Consolidating private federal student loans together

» MORE: Best student loan refinance companies Your financial history — including your credit score, income, job history and educational background — will dictate your new interest rate when you refinance.

You typically need a credit score at least in the high 600s to qualify, and rates range from around 2% to more than 9%.

So, for instance: If the average comes to 6.15%, your new interest rate will be 6.25%.

The main benefits to refinancing student loans can include the following.

Federal student loan borrowers have the option of consolidating their loans via the Direct Consolidation Loan program offered by the U. That loan is then serviced by the servicer of your choosing – of which Nelnet is one!

Consolidating allows you to merge multiple eligible loans into a single loan.

The goal with this process is not only to get the ease of a single payment, but to receive a lower interest rate based on your financial history.

Use a consolidation calculator to compare monthly payments under three different scenarios: federal student loan consolidation, private student loan refinancing and income-driven repayment plans.