Customizable terms — pick exact monthly payment for the loan length you want.
Get started at Earnest LLC (Marcus by Goldman Sachs subsidiary) → Pre-qualify (where available) with a soft credit pull — no score impact.
ClearValue Rating: 4.1 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)
Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.
Borrowers who want fine-grained control over their monthly payment vs total interest tradeoff.
Earnest Student Loan Refinance — Customizable terms — pick exact monthly payment for the loan length you want. Best for: Borrowers who want fine-grained control over their monthly payment vs total interest tradeoff.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.
Earnest lets you select the exact monthly payment amount you want, and then sets your loan term accordingly — rather than offering fixed 5/7/10/15/20-year buckets. This gives you fine-grained control over the payment vs. total interest tradeoff. For example, you can target a specific dollar amount that fits your budget, rather than choosing between two term lengths with payments that don't quite match your cash flow.
Earnest typically requires 650+ FICO and reasonably strong income relative to debt. The platform also looks at factors beyond credit score — your savings, career trajectory, and full financial picture — consistent with its roots as a cash-flow underwriter. Pre-qualification uses a soft pull and doesn't affect your credit score.
No — Earnest charges zero fees. There is no origination fee, no prepayment penalty, and no late fee. The APR range (5.39–9.99% variable, 5.49–9.99% fixed with autopay) is the all-in cost. The skip-a-payment feature (once per year with advance notice) also carries no fee.
Earnest is a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs (acquired via Marcus). It operates independently under the Earnest brand, with Goldman Sachs's financial backing providing institutional depth. The product is serviced through Navient's platform. Earnest's parent company ownership means it is backed by a major regulated financial institution, not a standalone fintech.
How we rate
Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).
Scored consistently across every product and independent of any compensation. Full methodology →
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