Earnest Student Loans Review

Rates and Terms

Earnest refinances loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. Rates on these loans are very competitive. It offers loans with the following rates:

• Variable Rate: 1.88% - 5.64% APR
• Fixed Rate: 2.59% - 5.79% APR

The maximum interest rate on loans with terms under 10 years is 8.95%. For loan terms of more than 10 years to 15 years, the maximum interest rate is 9.95%. Longer loans have a maximum interest rate of 11.95%.

Note that Earnest doesn't currently allow cosigners on its refinance loans. However, Earnest is also one of the few lenders that does allow people with incomplete bachelor's or associate's degrees to refinance with them.

How Does Earnest Refinancing Compare?

Earnest is consistently at the top of the pack when it comes to student loan refinancing. They have great rates and terms.

However, the typically don't offer any type of bonus incentive to refinance with them.

Check out this quick comparison:

Earnest Private Student Loans

Earnest is also offering undergraduate and graduate private student loans. They have highly competitive rates and terms for their undergraduate loans, as well as flexible repayment plans.

One of the best features of their private student loans is that they offer a 9 month grace period after you graduate before you have to start making payments. That's one of the longest that we've seen. 

They also provide four different in-school repayment options: full deferment, fixed payments ($25/month), interest-only payments, or full payments (principal and interest).

Rates And Terms

It's important to note that Earnest's Precision Pricing option doesn't apply to its private student loans. If you apply with a cosigner, Earnest will offer you terms of 5,7,10,12, and 15 years. Meanwhile, if you apply alone, your only options will be 5- or 7-year repayment terms.

Currently, they offer the following rates: 

Fixed Rates: 3.49% - 12.78% (includes 0.25% autopay discount)
Variable Rates: 1.05% - 11.44% (includes 0.25% autopay discount)

Unfortunately, Earnest does not accept cosigner release requests on its cosigned private student loans. However, you may be able to remove a cosigner by refinancing your student loans.

See how Earnest compares on our list of the best private student loans.

How Does Earnest Private Student Loans Compare?

Earnest is consistently a top lender on our list of the best private student loans. They typically have some of the lowest rates on private loans for highly qualified borrowers.

However, to get the best rate you'll likely need a cosigner.

Check out this quick comparison:

What Borrower Protections Are Available?

Earnest offers better protections than most private student loan lenders. For example, borrowers can defer loans during graduate school, Peace Corps, or active military service. Student loan deferment means that you are not required to make payments, but interest continues to accrue.

If you’re facing economic hardship, Earnest may allow you to put loans into forbearance. During forbearance interest continues to accrue on your loan, but you don’t have to make payments. Earnest specifically allows borrowers to take forbearance during an unpaid parental leave. The only major loss for Earnest’s borrowers is that they will not qualify for income based repayment programs.

The last protection that Earnest offers is a somewhat dubious one. Borrowers can skip one payment every 12 months with the extra payment being spread across the remaining payments. If you’re facing an unexpected car repair or hospital bill, skipping a payment sounds like a great benefit. Unfortunately, this raises your monthly minimum payment, and the amount of interest you’ll pay, so it’s tough to count it as an obvious win.

Who Qualifies To Apply?

Earnest has stringent underwriting criteria, but the criteria are quite different than most lenders. If you’re a recent grad who manages money well, you’re likely to qualify for a loan refinance with Earnest even if you don’t have a great credit score yet.

Earnest only requires a 650 credit score, but its financial underwriting doesn’t stop with credit scores. Borrowers must have a stable source of income, two months of savings in their bank account, and be current on rent, mortgage and student loans. Carrying too much credit card debt could disqualify you from the loan.

Earnest is also one of the few lenders we know of that allows you to refinance with incomplete bachelor’s or associate’s degrees. That means if you didn't finish college, you can still potentially qualify.

Earnest is one of the few lenders that also looks into your personal finances. To qualify to refinance with Earnest, you have to spend less than you’re earning. (Of course, this makes a ton of sense, but it’s notable that Earnest actually looks into it).

If you’re a parent looking to refinance Parent PLUS loans, Earnest has a refinancing option for you. The qualifying criteria are the same as for the student refinancing option.

Are There Any Fees?

Like most private lenders, Earnest doesn't charge fees for refinancing or taking out a private student loan. This means you won't have to worry about application and origination fees or prepayment penalties. Notably, Earnest also doesn't charge a fee for late payments.

How Do I Contact Earnest?

Earnest self-services all of its loans. So whether you're a prospective or existing customer, you can contact their team for assistance. Its customer service hours are Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM (PST). You can get in touch with them over the phone at 1-888-601-2801, via live chat, or by email at hello@meetearnest.com.

Is It Safe And Secure?

Earnest will not only require your personal information during the application process, but it will also ask you to link your bank and investment accounts. You'll also be asked to provide your LinkedIn credentials and to upload a government ID.

How does Earnest protect all this data? First, all the information you input is encrypted with bank-grade SSL technology before its sent to Earnest's off-site servers. The lender also pledges to never sell its borrower data to third parties.

Is It Worth It?

Earnest doesn’t offer the lowest interest rates on the market. But it's the only lender that offers low rates to people with mediocre credit scores.

If you can save money by refinancing with Earnest, it could be a great move for you. On the other hand, if you’ve got a credit score above 700, you may find better rates. Consider comparing rates with other private lenders before choosing Earnest.

We recommend comparing Earnest with other lenders on the Credible Marketplace. Earnest isn't listed but most other lenders are are. You can get up to a $1,000 gift card bonus no matter which lender you go with on Credible - so compare Earnest and see if they are the best for you. Check it out here!

Go to Earnest here >>

Earnest Features

DISCLAIMER

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. For Earnest Student Loan Refinance, fixed rates range from 2.69% APR to 6.14% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 1.99% APR to 5.99% (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, and using the daily interest rate based on actual days in the year and rounding up, plus a margin and will change on the 1st of each month. 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 student loan refinance in AK, IL, MN, NH, OH, TN, and TX. For Earnest Private Student Loans, fixed rates range from 3.19% APR to 13.03% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 1.24% APR to 11.69% 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, and using the daily interest rate based on actual days in the year and rounding up, plus a margin and will change on the 1st of each month. 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.