Private student loan rates rise slightly – 10-year fixed rates still lower than same time last year

Average private student loan rates for borrowers with credit scores of 720 or higher who used the Credible Marketplace to take out student loans increased for both fixed and variable rates during the week of December 6, 2021:

• 10-year fixed rate: 5.72%, against 5.48% the previous week, +0.24
• 5-year variable rate: 4.12%, against 3.76% the previous week, +0.36

With Credible, you can compare private student loan rates from lenders without affecting your credit score.

Private student loan rates rose last week, but only gradually — 5-year variable rates and 10-year fixed rates rose by less than half a percentage point. While the rates for a 5-year variable term were significantly lower at the same time last year (3.33%), the 10-year fixed rates are lower than they were a year ago, when they were at 5.98%. Now might be a good time to lock in a fixed rate and take advantage of an interest rate that won’t change for the life of your loan.

You should always exhaust federal student loan options before turning to private student loans to cover any funding shortfalls. Private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and online lenders offer private student loans. You can use private loans to pay for education and living expenses, which may not be covered by your federal student loans.

Private student loan interest rates and terms may vary depending on your financial situation, credit history and the lender you choose.

Take a look at the rates from Credible Partner Lenders for borrowers who used the Credible Marketplace to select a lender during the week of December 6:

Private student loan rates (diploma and undergraduate)

Student Loan Weekly Rate Trends

Who sets federal and private interest rates?

Congress sets interest rates for federal student loans each year. These fixed interest rates depend on the type of federal loan you take out, your dependent status, and your school year.

Private student loan interest rates can be fixed or variable and depend on your credit, repayment term and other factors. Generally, the better your credit score, the lower your interest rate is likely to be.

You can compare rates from multiple student lenders using Credible.

How does student loan interest work?

An interest rate is a percentage of the loan periodically added to your balance – essentially the cost of borrowing money. Interest is a way lenders make money from loans. Your monthly payment often pays interest first, with the rest going to the amount you originally borrowed (the principal).

Getting a low interest rate could help you save money over the term of the loan and pay off your debt faster.

What is a fixed rate or variable rate loan?

Here is the difference between a fixed rate and a variable rate:

• With a fixed rate, your monthly payment amount will stay the same for the life of your loan.
• With a variable rate, your payments can go up or down as interest rates change.

Comparing private student loan rates is easy when you use Credible.

Calculate your savings

Using a student loan interest calculator will help you estimate your monthly payments and the total amount you will owe over the term of your federal or private student loans.

Once you’ve entered your information, you’ll be able to see what your estimated monthly payment will be, the total you’ll pay in interest over the term of the loan, and the total amount you’ll repay.

About Credible

Credible is a multi-lender marketplace that allows consumers to discover the financial products best suited to their particular situation. Credible’s integrations with major lenders and credit bureaus allow consumers to quickly compare accurate and personalized loan options without putting their personal information at risk or affecting their credit score. Credible Marketplace offers an unparalleled customer experience, as evidenced by over 4,300 positive reviews on Trustpilot and a TrustScore of 4.7/5.