Student Loan Consolidation And Refinancing – What Is The Difference?

Student loan consolidation combines all your federal student loans into a new loan with new repayment terms. In other words, when you consolidate, the government pays off your existing federal student loans in exchange for a new direct consolidation loan. Federal student loan consolidation gives you a repayment term between 10 to 30 years at a fixed rate.

Borrowers opt for student loan consolidation for various reasons. Consider the following potential benefits and drawbacks before making your own decision:

• Access to a fixed interest rate
  A direct consolidation loan gives you the opportunity to replace a variable interest rate with a fixed interest rate with no additional fees.
• Combines all your loans into one
  Consolidation makes tracking all your monthly loan payments easier by reducing the number of loan servicers and payments to just one.
• Longer repayment terms
  A direct consolidation loan can extend your repayment plan to 30 years, considerably reducing your monthly payments.
• Good co-signer release policies
  With direct consolidation loans, you can take on full responsibility for your loan and release your co-signer without additional charges or fees.

• You may end up paying more interest
  Although extending your loan term will reduce your monthly payments, you may pay more interest over time and be in much debt longer.
• The loan principal will be higher
  Any unpaid interest on your student loans will be added to the principal loan when you consolidate. As a result, your balance will be higher.
• Higher interest rate
  Direct consolidation loans are not eligible for interest rate discounts. This means that the interest rate is determined by the weighted average of all the interest rates of the loans being consolidated, which may be higher than what an individual could get on their own
• You may lose certain federal loan benefits
  Consolidating your student loans cancels the credit you have gained while paying for your loans under the income-driven repayment plan. This makes it hard to qualify for forgiveness programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Federal student loan consolidation does not require a credit check, so your credit score doesn’t affect your eligibility. You can apply for student loan consolidation using the following steps:

• Log into your student aid account, and click “Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note.” 
• Provide the following information:
• The loans you want to consolidate, 
• Your preferred repayment plan, and loan servicer
• Personal data (contact information, ID, and employer’s details)
• Name and contact information of two references 
• Read the terms and conditions 
• Review your applications and sign 
• Do it in one session; there is no save and come back later option 
• Continue your monthly payments as usual until you get an approval 

In contrast to consolidation, student loan refinancing is when a private lender pays off your private and federal student loans in exchange for a new loan with new repayment terms and interest rates. Your credit score, income, and debt-to-income ratio determine the terms and rates you will receive.

Borrowers decide to refinance their student loan for a number of reasons. Consider the following potential benefits and drawbacks before making your own decision: 

• You can get a much lower interest rate
  Refinancing is a merit-based solution: If you have a strong credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio, you will likely get much better repayment terms and a favorable interest rate.
• You can apply with a co-signer
  In the event that your credit score alone is not enough to get approved for refinancing, you can apply with a co-signer. A co-signer with a strong credit history can ensure that you get low-interest rates.
• All your loans are combined into one
  Keeping track of multiple payments every month makes it hard to effectively manage your debt which could lead to defaulting. Refinancing eliminates this risk, as you are now able to stay on top of just one payment.
• You can refinance with a lender of your choice
  With private student loans, multiple lenders offer different refinancing options at your disposal. The freedom to choose your loan servicer without restrictions ensures you get the best repayment terms and interest rates for your needs.

• It is hard to qualify
  Most lenders require a minimum credit score of 650 and a debt-to-income ratio of less than 50% to qualify. Most people, especially new graduates, find that this is a tough requirement to meet. 
• You will no longer be eligible for federal benefits
  Private student loans are not eligible for student loan forgiveness programs, income-driven repayment plans, deferment, or forbearance. Although private lenders have options to make your loan more manageable, they do not offer the same level of protection as the government.
• A credit check is required
  Private lenders conduct a hard credit check to evaluate your credit history and application. Too many hard credit checks can negatively affect your credit score.
• Repayment terms are dependent on your credit score
  People refinance student loans to reduce the interest rate; however, this is not assured. A high credit score is the only way to secure low rates.

Step 1: Research different lenders 

Various lenders offer student loan refinancing, including banks, online financial institutions, and credit unions. Compare their repayment terms, eligibility requirements, and loan limit before choosing one. 

Following are 6 options for companies that refinance student loans.

Lender	Scholaroorating	Our view	Fixed ratesstarting (APR)	Variable ratesstarting (APR)	Learn more
Laurel Road Visit website	4.9/5	Best for Low Interest Rates with Discounts	4.99%	4.74%	Visit website
College Ave Visit website	4.9/5	Best for Flexible Repayment Options	5.99%	5.99%	Visit website
SoFi Visit website	4.8/5	Best for Refinancing Parent Plus Loans	4.99%	5.99%	Visit website
Earnest Visit website	4.7/5	Best for Refinancing without Cosigner	4.96%	5.32%	Visit website
LendKey Visit website	4.5/5	Best for Mid-Income Earners	4.49%	5.02%	Visit website
ISL Education Lending Visit website	4.5/5	Best for In-School Refinancing	6.50%	N/A	Visit website

Step 2: Request a pre-qualification 

Once you have picked your lender, ask them to conduct a pre-qualification to get an estimate of the rates and terms you qualify for before proceeding with the application. 

Step 3: Complete the application 

In addition to your credit score, most lenders require the following information:

• Proof of employment 
• Debt-to-income ratio 
• A degree
• Loan and payment information 
• Official ID 
• Proof of residency 

Step 4: Keep making payments as usual

Don’t stop your monthly payments until your new lender has fully repaid your loans. 

Consolidation is often seen as a good option for those who are struggling to make payments on their loans, but refinancing may be the best choice for those who have improved their credit score and can qualify for a lower interest rate. Refinancing also has the potential of saving you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan if you can secure a lower interest rate.

Additionally, refinancing may also allow you to extend the repayment timeline or change your payment plan. There is also the option of combining consolidation and refinancing by first consolidating multiple loans into one loan, then refinancing that loan for a lower rate. Make sure to carefully weigh all of the options available before deciding which one is right for you.

A good option for borrowers who:

• Have federal student loans 
• Have a low credit score 
• Want to lower monthly payments 
• An income that is not secure as a result needs the protection of federal loan benefits available to consolidated loans such as deferment and forbearance

Suitable for borrowers who:

• Have a high credit score 
• Have both federal and private loans
• A stable income will ensure that they don’t need to apply for deferment, forbearance, or loan forgiveness to avoid defaulting. 
• Their goal is to lower the interest rate

Before making your final decision as to whether you will opt for consolidating your student loans or refinancing them, keep the following factors in mind as a guideline:

Financial goals

Knowing your financial goals and situation is critical as you consider consolidating or refinancing your student loans. Are you looking to reduce monthly payments by extending the loan terms or pay off your debt faster by lowering interest? Also, keep in mind factors such as income, debt-to-income ratio, credit score, and current repayment terms as you decide. 

Credit history

Your chances of successfully refinancing your student loans depend on the hard credit check results. Know your credit score before applying for refinancing so that if your score is on the lower side, you can improve it beforehand.  

Type of loan 

Not all loans qualify for consolidation or refinancing. Consolidation works strictly with federal loans, while federal and private loans are eligible for refinancing. You can access information about your student loans by logging into studentaid.gov.

Interest rate 

Consolidation and refinancing don’t both have interest rate benefits. Most of the time, you get a fixed but high-interest rate with consolidation. In contrast, with refinancing, your interest rate can be variable but considerably lower depending on your credit score.

Below are some FAQs relation to student loan consolidation and refinancing

Yes. Your direct consolidated loan can be refinanced for a new loan with more favorable rates and terms.

Consolidating your student loans could result in paying more interest, a higher principal and loss of federal loan benefits and protection.

With consolidation, you may pay more because any outstanding interests you had on your individual loan will be added to your new loan’s principal.

Student loan consolidation and refinancing improve your life quality by making your debt more manageable. However, paying attention to their distinctions is crucial to know under which circumstances they will be most beneficial. Use factors such as financial goals, credit score, the type of loan you have, as well as the interest rate to help guide your decision. In this way, you will gain the ability to take control of your financial situation and make a decision that benefits you in the long run.