How to Pay for Medical School
Medical school is expensive. But you already know that. And you may have incurred staggering amounts of debt to finish your degree and residency. Or perhaps you are still grinding it out. Either way, congratulations on your accomplishments to date and thank you for choosing a profession that serves others. Before we review the best tactics and strategies for tackling costs associated with medical school, let’s establish a baseline by taking a look at the average debt for medical school students.
Medical School Scholarships and Fellowships
Paying Off Medical School Debt
Loan Consolidation and Refinance Options
Medical School Loan Repayment Calculators
Average Medical School Debt
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) annual Medical School Graduation Questionnaire (GQ), the median education debt reported for the class of 2018 was $200,000. This includes both pre-med and medical school (i.e., aggregate education loan debt). More than 16,000 medical school graduates participated in the survey. On top of this, when asked about other, non-education related consumer debt, 22% of respondents indicated they carry an additional debt burden which includes credit cards, auto loans, home mortgages, etc. This may seem like a lot of money (it is), but understanding your options for loan repayment can make the process much less intimidating.
FUN FACT: In 2018 the most expensive (private) medical school in the country was Columbia University (NY). In case you’re curious, here are the other schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report that rounded out the top 10 most expensive medical schools in the country for academic year 2017-18:
| School Name | Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|
| Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | $66,257 |
| University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine | $64,132 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | $63,666 |
| Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine | $63,551 |
| Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine | $63,470 |
| Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis | $63,230 |
| Brown University Alpert Medical School | $62,917 |
| Harvard Medical School | $61,535 |
| Tufts University School of Medicine | $61,464 |
| Duke University | $61,032 |
Let's tackle medical school debt from three angles:
- The types of loans you may be facing
- The best repayment strategies to consider, even while in school—including consolidation and refinancing
- Helpful resources for doctors and doctors-to-be
NOTE: We’re covering a lot of very important ground. Before you read further, we recommend that you bookmark this page as a go-to guide.
Medical School Loans
The types of loans available to cover medical school include both federal and private options:
- Direct Unsubsidized Loan (Federal)—Borrow up to $40,500 annually for health professional students, including aspiring doctors. The aggregate borrowing limit is $224,000 and the fixed interest rate for the 2023 - 2024 academic year (for loans first disbursed between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024) is 7.05%. There is also a 1.057%* origination fee (commonly referred to as a loan fee) to borrow funds.
- Grad PLUS Loan (Federal)—Borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. The fixed interest rate is 8.05% with a 4.228%* origination fee for academic year 2023 - 2024. A credit check is performed to ensure you do not have adverse credit history, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. In some circumstances, a cosigner may be required.
- Private Loans—Borrow up to the cost of attendance less other aid. Some private loan terms may be more favorable than those found in federal programs. For example, many lenders offer zero origination fees and more competitive (i.e., lower) interest rates. There is an exhaustive credit review which includes a debt-to-income analysis to determine eligibility. Cosigners may be used.
*For loans disbursed from Oct. 1, 2022 - Sept. 30, 2023
Instantly Compare Lenders for Your School
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: When it comes to borrowing private vs. federal loans, you will want to keep repayment and loan forgiveness programs in mind. If you plan to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) through the federal government after medical school, take note that private student loans are not factored into the equation. In other words, only federal Direct Loans may be included and are eligible for that forgiveness option.
- Institutional Loans – Availability and options will vary between schools. Check with your school to see if a campus-based loan program is available.
- Loan for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) – Loan limits are determined by the Financial Aid Office based on your eligibility and availability of funds. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the loan provider and eligibility is limited to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Maximum award is cost of attendance less other aid. Check with your financial aid office for details.
- State Based Loan Programs – Depending on the state in which you are located and attending school, there may be specific, state-based loans available that offer savings over traditional private loan programs. Examples would include non-profit, state based lenders who offer financing to students who are either permanent residents of, or attending school in, a particular state. Check with your financial aid office for more details.
- Income Share Agreements (ISAs) – An ISA is a contract between the student and either a private investor or the school (if it offers an ISA program). It can be used in place of a traditional loan to fund your education in exchange for a percentage of your post-graduate earnings for a fixed amount of time.
Medical Residency Loans
Paying for medical school is one thing. Getting through your residency is another. If you counted on federal loans to help pay for medical school, it should be noted that federal loans are not available as a funding option for your residency.
Loan amounts from private lenders vary but are typically between a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $20,000. As the name may imply, residency loans may be used for:
- Medical residency, including expenses tied to board exams and interviews
- Relocation, including expenses tied to your big move
Some of the lenders we work with who offer residency loans include the following*:
- Sallie Mae – Sallie Mae® Medical Residency and Relocation Loan
- PNC - PNC Solution Loan® for Health Professions Residency
Visit Edvisors for a broader overview regarding medical residency and relocation loans.
Full disclaimer: This is an advertisement because we do work with these lenders. However, we evaluate each lender we partner with and only recommend loan programs we believe are a best fit for our audience.
Medical School Scholarships and Fellowships
Our team spent an exhaustive amount of time researching the best and most legitimate places to find medical school scholarships. The list below represents our top picks, in no ranked order. Also note: we update this list periodically so check back every so often.
- AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship $10,000 scholarships for students entering their final year of med school.
- National Health Service Corp (NHSC) Scholarship Program For students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training who commit to work at least 2 years at an NHSC-approved site in a medically underserved community. ‘Award amounts’ will either be a full or partial year of scholarship support in exchange for the 2-year commitment.
- U.S. Department of Labor This is the link to CareerOneStop which is a pretty robust database containing more than 8,000 scholarships, fellowships, and grants that you can filter by educational level and geographic region. Tip: you can also use the search feature for terms like “physician,” “nursing,” etc. for even faster results.
- The Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program Up to $28,000 for 4th year medical students committed to family practice.
- Piscano Leadership Foundation Scholarships, resident opportunities, fellowships and some service-based loan repayment programs can be found here.
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Loan Repayment/Forgiveness/Scholarship and Other Programs More than just scholarships, this site also contains state-specific repayment and forgiveness programs. It offers a robust number of potential awards, but because so many of them are state-specific, you will likely get mileage out of their filtering capability. - National Medical Fellowships A resource for students from underrepresented communities pursuing healthcare. The website features scholarships in addition to mentorship [service learning] opportunities.
- Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships $5,000 scholarships for third year medical school students who have demonstrated leadership in addressing inequities in medical education and healthcare.
- U.S. Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program Scholarships cover all tuition/fees, including textbooks and supplies for all US citizens enrolled in or possessing a letter of acceptance from an accredited medical school (MD or DO) in the US or Puerto Rico.
- U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship Program Qualifying students may be eligible for a full-tuition scholarship, a monthly stipend of $2,200+ and $20,000 sign-on bonus.
- U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program Tuition assistance for up to four years of school; monthly stipend of $2,200. $20,000 signing bonus. Medicine and Dentistry only. Must work with a Navy Medical Programs Recruiter, no online application exists.
How to Pay Off Medical School Debt
In this section, we offer tools, tips and resources to help you figure out the best ways to tackle your medical school debt.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
A good resource for loan repayment after medical school is the AAMC’s program called FIRST. FIRST stands for Financial, Information, Resources, Services and Tools and the website contains fact sheets, webinars, videos, and more. If you don’t already have an AAMC account, you will need to register to access the products and services on the site.
How to Consolidate Medical School Loans
We have partnered with the industry’s leading lenders to offer you competitive rates and programs that help you simplify your repayment and potentially save money by lowering your interest rate by consolidating and refinancing your medical school loans. Review our preferred lenders to start your search.
If you would like to learn more about the difference between the federal consolidation program and private student loan refinancing, which is the only way to combine both your federal and private loans together, or release a parent cosigner, we recommend reading Should I consolidate my student loans?
Medical School Loan Repayment Calculators
- Student Loan Refinancing Calculator – This straightforward calculator is a quick and easy way to estimate payments and total interest to be repaid using a refinanced loan. You can add your individual loans and their associated interest rates for more accurate results.
- AAMC Medloans® Organizer and Calculator – Only enrolled medical students have access to the premium version. You must have an AAMC username and password. Guest users will be unable to save information. Go directly to the Medloans® Calculator.
- Federal Student Aid Repayment Estimator – The official, federal website you can use to estimate payments under each repayment plan for which you may be eligible, including income-driven repayment plans and PSLF.
Student Loan Forgiveness for Doctors
It may be possible to have a portion of your federal student loans forgiven. And this may include both your undergraduate debt (if you have any), as well as medical school debt. That said, there are a number of considerations to learn about, in addition to different programs you may choose to pursue.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness for Doctors (PSLF) – You may be in for some “aha” moments when it comes to the PSLF Program. Essentially, this forgiveness option is available to Federal Direct student loan borrowers which forgives the remaining balance on your direct loans after making 120-qualifying monthly payments. However, there are several steps you need to take to make sure you qualify.
- Ensure you have an eligible federal student loan. The types of loans that qualify for PSLF are Direct Loans only. Not Perkins Loans. Not loans under the former Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. Not private loans. (private loans are never eligible for forgiveness under the federal program.)
If you have federal loans that are not Direct Loans (like Perkins or FFEL loans), you CAN consolidate them and then qualify for PSLF under the newly consolidated loan (Direct Consolidation).
- To qualify as a doctor or health professional, you need to be employed full-time by a qualifying employer. Qualifying employers include, a government organization (including the military), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization—which most hospitals are, or another eligible not-for-profit (determined by the U.S. Department of Education) that provides certain qualifying public services.
- Make 120 qualifying monthly payments. Qualifying payments are payments made:
- After Oct. 1, 2007
- Under an eligible repayment plan
- For the full amount due as shown on your bill
- No later than 15 days after your due date
- While employed full-time by a qualifying employer (note, you must still be employed full-time at the time you apply for forgiveness)
This could mean the clock starts from the time you begin your residency (following your grace period) and enter your loan repayment term.
- Repay your loans under an eligible repayment plan, which includes:
- 10-year standard repayment
- Income-driven repayment plans
IMPORTANT NOTE: The 10-year standard repayment plan can be a bit misleading when it comes to PSLF. If you were to successfully repay your loans within 10-years (120 monthly payments), you would have nothing left to forgive. We know, it is confusing and we’re just the messenger here. The way PSLF works is forgiveness applies to a remaining balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made. Therefore, if PSLF is your repayment strategy, it is recommended that you repay under an income-driven repayment plan instead.
Note for Parent PLUS Loan Borrowers: Due to the restrictions of the eligible repayment plans, Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans are only eligible for PSLF if they are consolidated and repaid under an income-contingent repayment plan. This is only an issue for Parent PLUS loans, not for Grad PLUS loans.
- Complete an annual Employment Certification Form (ECF). Okay, so this isn’t required but it is highly recommended. The ECF is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education and they will verify that you are on the right track to forgiveness and let you know how many qualifying payments you have made. Therefore, you can take the guess work out and fix any issues if needed. The U.S. Department of Education’s PSLF Help Tool will help you generate an ECF to print and have your employer certify.
- When it’s time, submit your application for forgiveness to the U.S. Department of Education. The PSLF Help Tool will help you partially complete your forgiveness application.
Let’s talk about the impact of student loan consolidation for just a minute because it’s important. Federal loan consolidation can be used to make an ineligible federal student loan eligible for PSLF (see PSLF Step 1), however, consolidation can restart the clock. Meaning the countdown for the 120 qualifying monthly payments—10 years’ worth of effort—would start over once your new consolidation loan enters repayment. And if you had been in repayment for any period of time prior to consolidating, none of those payments would count toward your PSLF eligibility. Therefore, it would be best to consolidate sooner than later.
PSLF is a loan-based forgiveness program. Meaning, you could have loans become eligible at different times. Keep that in mind, it can help you strategize your repayment.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Programs – Congress established this program to help recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals. Award amounts could be as high as $35,000 per year in exchange for commitment to NIH related research.
National Health Services Corps Loan Repayment Assistance – Assistance is available for primary care medical professionals’ (including dental, mental, behavioral health providers) service in a qualifying urban, rural, or tribal community. A 2-year full-time or half-time service commitment is required and award amounts are as high as $50,000.
National Defense Student Loan Discharge (NDSLD) – If you are a Federal Perkins Loan holder who served in a military location that meets the definition of hostile-fire or imminent-danger, you may qualify for loan forgiveness. The amount of Perkins Loan forgiveness typically ranges between 50% and 100%. This option is only provides forgiveness for a Federal Perkins Loan. It is not an option for any other student loan, including a Federal Consolidation Loan which includes a Federal Perkins loan. . Contact your loan servicer if you feel you qualify. You will be required to send a copy of your DD214 military discharge form.
Ways to Pay Off Medical School Debt
Physician Signing Bonus
NEGOTIATE THIS! According to Sarah Mann’s article entitled “Research Shows Shortage of More than 100,000 Doctors by 2030,” (as published in AAMC News), the number of new physicians and medical specialists entering the workforce is not keeping up with growing demand. As a result, employers may be more inclined to offer a sign-on bonus. This is something you should negotiate if offered employment or a contract. Asking for a bonus in the vicinity of $30,000 is not unheard of. In fact, the “average physician signing bonuses accepted [in 2017] grew a bit more than expected, to $30,000," according to The Medicus Firm. Of course, the amounts may vary drastically depending on specialization, geographical location and other factors.
Our advice? Keep your ears peeled, talk to colleagues and advisors about what you can anticipate, and ensure you consult with an attorney to review any contract offers that come your way. But above all, negotiate wisely and advocate for yourself.
Employer Student Loan Assistance Program
While this is certainly not universal, some employers are offering benefits that include a student loan repayment assistance component. Based on (fairly recent) IRS guidance, employers may have an easier time of offering a voluntary student loan benefit by tying 401(k) contributions to student loan repayment. Do note that there could be tax implications. In essence, student loan repayment benefits will not necessary share the same tax benefits as 401(k) contributions. This is something you may want to discuss with your HR office. At a minimum, explore whether or not such a benefit exists or could be coming down the pike.
What to do next?
Private Student Loans vs Direct PLUS Loans
Do You Need a Cosigner for a Student Loan?
Compare Featured Lenders
- Competitive fixed and variable APRs starting at 4.41%1
- Multiple repayment options including: full principal and interest, interest-only, deferred, and flat payment
- Flexible payment terms ranging from 5, 8, 10, and 15 years2
- Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum)3
- No origination, application and processing fees, no fees for early repayment
- Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision
- Applying with a cosigner can increase your chances of getting approved and could result in a lower interest rate
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
1Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
2This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
3As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
Information advertised valid as of 09/13/2023. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
- Variable Rates: 6.37% APR - 16.70% APR. Fixed Rates: 4.50% APR - 15.49% APR. Lowest rates shown include 0.25% interest rate discount with auto debit payments.1
- Apply online in minutes and receive an instant credit result2
- Multiple repayment options from in-school payments to deferred.1 No origination fee or prepayment penalty3
- Last year, students were 3x more likely to be approved with a cosigner4 and it may help you get a better rate.
- Borrow up to 100% of school-certified expenses, whether you're online or on campus5
Borrow Responsibly
We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.
Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend school in the U.S., apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident), and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID. Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.
1Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.
2In 2022, instant credit decisions were provided to 97.8% of applicants. Other applications typically received credit decisions in 3 to 5 business days.
3Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note-first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.
4Based on the percentage of borrowers who were approved for an undergraduate loan with a cosigner compared to the percentage of borrowers who were approved for an undergraduate loan without a cosigner from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.5 For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website may be subjected to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time.
6 Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years.
Information advertised valid as of 08/25/2023.
SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. CHECK SALLIEMAE.COM FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.
Smart Option Student Loans® are made by Sallie Mae Bank. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Edvisors is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Sallie Mae loan customers.
© 2023 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
- AFFORDABLE variable rates starting at 6.03% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
- 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
- NON-COSIGNED option may be available for undergraduate juniors and seniors.
- PAY AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL – Customize your loan with flexible repayment options – start payments after graduation.
- FORGET FEES – No application, origination or disbursement fees. No prepayment penalty if you choose to pay your loan off early.
- COVER UP TO 100% of your tuition and eligible living expenses.
* Ascent's undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs
Rates are effective as of 9/01/2023 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Rates
1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest APRs require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.
The minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.
- Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
- Flexible repayment options you can choose from
- No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
- Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4
- Will cover up to 100% of the school's certified cost of attendance
- 9-month grace period (3 months more than most lenders)2
- Apply over the phone with the Client Happiness Team
- Call 866-492-1222, Monday through Friday, 5 A.M. - 5 P.M. PST
- Mention us when you call in to start your application
This information is for graduate and undergraduate students attending participating degree-granting schools. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents if the school is located outside of the United States. Non-U.S. citizen borrowers who reside in the U.S. are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident) and are required to provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify identity. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.
Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.67% APR to 16.15% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.64% APR to 16.45% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.
1You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay.
2Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.
3Earnest does not charge fees for origination, late payments, or prepayments. Florida Stamp Tax: For Florida
residents, Florida documentary stamp tax is required by law, calculated as $0.35 for each $100 (or portion thereof) of the principal loan amount, the amount of which is provided in the Final Disclosure. Lender will add the stamp tax to the principal loan amount. The full amount will be paid directly to the Florida Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 78-8016373916-1.
4Earnest clients may skip one payment every 12 months. Your first request to skip a payment can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Please be aware that a skipped payment does count toward the forbearance limits. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.
The information provided on this page is updated as of 07/20/2023. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice.
Earnest loans are originated by Earnest Operations LLC. California Finance Lender License 6054788. NMLS # 1204917. Earnest Operations LLC is located at 303 2nd Street, Suite 401N, San Francisco, CA 94107. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://www.earnest.com/terms-of-service, e-mail us at [email protected], or call 888-601-2801 for more information.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER.
Up to four repayment types (including no payments while in school) and multiple repayment terms help you find the loan that fits your budget
- Variable Rates: Starting variable rates range from 5.99% APR to 14.03% APR (with autopay)*, and will never exceed 13.95% (sometimes lower in certain states as required by law)
- Fixed Rates: Fixed rates range from 4.44% APR to 14.83% APR (with autopay)*
- Easy online application!
- No origination fees, late fees, and no insufficient fund fees. Period
- Up to four repayment types (including no payments while in school) and multiple repayment terms help you find the loan that fits your budget
- 0.25% discount when you set up autopay*
*UNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.44% to 14.70% annual percentage rate ("APR") (with autopay), variable rates from 5.49% to 13.97% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.99% to 14.48% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 5.99% to 13.97% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 6.50% to 14.83% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 6.32% to 14.03% APR (with autopay). For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. Interest rates for variable rate loans are capped at 13.95%, unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the repayment option you select, the term and amount of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Information current as of 08/31/2023.
Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, years of professional experience, income, and a variety of other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
Payments based on a fixed percentage of future income for up to 60 months after graduation
Only pay when earning more than the $30,000 minimum income threshold.
Payments stop early if you ever hit the payment cap (2.0x your initial funding amount)
Payments based on a fixed percentage of future income.
Lower (or no) payments when you're unemployed or underemployed.
- No cosigner required.
- Income based repayment, once you're graduated and employed.
- No payments when you're unemployed or earning below $30,000/year.
- Shorter repayment. Only 5 years of payments.*
- Get a quote in less than a minute. Quick and easy application process. Transparent calculator and comparison tool.
- Must be BA, MA, or PhD student WITHIN 2 YEARS OF GRADUATION, enrolled in a program that meets our outcome-driven eligibility criteria.
* Your Maximum Payment Period is inclusive of any months where Monthly Payments are made as well as any months that are Deferred Months; this will only be extended if you receive Forbearance, which will extend your Maximum Payment Period on a one-for-one basis.
To be eligible for a Stride Income Share Agreement, students must fall into the following criteria:
- Attending a four-year Title IV college or university.
- Within two years of graduation.
- Enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate program.
- Enrolled in an academic program that meets our outcome-driven eligibility criteria.
- Reside or attend school in a state we serve: Currently, we provide Income Share Agreements for all states in the U.S., except Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, South Carolina, and Washington.
- U.S. Citizen or permanent resident attending school in the U.S.
- Current G.P.A. is greater than 2.9.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or call (214)775-9960.
- Prequalification: Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score
- Online Application Process: Submit online application in minutes
- Flexible Repayment Options: ELFI offers immediate, interest only, partial payment, and fully deferred repayment options
- No Fees: No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties
- Low Rates: Fixed rates from 4.48% to 12.29% and variable rates from 4.98% - 12.79%
- Award winning Customer Service: Individually paired Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process
*Education Loan Finance is a nationwide student loan provider offered by Tennessee based SouthEast Bank. ELFI is designed to assist students financially with receiving their education. Subject to credit approval. See Terms & Conditions. Interest rates current as of 04-01-2023. Variable interest rates may increase after closing but will never exceed 18.00%. Interest rates may also differ from the rates shown above. The term of your loan, financial history, and other factors, including your cosigner’s (if any) financial history can affect the interest rate. For example, a 10-year loan with a fixed rate of 7% would have 120 payments of $11.61 per $1,000 borrowed. Rates are subject to change.