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The Daily Insight

What is a good fixed rate for student loans?

Author

Emma Newman

Updated on March 04, 2026

Rates for PLUS loans, which are for graduate students and parents, dropped to 5.30%, down from 7.08%.

Current student loan interest rates.

Refinance student loans
Fixed 3.20% to 8.63%
Variable 1.99% to 8.38%
Private student loans
Fixed 3.82% to 14.50%

Hereof, is fixed or variable rate better for student loan?

Fixed student loan interest rates are generally a better option than variable rates. That's because fixed rates always stay the same, while variable rates can change monthly or quarterly in response to economic conditions. If you're unsure which rate to choose, go with fixed; it's the safer option.

Likewise, what type of student loan has the lowest interest rate? Current student loan interest rates

If you don't have good credit or access to a co-signer who does, you'll likely get the lowest student loan interest rate with a federal student loan.

Consequently, what is the best student loan to get?

The Best Private Student Loans of 2020

  • Citizens Bank: Best for instant approval.
  • Discover: Best for minimal fees.
  • Earnest: Best for fair credit.
  • LendKey: Best for minimal fees.
  • MPower Financing: Best for no minimum FICO score.
  • PNC: Best for ACH discount.
  • RISLA: Best for fixed APR.
  • U-fi: Best for flexible loan terms.

What is a good interest rate for refinancing student loans?

Current student loan refinance rates

Terms Fixed APR range
5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years 2.95% - 8.77%
5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years 2.98% - 5.79%
5, 7, 10, 15 or 20 years 2.79% - 5.99%
Ready to compare all your student loan refinancing options with the lenders above? Compare lender rates now

Related Question Answers

Is a variable rate student loan a good idea?

Variable rate student loans aren't for everybody, but they can be a big money-saver for some. Depending on your circumstances, variable rate student loans could help you save on interest, lower your monthly payments and even pay off your education debt ahead of schedule.

What is a danger of taking a variable rate loan?

One major drawback of variable rate loans is the prospect of higher payments. Your loan's interest rate is tied to a financial index, which fluctuates periodically. If the index rises before your loan adjusts, your interest rate will also rise, which can result in significantly higher loan payments.

How does Sallie Mae determine interest rate?

Your Interest Rate (upon approval)

The interest rate you pay will be determined after you apply. It will be based upon the borrower's credit history and other factors (cosigner credit, etc). If approved, we will notify you of the rate you qualify for within the stated range.

What is a variable interest rate student loan?

Variable Interest Rates.

A variable interest rate (or floating rate) means the interest rate on your student loan will change over the life of the loan. This means that your student loan interest rate may change monthly (as 1 Month LIBOR changes), which means you may have a different student loan payment each month.

Are student loan interest rates going down?

In addition to the rate cut for undergraduate loans, the interest rate on federal direct unsubsidized loans for graduate students will be 4.3%, down from 6.08% in 2019-2020, and the interest rate for federal direct PLUS loans, including Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans, will be 5.3%, down from 7.08%.

Are student loans a fixed expense?

The definition of fixed expenses is “any expense that does not change from period to period," such as mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, and loan payments. The amounts may vary slightly, which may be the case with utilities, but you know they are due on a regular basis.

Do federal student loans have variable interest rates?

The interest rate is fixed and is often lower than private loans—and much lower than some credit card interest rates. View the current interest rates on federal student loans. The interest rate is fixed and may be lower than private loans—and much lower than some credit card interest rates.

When can you refinance a student loan?

You generally must wait until after you finish school to refinance. Don't refinance federal student loans if you're making payments on an income-driven repayment plan and/or are pursuing a federal loan forgiveness program. Refinanced federal student loans are ineligible for federal loan programs.

What is the easiest student loan to get?

If you have a low credit score, the best loan option for you is federal student loans. These loans are funded by the federal government and are easy to apply for. No matter what your credit score is, you will be eligible as long as you apply. To apply for these loans, fill out the FAFSA.

What is the interest rate for student loans 2020?

2.75%

Is Sallie Mae a good student loan lender?

SimpleTuition ranked Sallie Mae as one of the top five private student lenders for undergraduate student loans based on factors such as the loan's interest rate, fees, discounts, co-signer release option and repayment terms and plans.

Why are student loan rates so high?

When entering college, most students have little to no credit history. That means the lender could be unsure of their ability to pay the loan back since students don't typically have a history of paying any loans. This can lead to a higher interest rate. The school you are attending.

How can I get a student loan immediately?

Here's how to get emergency student loans from a private lender:
  1. Have good credit or get a cosigner.
  2. Find reputable private lenders.
  3. Complete and submit a full student loan application.
  4. Follow up with the lender and financial aid office.
  5. Sign a promissory note and disburse funds.

Is Sallie Mae a federal or private loan?

All Sallie Mae loans taken out since 2014 are private. The best way to determine if you have federal or private student loans is to check studentaid.gov. If you need to borrow money for college, exhaust federal student loans before taking out a private student loan.

How long does the average student loan last?

10 years is the ideal timeline for paying off student loan debt according to financial experts. In practice, it takes borrowers closer to 20 years to pay off their student loans. 21.1 years was the average length of repayment in a 2013 study.

What are current student loan rates?

The 2019-2020 federal student loan interest rates are currently 4.53% for undergraduate loans, 6.08% for unsubsidized graduate loans and 7.08% for direct PLUS loans.

Does student loans affect credit score?

Student loans affect your credit report and credit scores, including FICO scores, the same way as any other debt on your credit report. Account information, such as the amount of the loan, your monthly payment amount, and your payment history are all factored in when a credit score is calculated.

Can you ask for a lower interest rate on student loans?

Luckily, you can save thousands of dollars in some cases by negotiating a lower interest rate. Although you can't change the terms of your federal or private student loans, you may be able to get a lower rate on a new private loan and save on interest in other ways.

What is the maximum amount of student loans you can get?

The maximum amount you can borrow depends on factors including whether they're federal or private loans and your year in school. Undergraduates can borrow up to $12,500 annually and $57,500 total in federal student loans. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually and $138,500 total.

Are student loan refinance rates going down?

Student loan refinancing rates continue to drop. Based on an analysis of 23 lenders' advertised rates, the average minimum fixed interest rate on refinanced student loans was 3.247% on Oct 1. That's a 19% decrease compared with the rate when NerdWallet began collecting this data in January 2019.

What type of loan has lowest interest rate?

Mortgages

What credit score do I need to refinance my student loans?

650 to 680

Does Refinancing student loans hurt your credit?

Refinancing your student loans doesn't typically cause a great deal of damage to your credit. This hard inquiry could impact your credit score, but typically only by five points or fewer. Of course, if you submit multiple full applications, your credit score could take a bigger hit.

Who has the lowest student loan refinance?

Out of all the lenders we reviewed, Splash Financial has the lowest interest rates for student loan refinancing. As of Oct. 22, 2020, the lender offers the following rates (lowest rate includes 0.25% autopay discount): Variable: 1.89% to 7.10%

Can I refinance my student loan with the same lender?

You can choose to refinance with the same lender or explore opportunities with several different lenders. As long as you meet the lender's refinancing requirements, like having good credit and a steady source of income, you can refinance your student loans as many times as you want.