| Company | What to know | Loan amounts | Rating (0-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
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Best for comparison shopping | Vary by lender |
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Best skip-a-payment benefit | $5,000 – $500,000 |
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Offers income-based repayment plans | $7,500 – $250,000 |
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Parent student loan refinance | $10,000 – $500,000 |
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Fixed rates only | Starting at $10,000 |
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Benefits for New Hampshire students | $7,500 – $200,000 |
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Graduating isn’t a requirement for refinancing student loans at every lender. While many require a diploma, a growing number of private lenders offer options for borrowers who didn’t finish school. These lenders may evaluate your credit score, payment history, or income instead.
Below, we highlight lenders that allow you to refinance student loans without a degree, along with eligibility details, rates, and pros and cons.
Table of Contents
Credible
About Credible’s refinancing
- Many positive customer reviews
- $200 best rate guarantee
- Open about its partner lenders
- Fewer lenders in network than several other marketplaces
- Doesn’t offer support once loan is made
- We found lower rates on other comparison sites
Credible is a marketplace, so degree requirements vary by partner lender. Some lenders within its network will allow you to refinance without graduating, especially if you have a strong credit history and income. It’s a good first stop if you’re not sure which lenders are flexible on degree status.
| Fixed Rates (APR) | 3.99% – 11.09% |
| Variable Rates (APR) | 4.31% – 12.05% |
| Loan amounts | Vary by lender |
| Repayment terms | 5 – 20 years (may vary by lender) |
Earnest
About Earnest’s refinancing
- Choose between biweekly and monthly payments
- Adjust your payment date if needed
- Make extra or early payments with no fees
- Skip one payment per year without penalty
- Cosigners must reside in the same state as the borrower
- Not available in Nevada
Earnest has one of the clearest policies for refinancing without a degree, but it’s also among the strictest. You must be more than six years out of school, have a credit score of at least 700, and your school can’t be a for-profit institution. If you meet those criteria, Earnest can be an excellent fit for nongraduates with solid finances.
| Fixed Rates (APR) | 4.35% – 9.99% |
| Variable Rates (APR) | 5.88% – 9.99% |
| Loan amounts | $5,000 – $500,000 |
| Repayment terms | 5 – 20 years |
| Min. credit score | 665 |
RISLA
About RISLA’s refinancing
- Offers income-based repayment plans
- Rhode Island residents and students can refinance while still in school
- Limited live customer support
- No cosigner release in some states
RISLA prefers that borrowers have a degree but doesn’t make it a hard requirement. It evaluates applicants case-by-case, so strong financials may outweigh the lack of a diploma. This makes RISLA a solid option if you’re in good standing but didn’t finish your program.
| Fixed Rates (APR) | 3.99% – 8.54% (rates higher for non-RI residents and for not using autopay) |
| Loan amounts | $7,500 – $250,000 |
| Repayment terms | 5, 10, or 15 years |
Citizens Bank
About Citizens Bank’s refinancing
- 0.25% rate discount for current Citizens Bank account holders
- Check your rate without affecting your credit score
- Cosigners can’t be released until 36 on-time payments are made
- Interest rates tend to be a bit higher than other lenders
Citizens Bank allows borrowers to refinance without a degree as long as they’ve made at least 12 qualifying payments on their student loans after leaving school. This makes it a practical option for borrowers with an established repayment history but no diploma. It’s especially helpful if you’ve made payments consistently and want to lower your rate.
| Rates (APR) | 6.49% – 12.41% |
| Loan amounts | $10,000 – $500,000 |
| Repayment terms | 5 – 20 years |
MEFA
About MEFA’s refinancing
- Multiple repayment terms available
- Check your rates with no credit impact
- Almost all loans are eligible, including parent loans
- Can’t apply right out of school
- Loans from for-profit schools don’t qualify
MEFA doesn’t require you to have graduated, but it does require that your debt be from attendance at a nonprofit, degree-granting institution. In other words, you need to have been on a degree track, even if you didn’t finish. That still gives many borrowers a path forward as long as their school qualifies.
| Rates (APR) | 6.20% – 8.99% |
| Loan amounts | Starting at $10,000 |
| Repayment terms | 7, 10, or 15 years |
EdvestinU
About EdvestinU’s refinancing
- Nonprofit lender
- Helpful customer service
- New Hampshire students get much cheaper rates and easier approvals
- Wider range of term length options
- Steep income requirements
- High minimum loan amounts required
- Can’t refinance education debt with family
EdvestinU prefers borrowers with a degree, but its underwriting process leaves room for exceptions. If you have steady income and solid credit, you may qualify even if you didn’t graduate. The lender may also consider the type of school attended and your repayment history.
| Fixed Rates (APR) | 5.400% – 9.741% w/ autopay |
| Variable Rates (APR) | 7.061% – 8.809% w/ autopay |
| Refinance amounts | $7,500 – $200,000 |
| Repayment terms | 5 – 20 years |
Before refinancing, gather your income and expenses and create a budget to see what payments fit. Then compare lenders carefully. If you have a cosigner, consider releasing them; if not, adding one could help you qualify or get a better rate.
Should you refinance your loans without a degree?
If you can qualify based on credit and income, refinancing could save you money on interest or lower your monthly payment. But it isn’t always the right move:
- Avoid refinancing federal loans if you need access to benefits like income-driven repayment or forgiveness.
- Compare multiple lenders since rates and eligibility vary.
- Weigh adding or removing a cosigner depending on your credit profile and goals.
Ask yourself what you’re hoping to achieve: lower payments, reduced interest, or removing a cosigner. Consider whether your loans are federal or private and if you still need federal protections. Your income, budget, and the current interest rate environment should all factor into your decision.
FAQ
Do I need a cosigner to refinance without graduating?
It depends. A strong credit profile may be enough, but adding a cosigner can improve your chances and rates.
Does refinancing without a degree hurt my credit?
You may see a temporary dip from the hard inquiry, but refinancing can help your credit long-term if you make on-time payments.
Will I lose federal loan protections if I refinance?
Yes. If you refinance federal loans with a private lender, you’ll lose benefits like IDR plans and forgiveness programs.
Recap of lenders that will refinance student loans with no degree
| Company | What to know | Loan amounts | Rating (0-5) |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
Best for comparison shopping | Vary by lender |
|
|
|
Best skip-a-payment benefit | $5,000 – $500,000 |
|
|
|
Offers income-based repayment plans | $7,500 – $250,000 |
|
|
|
Parent student loan refinance | $10,000 – $500,000 |
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|
|
Fixed rates only | Starting at $10,000 |
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|
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Benefits for New Hampshire students | $7,500 – $200,000 |
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About our contributors
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Written by Kristen Barrett, MATKristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.
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Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT
Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.