment and our Automatic Payment discount of 0.25 percentage points. Automatic payments are not required. Annual percentage rates (APR) listed are based on borrowing $10,000 in a single disbursement.
The Fixed rate will not change during the term.
The variable rate is subject to increase after consummation. The maximum variable interest rate is 18.00%. The variable interest rate that is charged to the borrower is reset quarterly, may increase or decrease, and is based on an Index and Margin. That means that your rate could move lower or higher than the rates on this form. The variable rate is based upon the average of the three-month forward term version of the 90-day Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by a source approved by the Alternative Reference Rate Committee (ARRC). | |
Fixed APR from 5.74- 10.30% | Loan amount $10k-$750K | ![]() ELIGIBILITY DISCLOSURES Student Lending Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. For applicants who have not attained the age of majority in their state of residence, a co-signer is required. Citizens reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. Citizens private student loans are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application/Promissory Note, verification of application information, and if applicable, self-certification form, school certification of the loan amount, and student’s enrollment at a Citizens participating school. Education Refinance Loan Eligibility: Applicants must have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher to refinance their loan. Education Refinance Loan for Medical Residency Eligibility: Applicants must have graduated from medical school and be matched to a MD, DO, DDS, DMD, DPM, DVM, VMD, PharmD, OD residency or fellowship program at the time of application. Education Refinance Loan for Parents Eligibility: The primary applicant must be the primary borrower or co-signer on the loan to be refinanced. Student Loan Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. Student Loan for Parents Eligibility: The student whose education expenses will be paid for with the loan proceeds must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree granting program at a Citizens-participating school. RATE DISCLOSURES Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates are based on the 30-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of Apr 01, 2025, the 30-day average SOFR index is 4.33%. Variable interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the SOFR index, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable interest rate is the greater of 21.00% or the prime rate plus 9.00%. Fixed Rate Disclosure: Fixed rate ranges are based on applicable terms, level of degree, and presence of a co-signer. Lowest Rate Disclosure:Lowest rates are only available for the most creditworthy applicants, require a 5-year repayment term, include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, and repayment type selection of Interest-Only on In-School Loans and Immediate Repayment on Education Refinance Loans. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change. Education Refinance Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 5.97% - 11.25% (5.98% - 11.26% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 5.73% - 10.29% (5.74% - 10.30% APR). Medical Residency Refinance Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 5.97% - 11.08% (5.98% - 11.09% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 5.73% - 10.12% (5.74%- 10.13% APR). Education Refinance Loan for Parents Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 7.33% - 10.96% (7.34% - 10.97% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 6.59% - 10.00% (6.60% - 10.01% APR). Student Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.95% - 15.47% (4.95% - 15.43% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.24% - 15.49% (3.24% - 14.99% APR). Undergraduate Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.95% - 15.47% (4.95% - 15.43% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.24% - 15.49% (3.24% - 14.99% APR). Graduate Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.95% - 14.02% (4.95% - 14.03% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.24% - 13.99% (3.24% - 13.62% APR). Business/Law Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.95% - 13.97% (4.95% - 13.70% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.24% - 13.99% (3.24% - 13.28% APR). Medical/Dental Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 4.95% - 12.31% (4.95% - 12.04% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.24% - 12.22% (3.24% - 10.84% APR). Parent Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 5.63% - 11.16% (5.63% - 11.17% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 5.45% - 10.46% (5.45% - 10.47% APR). STUDENT LENDING PROGRAM DISCLOSURES Wireless Charges: Wireless carrier, text, and/or data charges may apply. Loyalty Discount: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: personal checking, personal savings, personal credit card or previous student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan. Investors Bancorp, Inc. Loyalty Discount: To receive the Loyalty Discount for having a qualifying account with Investors Bancorp, Inc., borrowers must contact Citizens by telephone prior to signing the promissory note. Student loan borrowers please call (877) 291-6385 and education refinance borrowers please call (888) 411-2413. Automatic Payment Discount: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. Discount is not available when payments are not due, such as during forbearance. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account three or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount. Get My Rate: Selecting “Get My Rate” only requires a “soft credit pull“ which does not affect your credit score. Submitting a full application will result in an inquiry on your credit report. Multi-Year Approval: Funds available for future use are subject to a soft credit inquiry at time of your next request to verify continued eligibility. After we make the initial Loan to you, you must continue to meet eligibility criteria to obtain additional funds under the Multi-Year Approval feature. Terms and conditions are outlined in the promissory note. Multi-Year Approval borrowers have a 99% approval rate on future requests for additional funds. The additional funds approval rate is based on the percentage of approved Multi-Year borrowers from Citizens between October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2024. The approval rate represents only borrowers who had previously accepted the Multi-Year Approval offer. Please Note: International students are not eligible for Multi-Year Approval. Co-signer Release: Borrowers may apply for co-signer release after making 36 consecutive on-time payments of principal and interest. For the purpose of the application for co-signer release, on-time payments are defined as payments received within 15 days of the due date. Interest only payments do not qualify. The borrower must meet certain credit and eligibility guidelines when applying for the co-signer release. Borrowers must complete an application for release and provide income verification documents as part of the review. Borrowers who use deferment or forbearance will need to make 36 consecutive on-time payments after reentering repayment to qualify for release. The borrower applying for co-signer release must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If an application for co-signer release is denied, the borrower may not reapply for co-signer release until at least one year from the date the application for co-signer release was received. Terms and conditions apply. Borrowers whose loans were funded prior to reaching the age of majority may not be eligible for co-signer release. Note: co-signer release is not available on the Student Loan for Parents or Education Refinance Loan for Parents. 98% of Citizens Undergrad Booked Loans from 6/1/24 through 9/30/24 were cosigned. Citizens Undergraduate Booked Loans from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024 were 4 times more likely to be approved with a qualified cosigner. Student Loan Aggregate Limits: You may borrow up to the maximum qualified loan amount or the total cost of education, whichever is lower. Our student loan does have lifetime aggregate limits (including both federal and private loan debt) of: Undergraduate Degree: $225,000, Graduate Degrees: $225,000, MBA and Law: $300,000, Healthcare: $250,000 or $400,000 depending on your degree (Aggregate limits up to $400,000 for MD, DMD/DDS, OD, DO, DPM, PharmD, and DVM degrees. Aggregate limits up to $250,000 for cardiac perfusion, chiropractic, cytotechnology, nurse practitioner, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant degree). Employer & Organizational Partnerships: To qualify for the principal balance reduction, the borrower or co-signer (if applicable) must have applied, be approved, and disburse a Citizens Education Refinance Loan, Education Refinance Loan for Parents, or a Medical Residency Refinance Loan through the employer’s dedicated Citizens website. The principal balance reduction will be calculated as 1% of the amount financed with a maximum of $1,000. The loan must be in good standing at the time the Principal Balance Reduction Benefit is applied. Only one Principal Balance Reduction Benefit is allowed per borrower. If you receive a Principal Balance Reduction Benefit on a Citizens Student Loan or Student Loan for Parents you will not be eligible for another Principal Balance Reduction Benefit on a Citizens Education Refinance Loan, Education Refinance Loan for Parents or a Medical Residency Refinance Loan. Principal balance reduction will be applied with an effective date equal to the loan’s first disbursement date. Principal balance reduction may take up to the second month following the loan’s final disbursement date to be applied and may be reduced if the loan amount is reduced or cancelled. The Principal Balance Reduction Benefit will be processed as a reduction of the loan’s principal balance and will not impact the required monthly payment. The borrower is solely responsible for any taxes that may be owed as a result of the principal balance reduction earned. A tax advisor should be consulted. Citizens Bank, N.A. does not provide tax advice. Offer cannot be combined with other promotions, discounts or offers – automatic payment and loyalty discounts excluded. Citizens reserves the right to modify these terms or cancel this offer at any point in the future for new applications. Federal Loan vs. Private Loan Benefits: Some federal student loans include unique benefits that the borrower may not receive with a private student loan, some of which we do not offer. Borrowers should carefully review federal benefits, especially if they work in public service, are in the military, are considering possible loan forgiveness options, are currently on or considering income based repayment options or are concerned about a steady source of future income and would want to lower their payments at some time in the future. When the borrower refinances, they waive any current and potential future benefits of their federal loans. For more information about federal student loan benefits and federal loan consolidation, visit https://studentaid.gov/. We also have several resources available to help the borrower make a decision on our website including Should I Refinance My Student Loans? and our FAQs. Should I Refinance My Student Loans? includes a comparison of federal and private student loan benefits that we encourage the borrower to review. U.S. Dept. of Education Fee: The Federal Direct PLUS Loan fee is a percentage of the loan amount and is proportionately deducted from each loan disbursement. For Loans first disbursed between October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2025 the origination fee is 4.228%. Student Loan Repayment: Student borrowers can make full payments or pay interest only while in school or defer payments until after graduation (interest continues to accrue during deferment periods). Medical Residency Refinance Loan Repayment Example with $100 Monthly Payment: Based on a 48 month residency, a fixed rate 5 year loan for $10,000 at 6.85% APR results in 53 monthly payments of $100 (includes residency period and 6-month grace period), followed by 60 monthly payments of $145.09. $100 monthly payment begins immediately after loan disbursement for the duration of the residency or fellow program period up to 48 months, plus 6 month grace period. Citizens Scholarship: (For Sweepstakes Period: 07/01/2024-03/31/2025) No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 16 years of age or older, are students, or prospective students, or parents or legal guardians of students intending to enroll or enrolled at least half-time in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution. To be eligible for a chance to win the Citizens Building the Workforce of the Future Scholarship entrants must be from an underrepresented or a low-income community as described in the Official Rules. Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 AM ET on 7/1/24 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 3/31/25. Sponsored by Citizens. See Official Rules for details. (For Sweepstakes Period: 04/01/2025-03/31/2026) No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 18 years of age or older, are students, or prospective students, or parents or legal guardians of students intending to enroll or enrolled at least half-time in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution. To be eligible for a chance to win the Citizens Building the Workforce of the Future Scholarship entrants must be from an underrepresented or a low-income community as described in the Official Rules. Sweepstakes begin at 12:00 AM ET on 4/1/25 and ends at 5:00 PM ET on 3/31/26. Sponsored by Citizens. See Official Rules for details.Citizens Student Credit Builder™: Citizens Student Credit Builder™ refers to loans with either an Immediate or Interest Only repayment option chosen at the time the loan is originated. Credit scores are based on established borrower payment behaviors. By choosing a loan repayment option that requires payment while the student is in school, the borrower begins their history of payments earlier than a corresponding borrower that chooses a deferred repayment option. Additionally, an equally qualified borrower and/or cosigner with similar loan terms will receive a lower interest rate with an Immediate or Interest Only repayment option. SAVINGS DISCLOSURES Education Refinance Loan Average Monthly Payment Savings: The average monthly and annual payment savings estimated amount is based on 2,543 Citizens Education Refinance Loan customers who refinanced their loans between March 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025 and who received a lower payment. The calculation is derived by averaging the monthly payments prior to refinancing minus the monthly payments after refinancing. Excluded are monthly savings reported from customers that exceeded $9,375 or were lower than $20 to minimize risk of data error skewing the savings amounts. Savings vary based on interest rates, balances and remaining repayment term of loans to be refinanced. Your overall repayment amount may be higher than the loans you are refinancing even if your monthly payments are lower. Education Refinance Loan Weighted Average Interest Rate Savings: Weighted average interest rate savings is based on 2,566 Citizens Education Refinance Loan customers who lowered their interest rate on loans between March 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025. The calculation is derived by averaging the rate savings across Citizens Education Refinance Loan customers whose interest rates decreased after refinancing, calculated by taking the weighted average interest rate prior to refinancing minus the interest rate after refinancing. We excluded rate savings from customers that exceeded 15.11% and were lower than 0.25% to minimize risk of data error skewing the rate savings amounts. Your interest rate savings might vary based on the interest rates you qualify for, chosen terms and previous interest rate of the loans you are seeking to refinance. Your overall interest rate may be higher than the interest rate on the loans you are refinancing even if your monthly payments are lower. Parent Loan Savings: Origination fee savings of $771 are calculated using the Federal Direct Plus Loan origination fee of 4.228% (for loans first disbursed between 10/1/24 and 9/30/25) and an average amount financed of $18,247 as compared to the Citizens Student Loan for Parents, which has no origination fees. Graduate Loan Savings: Origination fee savings of $865 are calculated using the Federal Direct Plus Loan origination fee of 4.228% (for loans first disbursed between 10/1/24 and 9/30/25) and an average amount financed of $20,480 as compared to the Citizens Student Loan, which has no origination fees. APPLICATION & SOLICITATION DISCLOSURES Citizens Student Loan™ for Students - 5, 10, 15 Year Application Solicitation Disclosure Citizens Student Loan™ for Parents - 5, 10 Year Application Solicitation Disclosure Citizens Education Refinance Loan™ 20 Year Prescreened Application & Solicitation Disclosure Citizens Education Refinance Loan™ 20 Year Prequalified Application & Solicitation Disclosure Additional Application Solicitation Disclosures may be obtained by calling the Customer Service Team at (877) 464-6329 and copies of the disclosures will be provided via email. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 9:00pm EST. | |
Fixed APR from 6.20- 8.99% | Loan amount $10k- No Max | ![]() {child: refi.mefa.all} | |
Lender conversion and compensation impacts how, where and in what order products appear in the above table |
When it comes to paying down your debt, being empowered and knowing all of the resources you have at hand is the key to financial health. Federal student loan borrowers have a host of forgiveness programs and alternative repayment options at their disposal.
Keep up with the current student loan trends so that you're not leaving potential forgiveness on the table.