Earnest Student Loans vs CommonBond Student Loans

Earnest is a merit-based lender with custom terms. How does it compare to CommonBond? Read our comparison chart below.

Earnest sets itself apart by taking a more personalized approach to lending. Instead of just looking at your credit score, Earnest also considers your job, savings habits, and how you handle finances. It offers flexibility in payments, with the option to switch between fixed and variable rates. You also can skip a payment every 12 months without penalty. Minimum $5,000 in loans to be eligible.

While CommonBond is a student loan refinance provider focused on community. It has a strong community that hosts networking events and career assistance. In addition, it has a social mission to fund the education of global students in need. CommonBond offers both fixed and variable rate loans, as well as a hybrid loan. Minimum $5,000 in loans to be eligible.

Compare Earnest with CommonBond, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.

	Earnest Student Loans	CommonBond Student Loans


	SPECIAL OFFER Refinance Student Loans - Learn More Read Earnest Review	SPECIAL OFFER Refinance Student Loans - Learn More Read CommonBond Review
	Benefits and Features
Variable APR	1.74% - 5.64% (includes 0.25% autopay discount)	2.43% to 6.59% (with AutoPay)
Fixed APR	2.44% - 5.79% (includes 0.25% autopay discount)	3.49% to 8.07% (with AutoPay)
Minimum Amount	$5,000	$5,000
Maximum Amount	$500,000	Up to $500,000
Loan Term	Custom term from 5 to 20 years (180 term options)	5 to 20 years; Hybrid loans are 5 years of fixed payments and 5 years of variable payments
State Residency	Most states with the exception of: DE, KY, and NV and no variable rate loans to residents of: AK, IL, MN, NH, OH, TN and TX	All states eligible
Degree Requirements	Associates or higher	Associates or higher
Income Requirements	None	None
Employment Requirements	Must be employed or have an offer for a position to start within 6 months	Must be employed or have an offer
Interest Only Payments	No	No
Origination Fees	None	None
Prepayment Penalty	None	None
Can Use a Cosigner	No	Yes
Can Release a Cosigner	Only on existing loans	Yes
Auto-Pay Interest Rate Reduction	Yes	Yes
Soft Credit Check	Yes	Yes
Unemployment Protection	Yes	Yes
	CreditDonkey® Reviews

Customer Service
Loan Term
Ease of Use
Interest Rates
Payment Flexibility
Pros & Cons	Pros: Looks beyond your credit score Custom term based on budget Option to skip one payment every 12 months Cons: Tougher requirements No co-signer option	Pros: Hybrid program Payment protections Social mission Cons: Not available for all states Long process to approval
Bottom Line	Merit-based lender with custom terms... Read full review	Community-focused lender with unique hybrid rate option... Read full review

	Refinance Student Loans	Refinance Student Loans
Earnest: Pricing information from published website as of 12/08/2021 CommonBond: Pricing information from published website as of 6/19/2019

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Which is Better: Earnest or CommonBond?

Still need help deciding which student loans is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing Earnest or SoFi.

In short: CommonBond's payment flexibility is excellent.

Articles on Earnest Student Loans

Earnest Reviews

Earnest offers low student loan refinance rates and customizes payments based on your budget. But approval may be harder. Read on for the pros and cons.