San Francisco-based Earnest offers private student loans and refinancing options to qualified borrowers. The company uses cutting-edge technology to evaluate borrowers on their payment history and future earning potential.
Earnest is very upfront about its eligibility requirements, which removes a lot of the guesswork from the application process. And because its criteria are different from what most private student loan lenders look for, even borrowers with limited credit history can qualify.
And best of all, Earnest offers private loans and student loan refinancing at low rates with flexible loan terms. Keep reading to find out how to qualify for lending options with Earnest, and how the company stands out from other lenders.
Earnest Student Loan Application Requirements
To qualify for an Earnest student loan, you must either be a U.S. citizen or hold a 10-year non-conditional permanent resident card. Additionally, you need to be either a part-time student or within six months of graduating.
Earnest student loans are available in most states, however, residents of Delaware, Nevada, and Kentucky are currently not eligible for loans. To be approved, the minimum credit score requirement is 650. You must also have a stable income or a job offer within the next six months.
In addition to these criteria, all of your accounts, including existing student loans, must be in good standing. Unfortunately, if you’ve been sent to collections or have gone through bankruptcy, you won’t qualify for a loan.
If you’re thinking of refinancing your student loans with Earnest, you need to keep in mind a few basic requirements. For starters, you must be the primary borrower on the loan. Secondly, the minimum refinancing amount is $5,000. Finally, you’ll need to meet the same eligibility requirements as those applying for a new loan.
And Earnest has some additional requirements regarding cash flow and credit history:
- Your savings should cover at least two months of expenses, including housing.
- Your bank accounts should demonstrate that you spend less than you earn.
- You must have a positive payment history.
- There’s no history of late, overdraft, or insufficient fund fees.
- Your debt-to-income ratio is low.
- You must be current on your rent or mortgage payments.
- You must not have a bankruptcy on your credit report or any accounts recently in collection.
These requirements may seem stringent, but Earnest makes it easy for borrowers to identify areas where they can improve.
Types of Student Loans Available from Earnest
Earnest offers student loan refinancing for both student borrowers and parents. There are a few restrictions, so read the details carefully to make sure your existing student loan debt qualifies.
Earnest Private Student Loans
Earnest offers private student loans to undergraduate and graduate students. These loans come with competitive interest rates, flexible lending terms, and more borrower protections than what most private lenders offer.
For instance, new graduates receive a nine-month grace period before they have to start repaying their loans. You have the option to defer your student loans during graduate school, and borrowers have the option to skip one payment every 12 months.
Earnest Student Loan Refinancing
Earnest also allows borrowers to refinance their federal or private student loans. You can refinance loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000 with term limits between five and 20 years.
Unfortunately, Earnest does not offer an option for cosigners, so you’ll have to meet the eligibility requirements on your own.
Parent PLUS Refinancing
If you’re a parent who took out student loans for your child, you can refinance student loans through Earnest. The terms are the same as regular student loan refinancing, but Earnest won’t allow you to transfer the debt to your child. The refinanced loan will stay in the original borrower’s name.
Fees and Rates
Earnest student loans offer competitive interest rates for all their lending products. The interest rates for private student loans are available in both fixed and variable options.
In terms of student loan refinancing, Earnest provides options for both fixed and variable rates. It’s important to note that all rates include an autopay discount.
For those undecided between a variable or fixed-rate loan, Earnest offers flexibility. After six months of consistent, on-time payments, you have the option to change the rate type of your Earnest student loan. Keep in mind that this option is subject to approval and may impact your credit report.
Earnest student loans are designed to be cost-effective, with no application or origination fees. Additionally, borrowers will not incur prepayment penalties or late fees.
Earnest’s Student Loan Process
Earnest has a seamless online application process. After you apply, you’ll receive a rate estimate within two minutes. And the company does a soft pull on your credit, so you don’t have to worry about your credit score dropping.
If you like the rate estimate you receive, you can continue with the application process. This is where Earnest’s approval process differs from other lenders.
Earnest looks at more than just your credit score; the company also analyzes your savings patterns, your investments, and even your career trajectory. It’s a holistic approach to determine your ability to repay your student loan and get you the most competitive rate possible.
Earnest also offers a Precision Pricing tool, which lets you fine-tune your monthly payments to work with your budget. Borrowers can select their monthly payment amount once they’ve been approved for the loan.
The company then finds an interest rate and loan term to match your financial needs. The idea is to help you pay off your student loan as quickly as possible. In fact, it’s called “precision pricing” because you can schedule your repayment date down to the month.
Once you’re approved for a private student loan or refinancing through Earnest, you’ll manage your payments through the dashboard and mobile app. This makes it easy to set up payments and pay down your principal.
Special Features
Client Happiness Team: Earnest puts a high priority on customer satisfaction, which is why they created their client happiness team. You can access the company’s in-house team by phone, text, or email and the team is very responsive.
Resource Library: Earnest provides numerous helpful tools and information for student loan borrowers. You’ll find additional guides and calculators for paying off your loans faster, and information about student loan consolidation. Earnest helps borrowers at every step of the lending process.
Deferment Available: Earnest offers generous borrower protections, which is relatively rare for a private student loan lender. You can defer your private loans if you enroll in graduate school or join the military or Peace Corps. Your interest will continue to accrue, but you don’t have to make payments.
Forbearance Options: If you’ve made three months of on-time payments on your private student loans, you may qualify for student loan forbearance. The following scenarios make you eligible for forbearance:
- An involuntary decrease in income or loss of employment
- A sudden, significant increase in essential costs (such as medical expenses or emergency home repair)
- Unpaid parental leave
Option to Skip a Payment: After six months of consecutive, on-time payments, borrowers have the option to skip one loan payment every 12 months. The skipped payment is added to the end of your loan term, so you will accrue additional interest. But this could be beneficial for someone on a very tight budget.
Bottom Line
If you’ve exhausted all of your options for grants, scholarships, and federal student loans and are looking to take out private student loans or refinance existing loans, Earnest is a suitable option. The company uses technology to evaluate borrowers in an entirely new way, and help you access the most competitive rates.
The lending requirements may seem strict, but Earnest makes it easy to see how you can increase your odds of approval. The company is a truly unique lender, and a good choice for anyone who wants low interest rates, customized repayment terms, and robust borrower protections.