Student loan refinance rates for dentists (updated monthly)

Current advertised ranges are in the rate table on this page, each with the date we checked it. We update it monthly. This page explains why your own rate may land far from the lowest number in that table.

One reminder before the rates matter. Refinancing turns federal loans into private ones and ends access to RAP, PSLF, federal forgiveness, and federal forbearance and deferment for those loans. If any of those could matter to you, read When refinancing is a mistake first.

Why the rate matters: the numbers

On a dental-sized balance, small rate differences add up fast. These are worked examples, not offers:

Example	Monthly payment	Total paid
$300,000 at 5.0% fixed APR, 10 years	about $3,180	about $382,000
$300,000 at 6.0% fixed APR, 10 years	about $3,330	about $400,000
$300,000 at 7.0% fixed APR, 10 years	about $3,480	about $418,000
$300,000 at 8.07% federal fixed, paid off in 10 years	about $3,650	about $438,000

Each point is worth about $18,000 over 10 years. That’s why a quote from one lender isn’t enough. Your rate depends on credit and the other factors below.

What drives the rate you get

Lenders price you on risk and on the loan you pick. Their own disclosures say so. KeyBank’s doctor refinance page says the APR you qualify for “is subject to your creditworthiness and depends on the loan terms.”

Credit. Your score and history are the first filter. Some lenders publish a minimum score; LendKey lists 650, as of September 2026. The CFPB notes that borrowers with a stronger credit profile after graduation may qualify for lower rates than they got as students.

Income. A dentist’s income is a strength here. Some lenders also look forward: KeyBank says resident rates depend partly on “income projections post residency.”

Debt-to-income. Lenders weigh your total monthly debt payments against income. KeyBank lists “total monthly debt payments” among its pricing factors. A new car loan or a practice loan can push your quote up.

Term. Shorter terms carry lower rates. On KeyBank’s doctor refinance table, checked September 26, 2026, the lowest fixed APR rises with each longer term. ELFI’s terms say its fixed rate depends on the term you select.

Fixed vs variable. A variable rate often starts lower but can change. ELFI’s variable rate is the prime rate plus a margin, and the maximum rate is stated in the loan agreement. The CFPB warns a variable rate can rise above the fixed rate you gave up.

Autopay discount. Many advertised rates already include a discount for automatic payments, often 0.25%. Earnest’s disclosed range excludes it, so check each lender’s footnote. KeyBank’s published rates include one. Turn autopay off and your rate goes up.

Why the advertised low goes to few borrowers

The lowest rate in any ad assumes everything goes your way at once. Top-tier credit, low debt-to-income, the shortest term, autopay on. KeyBank’s rate table also assumes a set loan amount of $100,000.

A new associate refinancing a typical dental balance often wants a 10- to 15-year term to keep payments manageable. That dentist will rarely see the headline rate. Plan around the middle of the range instead, then be pleasantly surprised.

Also compare the same thing. A 5-year variable quote and a 15-year fixed quote aren’t comparable. Neither is a rate with autopay against one without.

How soft-pull rate checks work

Most refinance lenders and marketplaces let you check rates with a soft credit pull. It doesn’t affect your credit score. You give income, school, degree and balances, and you see estimated offers.

The hard pull comes later. Splash’s disclosure explains it: once you pick a product and continue, the lender requests your full credit report. That’s a hard pull, and it may affect your credit.

So the order is simple:

1. Soft-pull several lenders the same week.
2. Pick the best offer on the same term and rate type.
3. Apply to one, which triggers the hard pull.

A marketplace such as Credible or Splash shows several lenders after one form. Add a direct lender or two that the marketplace doesn’t show. Our lender notes are on best refinance lenders for dentists.

The “as of” rule

Refinance rates move with the market and each lender’s appetite. A range we checked on the first of the month may be stale by the 30th.

That’s why the rate table shows the date each range was checked. It’s also why we never write a lender’s rate into the body text. When you compare, do the same:

• Write down the date of every quote.
• Compare quotes from the same week, not weeks apart.
• Note fixed or variable, the term, and whether autopay is included.
• Recheck the table before you apply. If it’s more than a month old, check the lender’s own site.

Fixed or variable?

For most dentists refinancing $200,000 or more over 10 years, fixed is the safer choice. You know every payment until the loan is gone.

Variable can make sense if you’ll pay the loan off in two or three years and can handle a higher payment. Example: $300,000 over 10 years at a 5.5% variable APR that rises to 7.5% in year three. The payment goes from about $3,260 to about $3,500 a month, and the total is about $415,000. The 6.0% fixed example above costs about $400,000. Both are examples, not offers.

What to do next

1. Confirm refinancing fits you with the refinance vs forgiveness tool. A great rate can still lose to PSLF or RAP.
2. Clean up your credit file before you check rates. Pay down cards and hold off on new car or practice debt.
3. Soft-pull three or more lenders in the same week.
4. Compare like with like: same term, same rate type, autopay on.
5. Read the whole offer, including hardship, death and disability terms, before you accept.