KeyBank N.A.
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance Review 2026
Specialist in healthcare-professional refinancing — doctors, dentists, residents.
Who Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance is best for
Medical doctors (MD/DO), dentists, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals.
At a glance
- Variable APR
- 5.24–9.49%
- Fixed APR
- 5.49–9.49%
- Loan amount
- $5K+
- Resident program
- $100/mo payment
With autopay
Variable by credit + term
No published cap
During residency + fellowship — special program for MDs/DOs
Pros
- +Strong specialty programs for healthcare professionals (MD/DO, DDS, pharmacy, etc.)
- +Resident/fellowship payment program — $100/month payments during training
- +Backed by KeyBank — established bank parent
- +Pre-qualification with soft pull
- +No origination or prepayment penalty fees
Cons
- −Specialty advantage strongest for healthcare — others may find better rates elsewhere
- −Smaller user base means less peer review data
- −Some non-healthcare professional borrowers report longer underwriting times
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance requirements
- 680+ FICO typical
- Strong income relative to debt
- Specialty programs for healthcare professional designations
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance 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.
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (SouthEast Bank)
ELFI (Education Loan Finance)
Borrowers with 720+ FICO who optimize purely on rate competitiveness.
Ready to apply?
Application takes minutes. Pre-qualification (where available) uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your credit score.
Apply at KeyBank N.A.→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
Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance scores 4.1 / 5 on the ClearValue Rating — a deterministic editorial composite from the product's own published fees, terms, and eligibility. Best for: Medical doctors (MD/DO), dentists, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals.
◆ 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 Laurel Road Student Loan Refinance
Does Laurel Road have a special refinancing program for medical residents and fellows?+
Yes. Laurel Road offers a healthcare professional refinancing program that allows MD, DO, dentist, and pharmacy residents and fellows to make reduced $100/month payments during their training period (residency + fellowship), then transition to full payments once training ends. This addresses a real friction point for medical professionals: a physician in a 5-year residency has limited income but a large loan balance, and most standard refinancers require full income-based payments. Verify the current program details, eligible professional designations, and maximum training period covered at laurelroad.com before applying.
Is Laurel Road a bank or a student loan intermediary?+
Laurel Road is a brand of KeyBank National Association, a federally chartered national bank. Loans originated through Laurel Road are issued by KeyBank — not a marketplace or broker. KeyBank is FDIC-insured and one of the largest banks in the US by assets. The Laurel Road brand focuses specifically on student loan refinancing and other financial products for healthcare and professional borrowers, while the broader KeyBank institution provides the balance sheet and banking infrastructure.
Does Laurel Road charge an origination fee or prepayment penalty?+
No — Laurel Road does not charge an origination fee or a prepayment penalty. You can pay off the loan early at any time without incurring additional costs. No origination fee means the stated APR reflects your true cost of borrowing (origination fees effectively raise your rate when amortized over the loan). Verify the current fee structure at laurelroad.com before applying, as terms can change.
What credit score do I need for Laurel Road student loan refinancing?+
Laurel Road typically requires approximately 680+ FICO for approval, plus a strong debt-to-income ratio and stable income (or a signed employment offer for physicians completing training). For healthcare professionals, Laurel Road evaluates earning potential as a key underwriting factor — a new attending physician with a signed offer may qualify despite limited current income. Non-healthcare applicants should also be 680+ FICO with verifiable income. Pre-qualify with a soft pull at laurelroad.com to see your actual rate offer.
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/laurel-road-student-loan-refinance