Private student loan rates freefall — 5-year variable rates plummet by more than 2%

• 10-year fixed rate: 5.48%, down from 6.41% the week before, -0.93
• 5-year variable rate: 3.76%, down from 5.91% the week before, -2.15

Private student loan rates took a nosedive last week — 5-year variable rates fell by more than 2%, and 10-year fixed rates dropped nearly 1%. Rates for a 10-year fixed term haven’t been lower since the week of Oct. 11, 2021, when they hit 5.41%. Overall, rates have been extremely unpredictable from week to week. This may be a good time to lock in a low rate and take advantage of major interest savings.

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

Interest rates and terms on private student loans can vary, depending on your financial situation, credit history and the lender you choose.

Private student loan rates (graduate and undergraduate)

Student loan weekly rate trends

Who sets federal and private interest rates?

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

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

How does student loan interest work?

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

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

What is a fixed- vs. variable-rate loan?

Here’s the difference between a fixed and variable rate:

• With a fixed rate, your monthly payment amount will stay the same over the course of your loan term.
• With a variable rate, your payments might rise or fall based on changing interest rates.

Calculate your savings

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

Once you enter your information, you’ll be able to see what your estimated monthly payment will be, the total you’ll pay in interest over the life of the loan and the total amount you’ll pay back.

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