Best Student Loan Refinance Rates for March 19, 2026

Student loan refinance rates have remained relatively stable since the beginning of March. Through March 19, 2026, student loan refinance lenders are offering the lowest fixed rates 3.71% April And variable rates start as low as 3.69% AprilBased on credit profile, loan type, income and repayment tenure.

Credible is offering the lowest variable rate loan starting at 3.69% APR, while Earnest is offering the lowest fixed rate loan starting at 3.71% APR.

Especially for borrowers with private student loans, refinancing to lower your interest rate can save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the loan.

💰 Today’s Best Student Loan Refinance Rates at a glance

Here are the best student loan refinance rates today:

1. Reliable – Reliable There is a marketplace of student loan lenders that has some options you won’t find anywhere else. You can also get a gift card bonus of up to $1,000 if you refinance through their platform. You can get rates as low as 3.67% APR. Read our full trusted review.

2. Earnest – Earnest is one of the most well-known online student loan lenders and they have been offering consistently competitive rates for years. Right now, the lowest fixed rate APR you can get is at 3.71%. Read our full Earnest Student Loan review.

3. Alfie – ELFI is one of the oldest student loan lenders, and offers competitive rates as well as bonus offers of up to $599 if you refinance student loans with them. You can get rates as low as 4.29% APR. Read our full ELFI student loan review.

4. Lendki – LendKey is a private lender that pools money from community banks and credit unions to offer low-rate student loans. They’re also offering a bonus of up to $750 if you refinance student loans. You can get rates as low as 4.20% APR. Read our full LendKey review.

5. Student Choice – Student Choice is a service that works with a huge network of credit unions across the country to find you low-cost student loans offered by credit unions. They currently have the lowest fixed rate student loans on the market. You can get rates as low as 4.24% APR. Read our full Student Choice student loan review.

You can find a full list of the best student loan refinance lenders here>>

Why should you refinance your student loans?

Refinancing replaces one or more existing loans with a new personal loan – ideally at a lower interest rate.

Borrowers typically refinance:

• reduce their monthly payments
• reduce their overall interest costs
• combine multiple loans into one
• Shorten or extend repayment terms

Refinancing may make sense for private loan borrowers or federal borrowers who no longer need federal benefits such as income-driven repayment or forgiveness. Remember, refinancing federal loans will cause you to lose federal benefits like student loan forgiveness!

For example, refinancing a $60,000 loan 7.50% to 5.50% Saves roughly over 10 years $7,000 in interest.

Fixed vs. Variable Rates: Which Should You Choose?

There’s a lot of uncertainty that borrowers don’t like with variable rates, which may be understandable, but in a declining rate environment, it also opens up the possibility of future savings. Know here what it is:

• fixed rates Offering predictable monthly payments that remain the same over the life of the loan. They are better for borrowers who plan to repay over several years.
• variable rates Changes may occur with market conditions, may start lower but there will be a risk if the Fed raises rates again. They can be useful for borrowers who expect to repay the loan quickly.

Most private lenders allow you to check rates without affecting your credit score. Always compare both options before signing.

What to know before refinancing?

Before refinancing your student loans, make sure you understand exactly what you’re signing up for.

• Loss of Federal Benefits: Once refinanced, federal loans are no longer eligible for PSLF, IBR, or other income-driven plans.
• Cosigner Options: A creditworthy co-signer can unlock lower rates. Check if the lender offers release to the co-signer after payment on time.
• Tenure Flexibility: Many lenders allow terms ranging from 5 to 20 years; Shorter terms usually mean lower rates.
• Autopay Discount: Most lenders offer a 0.25% rate reduction when you enroll in automatic payments.
• charge: The best refinance lenders do not charge any origination fees or prepayment penalties.

How we track and verify student loan rates

But college investorOur editorial team reviews student loan rates from over a dozen major lenders daily. We verify data using official lender disclosures, regulatory filings and real-time rate sheets.

We only include lenders that offer loans to US citizens and permanent residents. All rates are updated regularly and represent the lowest available APR with autopay discount applied.

Our coverage is independent and not influenced by compensation. Although we may earn a referral fee when you open a loan through some links, this never influences our editorial recommendations. Our goal is simple: to help you find the most affordable way to borrow responsibly.

questions to ask

Can you refinance federal student loans?

Yes, but doing so converts them to private loans, which means you’ll lose access to forgiveness and income-driven plans.

How many times can you refinance?

There’s no limit – you can refinance multiple times, as long as you qualify for better terms.

Does refinancing hurt your credit?

There may be a small, temporary drop in your credit score after a hard inquiry, but regular payments improve your score over time.

Do refinance rates change daily?

Yes, lenders adjust rates frequently based on market conditions and Treasury yields.

Is there a best time to refinance?

The best time is when your credit and income qualify you for much better rates than your current loans.