Laurel Road Student Loan Refinancing Review (2026)
Laurel Road earned 4.3 / 5 in our 2026 review. APRs run 4.99% to 8.90% on 5 to 20 years terms, with loan amounts $5,000+. Best for graduates with stable income who want to lower a private loan rate.
- +Specialized programs for healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists)
- +No origination fees or late fees
- +Extra $200 cash bonus for AMA members
- +Competitive rates, especially for medical school debt
- +0.25% autopay rate reduction
- +Forbearance available for up to 12 months
- -Best rates reserved for high-income professionals
- -Less flexible for non-healthcare borrowers
- -Refinancing federal loans removes income-driven repayment eligibility
Rates and fees
Variable APRs typically start lower than fixed but can rise over the life of the loan. The Federal Reserve recommends fixed rates for repayment plans longer than 5 years.
Laurel Road fits graduates with FICO 660+ (ideally 700+), stable W-2 or self-employed income, and only private loans (or federal loans you do not need income-driven repayment for). It is not a fit if you may need Public Service Loan Forgiveness, are early in a career with unstable income, or have a FICO below 660.
How to apply for a Laurel Road loan
Refinancing takes 15 to 30 minutes online. You will need a recent pay stub, last year's tax return, loan payoff statements for each loan you want to refinance, and a government ID. The Department of Education recommends getting a payoff quote from each current servicer before applying.
- 1.Pull payoff quotes from every current servicer to know your exact balances and payoff numbers.
- 2.Soft-pull prequalify on the Laurel Road site to see your estimated APR with no credit impact.
- 3.Compare against 2 or 3 other refinance lenders. The CFPB confirms rate shopping within 14 to 45 days does not extra-damage credit.
- 4.Submit the formal application with income docs. This triggers a hard inquiry that drops FICO 2 to 5 points.
- 5.Sign the agreement; Laurel Road pays off your old loans directly. Confirm the old loans show as paid before you stop making payments to those servicers.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to check your Laurel Road rate?
Soft-pull prequalification takes about 5 minutes. No credit impact to look.