Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (SouthEast Bank)
ELFI (Education Loan Finance) Review 2026
Consistently among the lowest APR floors in the student-loan refi market.
Who ELFI (Education Loan Finance) is best for
Borrowers with 720+ FICO who optimize purely on rate competitiveness.
At a glance
- Variable APR
- 4.99–9.99%
- Fixed APR
- 5.04–9.99%
- Loan amount
- $10K+
- Fees
- None
Often the lowest published variable rates
Often the lowest published fixed rates
$10K minimum is higher than SoFi/Earnest
No origination, no prepayment penalty
Pros
- +Routinely posts among the lowest variable and fixed APR floors in market scans
- +Dedicated personal loan advisor assigned to each application
- +Backed by SouthEast Bank — established institution
- +Pre-qualification with soft pull
- +Strong handling of large refinance balances ($100K+)
Cons
- −$10,000 minimum balance excludes smaller refinances
- −No mobile app — desktop-only servicing
- −Less brand recognition than SoFi/Earnest
- −Limited ecosystem benefits beyond the loan itself
ELFI (Education Loan Finance) requirements
- 680+ FICO typical floor
- Bachelor's degree
- Verifiable employment + income
ELFI (Education Loan Finance) alternatives
Top alternatives worth comparing from Best Student Loan Refinance Lenders 2026.
SoFi Bank, N.A.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
Professionals with 680+ FICO who want competitive rates plus the SoFi member ecosystem.
Earnest LLC (Marcus by Goldman Sachs subsidiary)
Earnest Student Loan Refinance
Borrowers who want fine-grained control over their monthly payment vs total interest tradeoff.
KeyBank N.A.
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance
Medical doctors (MD/DO), dentists, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals.
Ready to apply?
Application takes minutes. Pre-qualification (where available) uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your credit score.
Apply at Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (SouthEast Bank)→Last verified at the issuer on 2026-08-05
The full lineup
See all picks in Best Student Loan Refinance Lenders 2026
Editorial methodology + complete ranking criteria + side-by-side comparison of all picks.
Read the full guide →Bottom line
ELFI (Education Loan Finance) scores 4.0 / 5 on the ClearValue Rating — a deterministic editorial composite from the product's own published fees, terms, and eligibility. Best for: Borrowers with 720+ FICO who optimize purely on rate competitiveness.
◆ How we scored it
The ClearValue Rating, broken down.
- Cost
- 35%
- Fit & approval odds
- 30%
- Speed & terms
- 20%
- Transparency
- 15%
Cost (35%), Fit & approval odds (30%), Speed & terms (20%), Transparency (15%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation. Full methodology →
Frequently asked
Questions about ELFI (Education Loan Finance)
Who is ELFI (Education Loan Finance) best for?+
ELFI is geared toward borrowers with strong credit (roughly 720+ FICO) who optimize purely on rate, since it routinely posts among the lowest published variable (4.99-9.99%) and fixed (5.04-9.99%) APR floors in the student-loan refinance market. It is also a good fit for larger balances, as it handles $100K+ refinances well.
What is the minimum loan amount to refinance with ELFI?+
ELFI requires a $10,000 minimum balance to refinance, which is higher than the $5,000 minimum at SoFi and Earnest. That floor excludes smaller refinances, so borrowers with under $10,000 remaining would need to look elsewhere.
Does ELFI charge any fees to refinance student loans?+
No. ELFI charges no origination fee and no prepayment penalty, so the stated APR reflects your true cost of borrowing. Confirm current fee details at elfi.com before applying.
Will checking my ELFI rate hurt my credit score?+
No. ELFI offers pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate without affecting your credit score. A hard inquiry occurs only if you proceed with a formal application.
Does ELFI have a mobile app for managing the loan?+
No. ELFI uses desktop-only servicing and does not offer a mobile app. Each application is assigned a dedicated personal loan advisor, but borrowers who want app-based account management may prefer a fintech lender. ELFI is backed by SouthEast Bank.
Related guides
Independent editorial review. ClearValue Lending is a business & personal financing platform — not a lender, broker, or financial advisor. Some links are affiliate links; the issuer may pay a referral commission at no cost to you, which never changes the score. Specific product terms vary; verify with the issuer before applying. See privacy policy.
https://clearvaluelending.com/reviews/elfi-student-loan-refinance