Student Loan Repayment and Refinance Strategy for Social Workers
The graduate education required to become a social worker may mean a lot of student loan debt, but there are excellent debt elimination opportunities.
Student Loan Refinancing
Student loan refinancing is a great way to lower interest rates and speed up debt elimination. However, refinancing isn't the best choice for all borrowers.
Student Loan Refinancing
Student loan refinancing is a great way to lower interest rates and speed up debt elimination. However, refinancing isn't the best choice for all borrowers.
Who Should Refinance?
- Borrowers with federal student loans should not refinance during the Covid-19 interest freeze.
- Borrowers with private loans should refinance if they can get a lower interest rate or better loan terms.
Refinance Requirements
- Applicants usually need a credit score in the mid-600s to 700 range.
- Lenders don't publish Debt-to-Income Ratio requirements, but they look at DTI very closely.
- Having a cosigner can enhance your chances of approval, but cosigning is often a risky decision.
Getting the Best Rate
- The lowest advertised rates are usually for 5-year variable-rate loans.
- Borrowers looking for a longer loan should start with the lenders advertising the lowest rates for 20-year loans.
- Shopping around is the only way to verify that you have gotten the best rate possible.
| Rank | Lender | Interest_Rates_ | Loan_Amounts____ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 4.74%* – 10.24% | $5,000 – No Max |
| Splash Financial Review: Splash has competitive rates, but they start slightly higher than the top lenders. Splash also offers unique 8 and 12 year repayment terms. | Application + Up to $500 Bonus | ||
| 2 |  | 5.03% – 8.74% | $10,000 – No Max |
| ELFI Review: ELFI routinely offers excellent interest rates. Even though ELFI is new, it is the product of a regional bank that has been in business for decades. | Application + $150 Bonus | ||
| 3 |  | 4.99% – 9.99% | $5,000 – No Max |
| SoFi Review: SoFi consistently offers the best actual interest rates to applicants. Combine that with SoFi's unique job placement program for borrowers and you have a winner. | Application + $150 Bonus | ||
| 4 |  | 4.49% – 10.68% | $5,000 – $300,000 |
| LendKey Review: LendKey partners with local banks and credit unions to provide their loans. The end result is competitive rates provided by local reputable businesses. | Application + $150 Bonus | ||
| 5 |  | 4.96% – 8.99%^ | $5,000 – No Max |
| Earnest Review: The rates advertised by Earnest are among the best, but in head to head comparisons, Earnest often falls short in actual rates offered. Earnest scores points because it has by far the most flexibility on loan repayment length. | Application + $150 Bonus^ | ||
Note: The lowest listed rate for each lender includes a .25% autopay discount where available. The industry standard among nearly all lenders is to offer this discount.
Click here for the full list of national lenders and reviews.
Methodology: Learn how these rankings are generated.
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