Parent PLUS Loans are a great way to provide supplemental student financing after the limits are reached on traditional federal student loans. Many parents have used this option as a way to support their child in their educational goals by bridging the shortfall between scholarships, grants, federal student loans, and the full cost of their education.
Once the child graduates, parents often feel stuck with and hindered by their debt. Makes sense since Parent PLUS Loans are more expensive than other federal student loans. They have higher interest rates and higher loan fees that add up over time. Collectively, borrowers owe $89 billion in Parent PLUS Loans not counting loans from private lenders.
If you feel like your future financial goals are being hurt by Parent PLUS Loan debt and interest costs, here are some solutions that will give you flexibility.
Why does getting a lower Parent PLUS Loan rate matter?
Set by Congress each year, federal student loan interest rates and origination fees are non-negotiable, and a higher credit score will not buy you a lower interest rate.
Parent PLUS Loans are more expensive than federal direct student loans. For example, the interest rate was 7.08% for the academic year 2019-2020, while the origination fee was 4.236%. Looking back over the last eight academic seasons, the average rate was 6.71%.
Once a child graduates and embarks on their new career, parents who have accumulated Parent PLUS Loan debt often begin to look at how they can improve their repayment terms to focus on building retirement income, financing a mortgage, or creating education opportunities costs for their other children.
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How to decrease your Parent PLUS Loan interest
If you are at a place in your life where you are looking for solutions to debt reduction, Parent PLUS Loans can be refinanced without penalties and offer a variety of options that can be tailored to your needs and financial goals. And unlike federal loans, working with private lenders means that your hard-earned financial stewardship can be rewarded.
Significantly better rates may be available for people that have an overall strong credit history, solid income, and a good debt-to-income ratio. Having each of those components, it may be worth your time to pursue a refinanced loan with more appealing interest costs and repayment terms — you have earned it.
Student loan refinancing and its benefits for parents
So let’s get into the specifics — what can be gained by refinancing your Parent PLUS Loans into one manageable program. Let’s take a look at ways you can gain some freedom through refinancing:
- Save big on interest costs with a better rate — When you refinance your Parent PLUS Loans, you are taking out a loan with a private lender that rewards good credit and stable employment. With interest rates at historic lows, now is a terrific time to reduce your interest rate and the overall cost of the loan.
- Speed up repayment — Structure your new loan with a shorter term and save even more on total interest. By increasing your monthly portion paid to principal, you will pay less in interest over the life of the loan and have the loan paid off more quickly.
- Get a lower monthly payment with an extended term — On the flip side, you might obtain a loan with an extended term should your finances benefit from a longer repayment period. This not only spreads out the life of the loan, it also gives you the freedom of additional payment options. For instance, when your finances allow, you can double up on payments without being locked into the larger payment each month.
- Transfer your Parent PLUS debt into your child’s name — When your child is ready with a solid credit history and stable employment, refinancing can allow you to transfer the debt into your child’s name. This allows you to offload the debt entirely while giving your child the opportunity to take responsibility for their education and build their own credit history.
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How to compare Parent PLUS Loan refinance rates
Comparing the lenders offering refinancing for Parent PLUS Loans can be overwhelming. While the internet makes things easier, Purefy has gone a step further by developing a Rate Comparison Tool. Our tool uses a couple of pieces of your information to provide you with a set of offers from our experienced and highly vetted lender team.
With a choice between premier refinancing lenders, you can compare interest rates and terms, along with other items, and select the lender that offers you the best package. And with our lenders, there are no upfront loan fees and no penalties for prepayment.
Whether you want to transfer Parent PLUS Loans to your student or refinance the debt to create a more manageable budget, Purefy’s rate comparison tool gives you a buffet of options with any lenders that you prequalify with and who are eager to provide you with a solid refi loan. With absolute transparency, you can make an informed choice that will improve your financial situation or help you meet your financial goals.
See How Much You Can Save
Parent PLUS Loan Refinance Calculator
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Parent PLUS Loan rates are often the highest of any federal student loan. Calculate your savings with lower rate and see the impact of paying off PLUS loans faster.
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.
You don’t have to feel stuck any longer
There are a lot of reasons why parents want to refinance (or transfer Parent PLUS Loans to students) from saving money on interest rates to reducing their monthly payments. Use Purefy’s rate comparison tool to create a sortable list with the best offers and terms available from each lender. You don’t even need to undergo a credit check for this initial comparison.
Once you have decided upon a lender, they will support you through the process as you secure your new refinanced loan replacing the Parent PLUS Loan(s). From there, you are free to pursue your financial goals resting easy that you have received a competitive rate and optimal repayment terms for your lifestyle. Check out our rate comparison tool to get the best rates our lenders have to offer at Purefy.