Credible takeaways

It's possible to refinance without a cosigner if you have good credit and can meet a lender's other eligibility requirements.
If you're a new graduate, it can be challenging to qualify for refinancing on your own.
Alternatives to refinancing without a cosigner include consolidation, waiting to refinance, and refinancing with a lender that offers cosigner release.

Refinancing student loans with a cosigner has many benefits, including potentially qualifying for a better interest rate. But if you have strong credit and can qualify for refinancing on your own, you can avoid the stress of sharing responsibility for the loan.

Here's what you need to know about refinancing your student loans without a cosigner, including top lenders to consider and potential alternatives.

How to refinance student loans without a cosigner

While refinancing without a cosigner can be more challenging, it's possible if you have good credit or better. About 70% of student loan refinance applications without a cosigner were approved in 2024, according to Credible marketplace data. To refinance student loans without a cosigner, you'll generally need to follow these steps:

Shop around and compare lenders: Compare lenders' minimum credit score requirements to find out if you're eligible to refinance without a cosigner. Many lenders allow you to prequalify on their websites without affecting your credit.
Gather necessary documentation: When you apply for student loan refinancing, you must provide personal and financial information. Gather documents like W-2s, pay stubs, and tax returns for proof of income, as well as anything else the lender requires.
Apply with your preferred lender: After comparison shopping, choose the lender that's right for you, and submit an application.

“Before applying for a student loan refinance, I recommend checking your credit score to make sure it's in good standing. You'll generally need a FICO score of 670 or higher to qualify for a student loan refinance.”

— Renee Fleck, Student Loans Editor, Credible

Best lenders for refinancing without a cosigner

If you're thinking about refinancing your student loans without a cosigner, it's important to compare as many lenders as possible first. This way, you can find the right loan for your situation.

There are also some lenders that offer student loan refinancing for bad credit. But these loans typically come with higher interest rates compared to good credit loans.

Here are Credible’s partner lenders that don’t require a cosigner for refinancing:

Advertiser Disclosure

Brazos: Best for Flexible Refinance Terms

4.4

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

720

Fixed APR

3.85 -

Variable APR

4.33 -

Loan Amount

$10,000 - $400,000

Term

5, 7, 10, 15, 20

Pros and cons

Five loan terms available

Competitive rates

Cosigner release

No origination or application fees

Autopay discount of 0.25 percentage points

Only available to Texas residents

High minimum credit and income requirements

Bachelor’s degree required

More details

Overview

Brazos offers refinancing loans to Texas residents who have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an eligible school. There are no origination or application fees, and interest rates could be lower than what you find with other private lenders.

However, some borrowers may find that Brazos has relatively strict eligibility requirements. Borrowers must have a minimum income of $60,000 and a credit score of 720 or higher. If you can’t meet those minimums alone, you can add a cosigner that can be released after 24 on-time consecutive payments.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

720

Minimum income

$60,000

Loan terms

5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years

Loan amounts

$10,000 minimum, up to $150,000 for bachelor degrees and $400,000 for graduate, medical, law, or other professional degrees

Cosigner release

Yes, after 24 on-time payments

Eligibility

Borrower must be a Texas resident and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has a bachelor’s degree or higher

Advertiser Disclosure

Citizens: Best for Current Account Holders

4.7

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

Does not disclose

Fixed APR

5.90 -

Variable APR

6.16 -

Loan Amount

$10,000 - $750,000

Term

5, 7, 10, 15, 20

Pros and cons

Range of repayment options between 5 and 20 years

Offers prequalification with no impact on credit score

Offers rate discounts for existing customers and autopay

Cosigners not eligible for release until after 36 payments are made

Refinancing unavailable until you make 12 payments on your loans if you earned an associate degree or no degree at all

Minimum loan amounts are higher than some other lenders

More details

Overview

Citizens student loan refinancing is available to qualified borrowers who want to refinance at least $10,000.

Borrowers who earned undergraduate degrees can refinance as much as $300,000 in student loans. Those who borrowed for graduate or professional degrees can refinance from $500,000 to $750,000. Citizens refinancing loans are available with fixed or variable rates. Repayment terms are flexible, ranging from five to 20 years.

Medical residents can refinance student loans and only pay $100 per month for up to four years while completing residency or fellowship.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

Does not disclose

Minimum income

Does not disclose

Loan terms

5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years

Loan amounts

$10,000 minimum, with a maximum of $300,000 for bachelor’s degree or below; $500,000 for graduate degrees; and $750,000 for professional degrees

Cosigner release

36 months

Eligibility

Must refinance at least $10,000 in student loans and be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or resident alien with a valid U.S. Social Security number. Must have earned at least a bachelor's degree to qualify.

Advertiser Disclosure

Earnest: Best for Fair Credit

4.8

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

665

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

$5,000 to 500,000

Term

5, 7, 10, 15, 20

Pros and cons

Low minimum credit score requirement

Flexible options for structuring your loan payments

Option to skip a payment every six months

No origination or late payment fees

Cosigners are not accepted

Loans aren’t available to Nevada residents

More details

Overview

Earnest student loan refinancing offers flexibility and accessibility, with loans available to borrowers with credit scores as low as 665. Borrowers can customize their repayment terms by setting their exact monthly payment or choosing a specific loan term, down to the number of months. If you opt for higher monthly payments you may qualify for Earnest's most competitive rates.

For borrowers facing financial challenges, Earnest offers a skip-a-payment option. After six months of on-time payments, you can skip one payment every 12 months without penalty. Keep in mind, though, that the skipped principal and interest charges will be distributed across your remaining payments, slightly increasing your monthly payment.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

665

Minimum income

No minimum income requirement, but borrower must be employed, have a written job offer that starts within six months, or demonstrate consistent income.

Loan terms

Flexible

Loan amounts

$5,000* minimum, up to $550,000

_{*Minimum loan amount for California residents is $10,000, and $10,001 for New Mexico residents.}

Cosigner release

None

Eligibility

Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, DACA recipient, asylee, or hold an H-1B visa with a U.S. citizen cosigner. Must have debt from a Title IV-accredited school and be current on rent or mortgage payments. Loans must also be in good standing. California residents must refinance at least $10,000, and New Mexico residents must refinance at least $10,001.

Advertiser Disclosure

EdvestinU: Best for Nonprofit Lender

3.8

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

700

Fixed APR

5.40 -

Variable APR

7.06 -

Loan Amount

$7,500 - $200,000

Term

5, 10, 15, 20

Pros and cons

You can refinance without a degree or while enrolled in school

Autopay rate discount available

Requires a higher minimum loan balance than some lenders

Cosigner release requires 2 years of on-time payments

More details

Overview

EdvestinU offers student loan refinancing through Granite Edvance Corporation, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit. The lender stands out with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms for borrowers with strong credit.

Although the lender doesn't disclose the minimum credit score to quality, borrowers and cosigners must have an annual income of $30,000 for loans less than $100,000 or $50,000 for larger amounts. Unlike many lenders, EdvestinU lets you refinance without a degree or while still enrolled in school.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

Does not disclose

Minimum income

For loan balances below $100,000, the income requirement is $30,000; over $100,000, the income requirement is $50,000.

Loan terms

5, 10, 15, or 20 years

Loan amounts

$7,500 to $200,000

Cosigner release

24 months

Eligibility

U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 18 years old and reside in the U.S.

Advertiser Disclosure

ELFI: Best for High Balances

4.4

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

680

Fixed APR

4.88 -

Variable APR

4.86 -

Loan Amount

$10,000 up to total refinance amount

Term

5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20

Pros and cons

Doesn’t charge application or origination fees

Borrowers are assigned to a student loan adviser

Student borrowers can refinance parent PLUS loans in their name

Clear credit and income requirements

Offers financial hardship forbearance of up to 12 months

Doesn’t offer any discounts

Need at least a bachelor’s degree to refinance

Doesn’t offer cosigner release

Charges fees for late and returned payments

More details

Overview

ELFI offers student loan refinancing to borrowers who graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher. Borrowers can even refinance their parents' PLUS loans in their own name. Plus, each ELFI borrower gets paired with a student loan adviser to help them through the refinancing process.

While borrowers can add a cosigner to their application, they can't release that cosigner later on. ELFI also doesn't offer rate discounts, but borrowers can apply for a forbearance of up to 12 months if they're experiencing financial hardship.

Interest rates

Fixed and variable

Minimum credit score

680

Minimum income

$35,000

Loan terms

5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years for student loan refinancing; 5, 7, or 10 years for parent loan refinancing

Loan amounts

Minimum of $10,000 with no set maximum.

Cosigner release

None

Eligibility

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Must have at least $10,000 in student loans to refinance and a minimum credit history of 36 months.

Advertiser Disclosure

INvestEd: Best for Forbearance

3.9

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

670

Fixed APR

5.58 -

Variable APR

7.90 -

Loan Amount

$5,000 - $250,000

Term

5, 10, 15, 20

Pros and cons

Refinancing available even for non-degree holders

Offers a one-quarter percentage point rate discount for autopay

Deferment available while in school, military service or under financial hardship

Will release cosigners after as few as 12 payments

Relatively low maximum refinance amount compared with some competitors

No refinancing available for international students

Parent loans cannot be refinanced in student’s name

More details

Overview

INvestEd is a nonprofit based in Indiana that offers student loan refinancing to borrowers nationwide. It offers competitive rates and a discount for setting up autopay. INvestEd also allows cosigners to be released after 12 on-time payments, which is sooner than some other student loan refinancing lenders.

However, the most you can refinance through INvestEd is $250,000, less than what other lenders may allow. It also has strict credit and income requirements to qualify, or you'll need an eligible cosigner. INvestEd clearly defines its credit requirements before you apply.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

670

Minimum income

Does not disclose

Loan terms

5, 10, 15, or 20 years

Loan amounts

$5,000 to $250,000

Cosigner release

12 months

Eligibility

U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible. Borrowers must meet minimum requirements including a FICO score of 670 or higher, annual income of $36,000, a debt-to-income ratio below 40% to 50%, a year of continuous employment, and no defaults or serious collection activities in recent years.

Advertiser Disclosure

LendKey: Best for Graduates With Excellent Credit

4.9

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

680

Fixed APR

4.89 -

Variable APR

4.54 -

Loan Amount

$5,000 - $250,000

Term

5, 7, 10, 15

Pros and cons

You can refinance with just an associate degree

Can earn a $200 bonus for referring friends and family

Lower your rate by a quarter of a percentage point with autopay

No fees for applications or loan origination

Some lenders may require membership in a credit union or local bank

Loan terms and qualifications vary by lender

More details

Overview

LendKey is a marketplace that connects borrowers with more than 300 community banks and credit unions to find the best student loan refinancing options. Unlike most lenders, LendKey allows you to refinance your student loans while you're still in school, as long as you've earned at least an associate degree.

One of LendKey's biggest advantages is that it can help you compare multiple loan offers in one place. However, specific loan terms and eligibility requirements will vary by lender. Basic eligibility criteria include a minimum credit score of 680 and at least $5,000 in outstanding debt to refinance.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

680

Minimum income

Does not disclose

Loan terms

5, 7, 10, or 15 years

Loan amounts

$5,000 to $250,000

Cosigner release

Varies based on lender's terms

Eligibility

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have already graduated with at least an associate degree from one of LendKey lenders’ eligible institutions.

Advertiser Disclosure

MEFA: Best for No Degree

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

670

Fixed APR

6.20 -

Variable APR

Loan Amount

$10,000 up to the total amount

Term

7, 10, 15

Pros and cons

You can refinance without having graduated

Doesn’t charge fee

Can prequalify to check your rate

Can’t release a cosigner

Doesn’t have any discounts

Can’t refinance parent student loans

Doesn’t offer variable-rate loans

More details

Overview

Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is a student refinancing lender offering a wide range of options, including to borrowers who didn't finish school. Though the lender doesn't offer variable-rate options, its fixed-rate loans have competitive rates.

MEFA's mission is to provide affordable student loans, and it doesn't charge any fees. You must have at least $10,000 in student loans to refinance, and you must have made a minimum of six consecutive on-time payments over the last six months. Borrowers who are unable to qualify on their own can add a cosigner to their application.

Interest rates

Fixed

Minimum credit score

670

Minimum income

Does not disclose

Loan terms

7, 10, or 15 years

Loan amounts

$10,000 up to your total debt

Cosigner release

None

Eligibility

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is the primary borrower on education debt used to attend an eligible college or university. Must have made six on-time loan payments over the most recent six months. Must have no history of default or delinquency on education debt for the past 12 months and no history of bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past five years.

Advertiser Disclosure

RISLA: Best for Income-Based Repayment

3.7

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

680

Fixed APR

3.99 -

Variable APR

Loan Amount

$7,500 - $250,000

Term

5, 10, 15

Pros and cons

Offers income-based repayment

Generous payment relief options

You can refinance without a degree

Get a rate discount when you enroll in autopay

Fewer repayment terms to choose from

Does not offer variable rates

More details

Overview

The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA) is a nonprofit lender offering student loan refinancing to borrowers across the U.S. You can refinance even if you didn't complete your degree, as long as you have at least $7,500 in student loan debt.

What makes RISLA unique is the flexibility it offers borrowers. If you're facing financial difficulties, RISLA provides income-based repayment options to help manage your payments. For added relief, you can access up to 24 months of forbearance, which is more than many lenders offer. If you return to graduate school, you can defer your payments for up to three years, giving you time to focus on your studies without worrying about loan payments.

Interest rates

Fixed

Minimum credit score

Does not disclose

Minimum income

Does not disclose

Loan terms

5, 10, or 15 years

Loan amounts

$7,500 minimum up to of $250,000, depending on degree

Cosigner release

After 24 months of on-time, consecutive payments (not available to residents of Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Nevada, and Washington, D.C.)

Eligibility

Borrower or cosigner must meet credit requirements. Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have used original student loans to attend an eligible degree-granting institution.

Advertiser Disclosure

SoFi: Best for Member Perks

4.5

Credible Rating

Check Rates

on Credible’s website

Min. Credit Score

650¹

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

$5,000 up to the full balance

Term

5, 7, 10, 15, 20

Pros and cons

Doesn’t charge loan prepayment, origination, application, or late payment fees

Borrowers can get complimentary financial planning advice, referral bonuses, and discounts

Offers a wide range of repayment plans

Must have at least $5,000 in loans to refinance

Unclear credit and income requirements

No cosigner release available

More details

Overview

Undergraduate and graduate students can refinance their student loans with SoFi® if they meet eligibility requirements. You can prequalify for a loan in two minutes without affecting your credit score, and the lender offers both fixed and variable rates. Plus, SoFi offers unique benefits to its members, including access to networking events and financial advisers.

SoFi requires a minimum loan balance of $5,000 to refinance. You can add a cosigner to your application, and remove them after 24 consecutive on-time payments. You can find out your potential rate through prequalification, but the lender doesn't disclose its minimum credit score or income requirements.

Interest rates

Fixed or variable

Minimum credit score

Does not disclose

Minimum income

Does not disclose

Loan terms

5, 7, 10, 15, or 20 years

Loan amounts

$5,000 up to full outstanding balance

Cosigner release

None

Eligibility

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Must have made 6 on-time payments in the past 6 months, with no record of default, delinquency, bankruptcy, or foreclosure in the last five years. Employment is required, or you must have a job offer starting within 90 days. Must also have attended a Title IV-eligible school.

¹SoFi Disclosures

Check Out: How to Get Student Loan Repayment Help

Why you can trust us

The Credible editorial team is independent and unbiased. Partners do not influence our editorial content. To help you find the best student loan for your situation, we conduct thorough research and analyze more than 1,700 lender data points. Using data-driven methodologies, we score criteria that are important to you. This allows us to objectively rank student loan lenders and products. To learn more, read our methodology below.

Methodology

To determine the best student loan refinance lenders, Credible collected more than 1,000 points of data on 16 companies and evaluated them on several different categories: repayment options, eligibility, interest rates, loan terms, and customer support. We assigned a score out of five stars to each lender based on our findings. Below are the weightings assigned to the general categories for the best student loan companies — which comprise individual criteria that are also weighted:

Repayment options: 25%
Eligibility: 25%
Interest rates: 20%
Loan terms: 20%
Customer support: 10%

While the best lender for you will depend on your unique needs and financial circumstances, these findings should help answer your questions and assist you in your search for the best student loan.

Learn more about our methodology.

Alternatives to refinancing without a cosigner

You have other options if you can't or don't want to refinance with a cosigner.

Consider student loan consolidation

If you have federal student loans, consolidating with a Direct Consolidation Loan could be a better route for you. When you consolidate, you combine your loans into a single loan with one monthly payment.

Keep in mind that with consolidation, you won't lower your interest rate — instead, your new rate is the weighted average of the loans you're consolidating, rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of a percent. However, you can extend your repayment term up to 30 years if you want to lower your payments. Plus, you retain federal student loan benefits and protections when you opt to consolidate rather than refinance.

Wait to refinance your loans

If you can't qualify for refinancing on your own, consider waiting to refinance your loans until you've improved your credit. When you reapply down the road with stronger credit, you have a better chance of being approved and getting better loan terms.

You can boost your credit score by paying your bills on time, paying down your debts, and limiting new credit applications.

Refinance with a lender that offers cosigner release

If you don't want to have a cosigner on your application but can't qualify on your own, you can apply with a lender that offers cosigner release. This allows you to remove your cosigner after a certain number of on-time monthly payments (in addition to meeting other requirements).

While you'll have a cosigner on the loan with you temporarily, they only have to be liable until the lender removes them.

FAQ

Can I refinance student loans without a cosigner?

Open

While you typically need a FICO credit score of at least 670 to refinance, some lenders are willing to work with borrowers who have bad credit.

Can I refinance my student loans without a cosigner if I have bad credit?

Open

While you typically need a FICO credit score of at least 670 to refinance, some lenders are willing to work with borrowers who have bad credit.

How hard is it to refinance student loans without a cosigner?

Open

Young borrowers may struggle to refinance student loans without a cosigner due to a lack of credit history. In addition, if you have bad credit, it can be more difficult to refinance without a cosigner. If you have good credit and a steady income, you're more likely to get approved without a cosigner.

What are the pros and cons of refinancing student loans?

Open

Refinancing your student loans can potentially lower your interest rate and monthly payment, simplify debt repayment if you combine multiple loans into one, and help you extend or shorten your repayment term. On the downside, refinancing federal student loans will cause you to lose access to federal benefits and protections like income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness, and you might not qualify if you have poor or fair credit.

Meet the expert:

Emily Guy Birken

Emily Guy Birken is an authority on student loans and personal finance. Her work has been featured by MSN Money and MarketWatch.

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Credible takeaways

How to refinance student loans without a cosigner

Best lenders for refinancing without a cosigner

Brazos: Best for Flexible Refinance Terms

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

Citizens: Best for Current Account Holders

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

Earnest: Best for Fair Credit

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

EdvestinU: Best for Nonprofit Lender

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

ELFI: Best for High Balances

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

INvestEd: Best for Forbearance

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

LendKey: Best for Graduates With Excellent Credit

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

MEFA: Best for No Degree

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

RISLA: Best for Income-Based Repayment

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR

Loan Amount

Term

Pros and cons

More details

SoFi: Best for Member Perks

Min. Credit Score

Fixed APR

Variable APR