Student Loans — Rates & Calculator 2026
Federal fixed vs private variable from 30 lenders — model in-school deferment and 10-yr standard.
Student Loan Payment
Borrowed, rate and term — bank or manual. Try deferment.
Federal fixed 2026 · private “from” variable. Excellent credit.
| Program | Fixed APR | Standard 10-yr payment on $27k |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Subsidized/Unsubsidized | 6.39% | — |
| Graduate Unsubsidized | 7.94% | — |
| PLUS (parent/grad) | 8.94% | — |
| Lender | APR from | Max | Your payment (120 mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Ave ★ Best | 4.29% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Ascent ★ Best | 4.29% variable | $200k | — |
| College Ave 2 ★ Best | 4.29% variable | $100% cost | — |
| SoFi Private | 4.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Earnest | 4.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Earnest 2 | 4.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| SoFi 2 | 4.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Sallie Mae | 4.50% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Sallie Mae 2 | 4.50% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Citizens Bank Student | 4.74% variable | $150k | — |
| Custom Choice | 4.74% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Citizens 2 | 4.74% variable | $150k | — |
| Discover Student | 4.99% variable | $100% cost | — |
| PNC Student | 4.99% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Wells Fargo Student | 4.99% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Wells Fargo 2 | 4.99% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Discover 2 | 4.99% variable | $100% cost | — |
| PNC 2 | 4.99% variable | $100% cost | — |
| PenFed Student | 5.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| LendKey | 5.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| INvestEd | 5.49% variable | $100% cost | — |
| Federal Direct (Undergrad) | 6.39% fixed | $12.5k/yr | — |
| Funding U | 7.49% fixed | $20k/yr | — |
| Funding U 2 | 7.49% fixed | $20k/yr | — |
| Federal Direct (Graduate) | 7.94% fixed | $20.5k/yr | — |
| Navy Federal Student | 7.99% fixed | $100% cost | — |
| SixUp | 7.99% fixed | $15k/yr | — |
| Federal PLUS | 8.94% fixed | Cost of attendance | — |
| MPOWER (International) | 8.99% fixed | $100k | — |
| A.M. Money | 8.99% fixed | $15k/yr | — |
Federal vs private — what the numbers mean in 2026
Federal Direct is 6.39% fixed (undergrad), 7.94% (graduate) and 8.94% (PLUS) — fixed for the life of the loan, with income-driven repayment and forgiveness paths. Private “from” rates start at 4.29% variable (College Ave) but are variable — they move with SOFR/Prime. The bar chart above compares them visually. All rates are live from live bank data and the federal table in official lending data.
Deferment and capitalization matter
Choose 48 mo deferment above to see the cost of not paying in school: at 6.39% on $27k, interest capitalizes and adds to principal before repayment — the With deferment line shows payoff with capitalized interest. Federal subsidized undergrad avoids this (government pays in-school interest); private rarely does.
How to shop
- Exhaust federal first — especially subsidized — then fill gaps with private.
- Compare fixed vs variable on the same term: 120 mo (10-yr standard) is the benchmark.
- Refinancing after graduation can lower a fixed rate, but refinancing federal into private forfeits IDR/forgiveness.
- Variable private may beat federal today but can rise — stress-test at +3 pp.
Sources: Federal Student Aid 2026 award year and 30-bank private file (2026-09-10). Not financial advice. Disclaimer
Frequently asked questions
What data does this page show?
Federal 6.39%% undergrad, 7.94%% grad fixed vs 4.29% variable best private variable from 30 lenders. Model deferment, 10-yr payment and chart. Updated 2026.
How current are the figures?
All figures reflect 2026 and update automatically from official sources.
Where do the numbers come from?
All figures are compiled from official U.S. government public data and refreshed automatically. LifeIndexData is 100% free to use and fully independent: we are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any bank, lender or financial institution, and advertising never influences our data or rankings.
How do I cite this page?
LifeIndexData. "Student Loans From 4.29% variable Private — Federal 6.39%% Fixed, Calculator (2026)" (2026). https://lifeindexdata.com/usa/tools/loans/student/
Is this financial advice?
No. All data is informational only — see our Disclaimer before making decisions.