How to Pay for Law School: A Complete Guide

By Elaine Rubin

Updated on October 1, 2022

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Getting a law degree can provide you with a wide variety of job and career opportunities. And many follow the law degree path in hopes of substantially increasing their earning potential. But you, along with many prospective lawyers, may be worried about paying for law school. Choosing to go to law school is a big commitment and you want to review your options and make informed decisions before you dive in. We’ve put together useful information to help you in your law school journey.

• Average Law School Debt
• How to Earn Your JD
• Choosing a Law School
• Law School Loans
• Law School Internship and Fellowship Programs
• Paying Your Law School Loan Debt
• Loan Consolidation and Refinance Options
• Law School Loan Repayment Calculators

Average Law School Debt

According to AccessLex Institute^® (AccessLex), the 2017 law school graduating class had an average law school debt (among those who borrowed) of $108,000, including undergraduate debt. This amount even slightly decreased from the 2016 law school graduating class. Although this is a high amount of debt, AccessLex also found that “Lawyers have the highest 10-year job projection amount positions requiring a graduate or professional degree.”

Taking on debt to obtain a higher education is sometimes necessary, but may not be an option for everyone. It’s always important to keep your career goals in mind when you start exploring ways to get your Juris Doctor (JD) to become a lawyer. If you are looking to obtain a corporate or other high paying legal position, then you may be able to handle repaying your student loan debt. However, if you’re planning on taking a career in public service (working as a public defender or a non-profit institution) you may want to make sure you only take on the amount of debt you can manage to repay.

How to Earn Your JD

If your goal is to earn a JD degree, there are a variety of ways you can go about it.

• Traditional JD Degree Program

  A traditional JD degree program will usually require you to have already earned a bachelor’s degree and will take at least three years for you to complete. To be admitted, most law schools will require you to complete a graduate admissions test like the LSAT.

• Accelerated JD Program

  This type of program will allow you to complete law school in two years, instead of three. With this type of program, you are completing the same program as a traditional three-year JD student, just at a faster pace. Law school is already known to be challenging and accelerating your pace may require you to make some sacrifices to focus on successfully earning your degree. If you are able to make those sacrifices to complete your program at a faster pace, there could be financial benefits just by reducing the amount of time you are in school (and potentially the number of years you need to borrow money) and allowing you to enter the workforce earlier.

• Accelerated Bachelors of Arts or Science and J.D. Programs (also known as 3+3 BA/BS-JD Programs)

  This type of program will allow you to graduate with both a Bachelors of Arts (or Science) and a JD in six years. This option is geared towards an undergraduate student who has already decided to become a lawyer. The main advantage of this program is the reduced total number of years you are in school which will allow you to enter the workforce faster. Any reduced time in school can help you reduce the total amount of money you need to borrow. One thing to keep in mind, if you’re reliant on financial aid, the way you receive your financial aid may be different from others who are not enrolled in a dual undergraduate/graduate degree program. But we’ll go over that a little bit later.

• Dual Master Degree Programs (ex. MBA/JD)

  Another option to consider, if you have already completed your undergraduate degree, is to earn dual graduate degrees. Colleges which offer this type of program will allow you to earn both degrees concurrently. A dual degree program may not accelerate how quickly you earn your JD, but earning more than one graduate degree may be beneficial for you.

Choosing a Law School

Not all law schools will offer the same JD degree program options, and not all law schools come with the same price, so it’s worth it to do some research when you pick a school. Another consideration when choosing a law school is law school accreditation. An important question: is your prospective law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)? Most states require you to attend an ABA accredited school in order to sit for the bar exam. A handful of states (such as Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Tennessee) will allow to take the state bar exam even if you didn’t attend an ABA accredited school. However, you need to research your state’s bar exam requirements before you enroll in a school. You don’t want to jeopardize your career before you even get started.

Top 10 Law Schools

(according to U.S. News and Report 2021)

Financing Law School

Finding the money you need to pay for law school can be challenging, but there are resources available to help you.

As a law student, you are eligible for federal student aid to help you pay for law school. To apply, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®).

Note for Undergraduate and Law School Dual Degree Students: Your financial aid office will determine your annual financial aid package based on your classification as either an undergraduate or graduate student. As an undergraduate student, you will be eligible for financial aid offered to undergraduate students. If you have questions about the methodology used for your financial aid package, be sure to set up some time with you financial aid advisor. You will want to ask about how the process works for your entire program.

Law School Loans

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (Direct Unsubsidized Loan)

Borrow up to $20,500 annually for a graduate or professional program, including law school. The aggregate borrowing limit is $138,500. Interest rates are fixed, and both the interest rate and loan fees are set by Congress every year. For 2023 - 2024 the interest rate for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 is 7.05%. The loan fees for loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023 is 1.057%. 

Direct PLUS Loans for Graduate or Professional Students (Federal)

Borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. Interest rates are fixed, and both the interest rate and loan fees are set by Congress every year. 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. For 2023 - 2024 the interest rate for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 is 8.05%. The loan fees for loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023 is 4.228%. 

Private Student Loans

Borrow up to the cost of attendance less other aid while enrolled in-school. 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.

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 law 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.

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.

Employer Funded Law School

Talk to your employer (or sometimes even prospective employer) to see if this is a benefit they could offer. Some employers offer a tuition assistance program which they offer to all employees. However, some employers may offer to pay for your law school, but chances are this type of arrangement comes with strings attached. Just be sure to understand the strings and your commitment.

Bar Study Loans (aka Bar Loans)

If you’re studying for the bar exam, there are private loans available to help cover the costs of bar study courses, bar fees, as well as living expenses. Grants and Scholarships for Law School

Here are some places to turn to find some additional grants and scholarships to help you pay for law school. Listed in no particular order. If you would like to find additional opportunities, it is always best to have a conversation with your financial aid office.

• American Bar Association Legal Opportunity Scholarship: Annually the ABA awards 10-20 law students with a $15,000 grant they can use over their three years in law school.


• American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation: Awards a $10,000 scholarship to a law student for up to three years.


• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund: Awards $5,000 to a law student who seek to further their mission by advancing the civil rights of the Latino community. Up to 15 students can be selected per year.


• Minority Corporate Counsel Association: Lloyd M. Johnson Scholarship Program: Awards $10,000 scholarships to women and diverse students for their first year of law school. Multiple students may be selected.


• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.: Two opportunities are offered by the NAACP. The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship which provides an annual $2,000 scholarship (up to four years). The Earl Warren Scholarship awards $10,000 per year for three years.

Federal Student Aid Grants for Law School

Unfortunately this is the biggest difference between graduate federal student aid and undergraduate federal student aid. There are no federal student aid grants available for graduate students.

Law School Internship and Fellowship Programs

Internship and fellowship programs are great ways to get real life experience. These types of positions may come paid or unpaid. Our team worked to find great opportunities which are made available to law students. Listed in no particular order.

• American Bar Association Fellowship and Internship/Externship Opportunities
• Skadden Foundation Fellowship
• Sponsor for Educational Opportunity Fellowship and Internship Program
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Internship Program

Paying Your Law School Debt

LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Programs)

The ABA has developed resources to help students identify different LRAPs available to law students who are managing their student loan debt. Resources include information on how to repay student loans, as well as information regarding statewide LRAPs. Also, keep in mind that several law schools have LRAP programs, but they may not all be the same. Make sure you do your research as this is another important consideration when choosing a law school.

Loan Consolidation and Refinance Options

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. Review our refinance 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?

Law School Loan Repayment Calculator

• 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.

  

• AccessLex Student Loan Calculator – This calculator has been made available to aspiring law students, current law students, and law school graduates. It allow you to help you understand what you need to borrow for law school, and upon graduation, a complete picture of your student loan commitment.

  

• 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 Lawyers

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 law 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 (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.

1. 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).

2. To qualify as a lawyer, 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, or another eligible not-for-profit (determined by the U.S. Department of Education) that provides certain qualifying public services.


3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.
6. 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.

Creative Ways to Pay Off Student Loans

Employer Student Loan Repayment Assistance

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.

Best Companies for Refinancing Law School Loans

Lender

Recommendation

Best for Student Loan Refinancing

Repayment Terms

5, 7, 10, 15, 20 years

Interest Rates

Variable as low as: 5.09% APR¹

Fixed as low as: 4.49% APR¹

Apply Now More Info

×

SoFi Student Loans

• Rates as low as 5.09% variable and 4.49% fixed¹
• No fees or prepayment penalties
• Unemployment protection

¹Fixed rates range from 4.49% APR to 8.99% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Variable rates from 5.09% APR to 8.99% APR with a 0.25% autopay discount. Unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law, Variable Interest rates on 5-, 7-, and 10-year terms are capped at 8.95% APR; 15- and 20-year terms are capped at 9.95% APR. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, presence of a co-signer and a variety of other factors. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. 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. 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. This benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit lowers your interest rate but does not change the amount of your monthly payment. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.

Lender

Recommendation

Best for Student Loan Refinancing

Repayment Terms

5, 10, or 15 years²

Interest Rates

Variable as low as: 5.99% APR¹

Fixed as low as: 5.99% APR¹

Apply Now More Info

×

College Ave Student Loans

• Variable rate range: 5.99% – 11.99% APR¹
• Fixed rate range: 5.99% – 11.99% APR¹
• No application or prepayment fees
• Apply in 3 minutes or less for instant credit decision

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.

¹The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as the borrower or cosigner, if applicable, enrolls in auto-pay and authorizes our loan servicer to automatically deduct your monthly payments from a valid bank account via Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). The rate reduction applies for as long as the monthly payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account and is suspended during periods of forbearance and certain deferments. Variable rates may increase after consummation.

²This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a refi borrower who selects the Full Principal & Interest Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $40,000 loan and a 5.5% Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $434.11 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $52,092.61. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.

³$5,000 is the minimum requirement to refinance. The maximum loan amount is $250,000 for those with medical, dental, pharmacy or veterinary doctorate degrees, and $150,000 for all other undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Information advertised valid as of 03/01/2023. 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.

Lender

Recommendation

Best for Student Loan Refinancing

Repayment Terms

Multiple terms available

Interest Rates

Variable Rates between 6.59% - 13.25% APR¹

Fixed Rates between 4.49% - 9.44% APR¹

Apply Now More Info

×

You Put in the Work. Now Reap the Rewards.

• Variable Rates between 6.59% - 13.25% APR¹
• Fixed Rates between 4.49% - 9.44% APR¹
• No application or prepayment fees
• Cosigner release with 24 consecutive on-time payments²

¹Interest Rates

Fixed interest rates range from 4.49% APR (with auto debit discount) to 9.44% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. The fixed interest rate will remain the same for the life of the loan.

Variable interest rates range from 6.59% APR (with auto debit discount) to 13.25% APR (without auto debit discount). Your interest rate will depend on your (and if applicable, your cosigner’s) credit qualifications. Variable rates may increase after consummation. Variable rates for Nelnet Bank Refinance Loans are calculated as the One-Month SOFR plus the applicable Margin percentage. Variable rates will be based on the highest One-Month SOFR as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and/or the Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table on the twenty-fifth day (or the next business day) of the immediately preceding calendar month. The variable rate may change on the first day of each month if the SOFR index changes. This may result in higher monthly payments. The current One-Month SOFR index is 4.32% as of January 1, 2023.

Auto Debit Interest rate reduction of .25% for automatically withdrawn payments from any designated bank account (“auto debit discount”). Auto debit discount applies when full payments (including both principal and interest) are automatically drafted from a bank account. The auto debit discount will continue to apply during periods of approved forbearance or deferment if the auto debit discount was in effect at the time of receiving the forbearance or deferment. Auto debit discount will remain on the account unless (1) the automatic deduction of payments is canceled or (2) there are three consecutive automatic deductions returned for insufficient funds at any time during the term of the loan.

The lowest rate for each loan type requires automatically withdrawn (“auto debit”) payment. The lowest rate is available only to the most creditworthy applicants. Not all borrowers will receive the lowest rate. The interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) may be higher depending upon (1) the credit history of the borrower and, if applicable, the cosigner, (2) the repayment option and loan term selected, (3) the loan type selected, and (4) the highest level of education attained. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate qualified for within the stated range.

²Cosigner Release. A request for the cosigner to be released can be made by either the borrower or cosigner when each of the following conditions has been met:

• The account must have been in full principal and interest repayment for at least 24 months.
• Twenty-four consecutive, on-time principal and interest payments, or lump sum equivalent, must have been made. NOTE: A lump sum payment does not replace the requirement to have been in full principal and interest repayment for at least 24 months. Interest-only or fixed-pay payments while enrolled in school do not qualify towards the 24 consecutive on-time payments.
• The loan must be current at the time of request.
• The loan must not have been in deferment, hardship forbearance, or other alternative payment assistance plan within the past 24 months.
• The loan must not have been permanently modified from its original terms in the credit agreement.
• The primary borrower must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency in the United States.
• The primary borrower must meet the age of majority requirement in their permanent state of residency.

Requirements are subject to change. If all of these conditions have been met, then an application for cosigner release may be submitted. The primary borrower is required to demonstrate they have the ability to assume sole responsibility for the loan(s) by providing proof of income, meeting debt-to-income requirements, and having a satisfactory credit history. (A credit report will be obtained during the review process).

³Refinance Loan Eligibility: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien with a valid U.S. Social Security number, and be the legal age to enter into binding contracts in your state/territory of residency, or be at least 17 years of age and apply with a cosigner who is at least the age of majority in their state/territory. Non-residents can apply with an eligible cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien with a valid U.S. Social Security number. The student loans you refinance must be in their grace or repayment period, and you can no longer be enrolled in school on a half-time or more basis. You must have at least $5,000 in student loans to refinance. You, or your eligible cosigner, must have an annual income of at least $36,000. Approval subject to credit review. Other credit criteria may apply.

Refinance Loan Limits:

Minimum loan amount: $5,000

Maximum student loan limits:

$125,000 for borrowers with an undergraduate degree.

$175,000 for borrowers with a graduate, MBA, or law degree.

$500,000 for borrowers with a graduate health professional degree.

Nelnet Bank, and any associated logos or design marks, are trademarks or service marks of Nelnet, Inc. All loan programs and terms are subject to change or may be discontinued at any time without notice. Certain restrictions and limitations may apply.

Lender

Recommendation

Best for Student Loan Refinancing

Repayment Terms

5, 10, 15, or 20 years

Interest Rates

Variable as low as: 5.49% APR (with Autopay)^*

Fixed as low as: 4.96% APR (with Autopay)^*

Apply Now More Info

×

Earnest Student Loan Refinancing

• Variable rates starting at 5.49% APR (including 0.25% Auto Pay discount)^*
• Fixed rates starting at 4.96% APR (including 0.25% Auto Pay discount)^*
• Choose your own monthly payment
• No fees of any kind and exceptional customer service for the life of your loan
• Check your rate in under 2 minutes

To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen or possess a 10-year (non-conditional) Permanent Resident Card, reside in a state Earnest lends in, and satisfy our minimum eligibility criteria. You may find more information on loan eligibility here: https://www.earnest.com/eligibility. Not all applicants will be approved for a loan, and not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Approval and interest rate depend on the review of a complete application.

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 5.21% APR to 10.04% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.74% APR to 9.99% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan refinance 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. The maximum rate for your loan is 8.95% if your loan term is 10 years or less. For loan terms of more than 10 years to 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 9.95%. For loan terms over 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 11.95%. Please note, we are not able to offer variable rate loans in AK, IL, MN, NH, OH, TN, and TX. 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.

^*Auto Pay Discount: If you make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic, monthly deduction from a savings or checking account, your rate will be reduced by one quarter of one percent (0.25%) for so long as you continue to make automatic, electronic monthly payments. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance. Not all borrowers will qualify for our lowest rates, and your rate will be based on creditworthiness at time of application.

The information provided on this page is updated as of 08/10/2023. 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 on our student loan refinance product.

THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER.

 

Lender

Recommendation

Best for Student Loan Refinancing

Repayment Terms

5, 10, or 15, 20 years

Interest Rates

Variable as low as: 4.74% APR¹

Fixed as low as: 4.96% APR¹

Apply Now More Info

×

Splash Financial Refinance Loan

• Rates as low as 4.74%¹ Variable APR and 4.96%¹ Fixed APR
• No pre-payment penalties, origination, or application fees
• See rates in 3 minutes without affecting your credit score²

¹The rates displayed may include a 0.25% autopay discount.

²To check the rates and terms you qualify for, Splash Financial conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, the lender will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

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