As a parent, you want to support your children and ease the rough patches as they move into adulthood.
Today, many parents are seeing the massive debt struggles being experienced by young people and are choosing to aid their kids by helping to repay their student loans.
Let’s Look at the Numbers
With over $1.6 trillion owed in student loans, young recent college graduates are unable to participate in important rites of passage. They are postponing buying homes, starting families, or saving for retirement.
Outpacing credit card debt at $1 trillion, student loans are the #1 factor in America’s current credit crisis. And while the total credit card debt is spread over a large, diverse section of the population, student debt is concentrated within a much smaller group:
- People between 25 and 34 years of age, and
- Part of just 36% of the total US population that pursues four-year degrees and a further 18% that undertake advanced coursework.
Should We Wait to See if the Debt is Cancelled?
While there are a number of public policy initiatives being discussed, including debt forgiveness, interest reduction, and payment deferment, history has shown that taxpayers are reluctant to commit to a complete bailout.
There is also concern that while debt cancellation would lead to short-term economic stimulus (from more expendable cash), there are longer-term issues to consider like loss of revenue for the government and a widening deficit.
Free eBook: How to Conquer Student Loans
Free eBook: How to Conquer Student Loans
What’s the Breakdown of Average Student Loan Debt?
Whether your child is in a four-year program or is pursing advanced coursework, the debt picture is substantial. The average loan amount by degree level breaks down like this:
| Degree | Average Loan Amount | Average Payoff Time |
| Associate | $19.7K | 18.3 years |
| Bachelor’s | $29K | 19.7 years |
| Masters | $66K | 23 years |
| Doctorate | $108.4K | 30 years |
With numbers like that, it’s no wonder your child feels overwhelmed.
How to Help Your Child Repay Student Loans
Providing you are in a position to help your child, your financial assistance may give them the support that’s needed to manage their student loan debt. Here are some suggestions to consider:
- Provide monetary support each month — By paying either the loan payments themselves or a monthly sum to be used as needed.
- Ancillary support — By funding the purchase of a car or a down payment for a home mortgage.
- Take over the loans completely in your name with student loan refinancing — By refinancing your child’s student loans into your name, you free your child financially and allow them to thrive. You may also get a better interest rate and repayment terms due to your credit history and income information.
- Cosign your child’s student loan refinance — By cosigning on a refinance or loan consolidation, you may help your child get a lower interest rate and better repayment terms that meet their needs. They also have the opportunity to build their credit history for the future.
The 2 Best Companies to Refinance Student Loans
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Find the Best Student Loan Refinance Option for Your Family
Once you decide that refinancing meets your family’s financial goals, then selecting a reputable bank with competitive rates is your next move. Give some thought to what type of loan package will best fit everyone’s needs to help you in evaluating the different options available, including:
- Save Money with a Lower Interest Rate — If you bring strong credit history and income longevity, you will qualify for a lower interest rate. A lower rate will save you money over the life of the loan.
- Pay Off the Debt Quickly — With a more mature financial plan, you may be positioned to pay off the debt more quickly. In this case, you will want to look for a shorter repayment plan with higher payments. This will allow you to retire the debt sooner.
- Consider a Variable Rate Loan — A variable rate typically starts lower and is regularly reevaluated and adjusted up or down depending on the current lending rates. Banks offer both fixed and variable interest rates on student loan refinancing. This type of loan may be optimal for your child allowing them to make smaller payments in the first years as they get on their feet.
- Refinance the Debt into Your Child’s Name as a Cosigner — By cosigning a student loan on behalf of your child, you allow them to build their credit history, but it will also impact your credit for the life of the loan. Also, if the child defaults, your credit report will be negatively impacted, and you may end up responsible for the total outstanding amount.
See How Much You Can Save
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Step 3: See How Much You Can Save
$15,310
Lifetime Interest
Savings
$1,018
New Monthly
Payment
$128
Monthly
Savings
| Current Loan | New Loan | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 6.7% | 4.2% | 2.5% |
| Lifetime Interest | $37,520 | $22,210 | $15,310 |
| Monthly Payment | $1,146 | $1,018 | $128 |
Like what you see? Check your actual prequalified rates from the industry’s top lenders in just 2 minutes or less.
Remember that refinancing your child’s debt into your name or as a cosigner impacts your long-term plans, including retirement savings and large item purchases. Be sure that your generosity doesn’t create hardship for you down the road.
Selecting a Lender
Once you have decided the best course of action, it’s time to choose a lender. Purefy understands the process can feel burdensome with so many financial institutions to evaluate. We have created a rate comparison tool that takes out the guesswork and saves you time.
By providing a couple pieces of information, our rate comparison tool will provide you with real pre-qualified rates and terms from our team of top student loan refinance lenders. You can make an informed decision without having to visit each individual lender website and with no impact to your credit report.
Once you make a selection, you (and your child if you are cosigning) will then begin the formal process by filling out a loan application with your new lending partner based on the terms that you select.
Talk to a student loan refinancing expert
At Purefy, our experts are ready to guide you through your best options to save
Talk now 800-491-9310
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It’s That Simple
Student loan refinancing can be an excellent solution to help your child repay student loans – either by cosigning their refinance or shifting the debt into your own name. However, if you choose to go forward, Purefy is here to answer any questions and help as may be needed.
Try our Compare Rates tool today and check out what our marketplace of top lenders have to offer at Purefy.
