Do not refinance federal loans if you might qualify for PSLF.
If you work or might work for a 501(c)(3) hospital, an FQHC, a public health agency, the VA, or any government employer, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program could wipe out your remaining federal balance after 10 years of qualifying payments. Refinancing federal loans into a private refi permanently forfeits PSLF, IDR, deferment, and forbearance. You cannot reverse it.
Refinancing makes sense when you have ruled out PSLF, your loans are already private, or you are sure you'll be at a non-qualifying employer for the next decade. If any of that is uncertain, run the PSLF vs refi breakeven calculator first.
If you've ruled it out (or your loans are private), keep reading. The refi math below is real, and you should run it.
What a 2-point rate drop is actually worth.
Illustrative example for an NP with $120,000 in private student loans, 10 years remaining, refinancing from 7.5% down to 5.5%.
Four things to do before you hit submit.
Refinancing is a one-time decision that locks in the next 5 to 15 years of your debt service. Worth getting right.
Run the PSLF vs refi breakeven
If your loans are federal, this is the only number that matters. Tells you exactly when refi beats PSLF on present value.
5 minutes · the most important stepSee your savings
Plug in your current balance, rate, and term. Move the refi slider. See the monthly payment, total interest, and 10-year payoff math instantly.
No email requiredTime it right
Most new-grad NPs refi too early (before income stabilizes) or too late (after rates drift). Our timing guide for new grads in their first 6-24 months out.
When to wait vs goGet matched with refi lenders
One soft credit pull through Juno's NP-friendly marketplace. Multiple pre-qualified offers in 90 seconds. Skip the cosigner question if your credit and income can stand alone.
No origination fees · no obligationThree fields. Ninety seconds. Real offers from real lenders.
We hand you off to Juno's NP-friendly lender marketplace. One soft credit pull, multiple pre-qualified offers, and you decide what (if anything) to do next.
What to expect.
- Rates you'll likely seeStrong-credit NPs are pre-qualifying between 4.5% and 7.0% fixed in 2026. Variable runs lower up front and reprices.
- Soft credit pull onlyZero impact on your score. The hard pull only happens if you formally apply with a lender you choose.
- No call-center spamJuno is a marketplace, not a lead-resale broker. We don't sell your data either. One handoff, that's it.
- Federal loans? We catch it.Pick "mixed" or "not sure" below and we route you to the PSLF breakeven calculator before any handoff. No exceptions.
Get matched with refi lenders in 90 seconds.
One soft credit pull. Multiple pre-qualified offers from NP-friendly refi lenders through Juno. No obligation, no spam.
Got it. Sending you to Juno's refi marketplace.
Juno will collect a bit more (current balance, employment, citizenship) and run a soft pull. You'll see pre-qualified offers in about 90 seconds.
Continue to Juno refiWhat every NP asks before they refi.
Will refinancing affect my credit score?
The match runs a soft credit pull, which has no effect on your score. The hard pull only happens after you select a specific lender and decide to formally apply. Even then, the hit is typically 3 to 5 points and recovers within a few months.
Will I lose PSLF if I refinance?
If your loans are federal and you refinance into a private refi, yes, you permanently forfeit PSLF, IDR plans, deferment, and forbearance. You cannot reverse it. If there is any chance you'll work at a 501(c)(3) hospital, FQHC, VA, or government employer in the next decade, run the PSLF vs refi breakeven calculator before you do anything. If your loans are already private, this doesn't apply to you.
What rate should I expect as an NP?
Strong-credit working NPs in 2026 are seeing fixed-rate quotes between 4.5% and 7.0% on 5- to 15-year terms, depending on credit score, debt-to-income, employment tenure, and balance. Variable rates run lower up front (3.8% to 5.5% typical) but reprice with the underlying benchmark, so we generally recommend fixed unless you plan to pay off in three years or less.
Will I need a cosigner to refi?
Usually no, if you are at least 12 months out of school with steady NP income. Working NPs typically qualify on their own after their first or second W-2 year. Earlier-career NPs sometimes need one, then release the cosigner after 24 to 36 months of on-time payments. Juno's marketplace filters by lenders who underwrite NPs without a cosigner where possible.
How long does the refi process take?
The pre-qualification step takes about 90 seconds (just the form on this page plus a few more questions on Juno's side). The full refi from application to first payment with the new lender is usually 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the lender and how quickly you submit pay stubs and current loan info.
Is this site really free?
Yes. The calculators, guides, and matching service are all free. When you complete the matching form and a partner lender funds a loan to you, we may receive a referral fee from that partner. The rate and terms you receive are the same as if you had gone to the lender directly. See our advertising disclosure for the full picture.