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Real needs.
Current payoffNew termBreak-even point
Loan optionStudent Loan Refinance:
Student Loan Refinance:
Protect Federal Benefits Before Comparing Rates
First separate federal and private student loans. Replacing a federal loan with a private loan can permanently remove federal repayment, deferment, discharge and forgiveness options. For the private loans you are considering refinancing1, compare the new rate, term, total repayment, fixed or variable rate and cosigner terms.
Check Federal Benefits2 Before Chasing a Lower Rate
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Check eligibility factorsRequirements vary by lender and product.
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Compare total costReview APR, fees, payment and repayment.
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Apply only if it fitsNo obligation to accept a lender offer.
Just Right Loans role: Just Right Loans is a free consumer loan comparison and matching product, not a lender. Lenders control eligibility, pricing, approval and funding.
Product comparison
Compare Student Loan Refinance
Just Right Loans currently provides product information for this category but does not match borrowers to this specific product. Review the comparison, then browse the loan options that are currently available through the matching service.
Browse Available Loan Options →How a Student Loan Refinance Decision Moves
Define the need, compare structures and review the complete offer.
Need timeline
Required arrival.
Todayurgent need
7 dayscompare
30+ daysplanned
Compare solutions
Timing-fit routes.
Keep currentNo new closing
RefinanceReplace current debt
Pay down firstReduce balance
Compare offer & choose
Cost, terms and fit.
$APR + fees
$Monthly payment
$Total repayment
Funding timeline
If approved.
Application→Payoff→New loan
Funds available, if approved
Page last updated
Just Right Loans financial standardAuthored, edited and reviewedPeople, process and supporting evidenceA clear starting point
From the cost to your next step
Use these three steps in order. Open a worksheet when you need to check your own figures.
Step 1Verify the need & inputsWork from the page-specific facts before comparing a loan.+
What to check first
- Loan-by-loan classificationWhat to checkIdentify federal, private, institutional or unknown status using servicer/owner records and StudentAid.gov presence.
- Federal benefits in use or potentially relevantWhat to checkIDR, deferment/forbearance, discharge, forgiveness, PSLF and other program paths require current official review.
- Private refinanceable subsetWhat to checkOnly balances appropriate for private replacement enter the cost engine.
- Current and new termsWhat to checkCompare fixed/variable rate, payment, total remaining repayment and debt-free date.
- Cosigner resultWhat to checkDocument whether a cosigner is added, remains liable, can be released and under what exact current rule.
- Profession / residency / eligibilityWhat to checkUse only direct lender rules; do not infer special programs from occupation alone.
Your planning tools
Check your own figures
Use these page-specific checks to work through inputs that can materially change the decision. They supplement the decision framework and do not predict approval or replace a lender’s written disclosures.
Loan / Benefit Input Check
Track unresolved questions and the next details to verify.Open
This gate runs before any private-lender rate field. CFPB has documented deceptive marketing where borrowers were not clearly told that refinancing federal loans into private loans forfeits federal forgiveness benefits. Treat the conversion as irreversible.
Mark each item after checking the relevant document or provider terms. The list below updates to show the unanswered questions and items needing attention.
Planning only. These calculations use your inputs, do not check live provider terms and do not establish approval or available funding. Nothing entered here is saved or sent to a lender.
Illustrative example loaded—not an offer. Replace these figures with your own verified information.
Enter the figures to calculate.
What to verify for this decision
Gate behavior: UNKNOWN stops private recommendation until classified.
Gate behavior: Potential PSLF value -> KEEP FEDERAL unless borrower knowingly rejects it after authoritative review.
Gate behavior: Model federal payment option before private refinance.
Gate behavior: Do not assume private hardship options are equivalent.
Gate behavior: Potential benefit loss must be explicit.
Gate behavior: Refinance can alter protections; obtain authoritative guidance.
Gate behavior: May change federal remediation options and private eligibility.
Gate behavior: No private federal-loan refi route before this screen.
Comparison Item Check
After the federal-benefit gate, compare the loans that remain eligible. For a mixed portfolio, compare refinancing private loans while leaving federal loans untouched.
| Comparison item | Existing eligible loan(s) | Proposed private refinance |
|---|---|---|
| Balance | Per-loan current principal | New principal to pay selected loans |
| Rate type / APR3 | Fixed or variable per loan | Fixed or variable new rate |
| Remaining term | Months/years by loan | New term |
| Monthly payment4 | Current total on selected loans | New payment |
| Fees | Current future required fees5 if any | Origination/other borrower fees |
| Autopay discount | Current | New, with conditions |
| Hardship / release features | Current lender policy | New lender policy |
| Total dollars from today | Expected principal + future interest/fees | New total repayment6 |
| Cosigner | Current responsibility | Removed / remains / new cosigner |
Federal vs Private Loan Classifier
Decision formula Refinance comparison principal = sum(private loans selected after classification). Savings = current private-loan remaining outlay - new private-loan total outlay including required fees. A federal balance is not included unless the irreversible loss of federal protections is displayed and reviewed first. Variable-rate scenarios are user-selected shocks, not forecasts.
| Signal | Federal indication | Private / other indication | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| StudentAid.gov account | Loan appears in the official federal account. | Loan may not appear there. | Use official account and servicer records; absence alone is not enough. |
| Owner / servicer | U.S. Department of Education or federal program record. | Bank, credit union, school or private lender. | Verify legal owner, not only the payment portal brand. |
| Promissory note / disclosures | Federal loan type and federal terms. | Private education loan disclosures. | Keep a document-level evidence record. |
| Repayment / forgiveness options | Federal plans and statutory/program benefits may apply. | Private relief depends on contract and lender policy. | Do not infer benefits across categories. |
| Unknown / mixed evidence | Could be federal. | Could be private or institutional. | VERIFY; no refinance comparison yet. |
Illustrative decision examples
Illustrative calculations and states only; not offers, approval predictions, market averages, tax advice, legal advice or provider eligibility claims.
- Mixed stackInputs / situationLoan stack: $30,000 federal Direct Loans on a possible PSLF/IDR path plus $25,000 private loans.Result and interpretationKeep the federal $30,000 outside the private refinance engine; compare only the verified private subset.
- Private refi saves costInputs / situationIllustrative private balance $25,000 at 9% with 60 months remaining: $518.96/month and $31,137.53 total. New 6.5% for 48 months: $592.87/month and $28,457.94 total.Result and interpretationPayment rises, but illustrative total outlay falls by about $2,679.59 and debt ends sooner.
- Payment relief, longer termInputs / situationIllustrative $25,000 at 6.5% for 84 months is about $371.24/month and $31,183.82 total.Result and interpretationPayment falls, but total repayment is slightly higher than the current 60-month example and debt lasts two years longer.
- Variable-rate stressInputs / situationIllustrative $25,000 for 60 months: payment at 5.5% is $477.53; at a user-selected 8.5% scenario it is $512.91.Result and interpretationTest how changes could affect the result; this does not predict future rates.
- Federal status unknownInputs / situationThe borrower is unsure whether a loan is federal and it does not have a clear owner/servicer record.Result and interpretationVerify the loan details on StudentAid.gov before considering private refinancing.
Step 2Compare cost, evidence & fitUse the tools and matrices to test the route on the same basis.+
Federal Benefit-Loss Gate
| Condition | Required message | Output | CTA behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal loan + PSLF / forgiveness path | Private refinance can permanently remove federal forgiveness access. | DO NOT REFI NOW / OFFICIAL REVIEW | Commercial CTA off. |
| Federal loan + IDR / payment protection need | Private loan may not offer equivalent repayment or hardship protections. | CAUTION / OFFICIAL REVIEW | Commercial CTA off until reviewed. |
| Federal loan + status unclear | Classification must be confirmed through official records. | VERIFY | Commercial CTA off. |
| Private-only stack | No federal protection-loss gate for the selected balances. | PRIVATE-ONLY CONTINUE | Cost comparison may proceed. |
| Mixed stack | Keep federal balances outside the private engine unless deliberately selected after warning. | SPLIT ROUTE | Private subset only. |
Credit inquiry, timing and evidence gates
- Rate-check stageRequired evidenceUse the provider direct disclosure. "Check your rate" is not automatically a no-impact promise.If it is not confirmedUNKNOWN blocks no-impact language.
- Full applicationRequired evidenceCheck separately when a hard inquiry or other review occurs.If it is not confirmedNo stage compression.
- Operational timingRequired evidenceMap page-specific funding, payoff, seasonal, project, title/lien, federal-benefit or draw/repayment stages.If it is not confirmedNo "instant" or "same day" claim without exact direct evidence.
- Provider identityRequired evidenceIdentify lender/originator, marketplace, servicer or program role and state restrictions.If it is not confirmedUnclear role returns STOP / UNKNOWN.
- Field freshnessRequired evidenceKeep the current source, check date and any conditions for information that may change.If it is not confirmedStale/conflicting field is removed or shown UNKNOWN.
- JRL partner inventoryRequired evidenceConfirm actual provider/product/profile/state support internally before matching language.If it is not confirmedUnverified coverage permits informational CTA only.
Decision routes
When this route should stop
- Any loan is federal or possibly federal and the benefit-loss warning has not been completed.
- A page describes federal consolidation and private refinancing as interchangeable.
- The refinance lowers payment only by materially extending the term and raising total cost without disclosure.
- A variable rate is presented as cheaper without a stress scenario and clear nonforecast language.
- Cosigner release, profession-specific access or residency eligibility is assumed rather than directly verified.
- Current federal program information is stale or taken from a private roundup instead of official sources.
Step 3Decide, stop or choose an alternativeKeep negative outcomes and no-borrow routes visible.+
Alternatives and no-borrow paths
Before you continue
Continue only after the page-specific gates pass Any federal or unknown loan triggers the benefit-loss gate before a private refinance comparison. Commercial routing is limited to a verified private-only subset unless the user knowingly chooses otherwise after official review. A neutral action may invite the user to review currently verified options, but it must not imply approval, savings, eligibility, a specific rate or guaranteed funding. Negative and UNKNOWN states suppress the positive CTA.
Just Right Loans is a free loan comparison, matching and decision-support product, not a lender. We do not make credit decisions, set APRs or fees, service loans, administer government programs, or guarantee approval, an amount, a rate, savings, eligibility, a funding time, a payoff result, a tax result or continued access to any borrower protection. A provider, servicer, program administrator or government agency controls eligibility, verification, terms, disbursement, payoff and servicing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refinance federal student loans?
A private lender may offer to replace them, but the new loan is private and federal benefits can be permanently lost.
How do I know whether a loan is federal?
Check StudentAid.gov and the loan documents/servicer ownership. An unclear status remains VERIFY.
Is federal consolidation the same as refinancing?
No. Federal Direct Consolidation is a federal program; private refinancing creates a private loan.
Can refinancing lower my payment and still cost more?
Yes. A longer term can reduce payment while increasing total repayment and delaying the debt-free date.
Should I choose fixed or variable?
Compare payment predictability and user-selected rate-shock scenarios; do not predict future rates.
Can refinancing release a cosigner?
Some lenders may offer a different borrower/cosigner structure, but exact current eligibility and release rules must be verified.
Does Just Right Loans administer PSLF or federal repayment plans?
Just Right Loans is a free loan comparison, matching and decision-support product, not a lender. We do not make credit decisions, set APRs or fees, service loans, administer government programs, or guarantee approval, an amount, a rate, savings, eligibility, a funding time, a payoff result, a tax result or continued access to any borrower protection. A provider, servicer, program administrator or government agency controls eligibility, verification, terms, disbursement, payoff and servicing.
Quick calculator
Compare a payment scenario
Use the loan principal, contract interest rate and term to estimate monthly payments. APR can include fees and is not the same as the contract interest rate.
Estimated payment—
Estimated total repayment—
Estimated interest—
Actual APR, fees, payment timing and total repayment come from the provider's written disclosures. Add origination or other required fees separately where applicable.
Assumes a fixed contract interest rate, equal monthly payments and no balloon payment. Do not use fee-inclusive APR as the interest rate. A deducted fee reduces cash received; other fees and payment-date differences can change the lender’s final figures.
Sources and consumer references
These references provide general consumer information. Confirm current eligibility, rates, fees, terms and availability directly with the lender or relevant agency.
- CFPB — What a credit inquiry is and how lenders use it
- CFPB — Risks of losing federal benefits when refinancing student loans
- Federal Student Aid — Federal student-loan repayment plans
- Federal Student Aid — Federal student-loan consolidation
- CFPB - consolidate or refinance student loans
- CFPB - private student loan repayment
Notes & explanations
Compare remaining cost, not original cost. Refinancing replaces an existing obligation with a new one. Compare what remains to be paid under the current arrangement against the new payments and fees. A lower monthly payment can still mean a higher total cost. ↩ Back to text
Private refinancing can give up federal rights. Moving federal student debt into a private loan gives up federal loan benefits and protections. This is not the same as federal Direct Consolidation. Compare those consequences before focusing on a new rate. ↩ Back to text
APR and the interest rate. APR expresses borrowing costs on an annual basis and can include required charges beyond interest. It is not the dollar amount you will repay. Compare it alongside net cash received, the repayment term and the lender’s disclosed payment schedule. ↩ Back to text
A payment that fits the budget. Payment fit refers to your budget after essential spending, existing debts and a reserve. A lender’s willingness to approve a payment does not establish that it is comfortable for your household. Check when the first payment is due. ↩ Back to text
How fees affect the comparison. A fee may be deducted from the amount sent to you, financed into the balance, or paid separately. These treatments change the comparison differently. Check the written disclosure and count each charge once. ↩ Back to text
Compare the full repayment cost. Compare the whole scheduled repayment, not just the monthly payment. A longer term can lower each payment while increasing interest overall. Separately paid fees and late or optional charges need their own treatment. ↩ Back to text
