Introducing Earnest for employers: Smarter student loan refinancing support for your team

By Jason Dilorenzo | Published on March 30, 2026

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Since 2013, Earnest has helped nearly 300,000 borrowers refinance1 more than $23 billion in student debt. We’ve built our reputation around transparent lending, exceptional service, and a deep commitment to helping people make informed financial decisions.

Now, we’re bringing that same borrower-first mindset to the workplace benefits space.

Why student loan support matters now more than ever

Over the past few years, the student loan landscape has changed dramatically:

• The CARES Act paused payments and interest for federal borrowers for nearly four years
• That relief has now ended, and payments—and interest—have resumed
• More than 8 million borrowers are enrolled in a repayment plan that’s slated for phase-out, adding confusion as interest starts accruing again
• Graduate federal loan rates have climbed as high as 9.08%, making borrowing more expensive than ever
• Forgiveness programs, like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), face increasing legal and legislative uncertainty

For many borrowers, refinancing may once again be worth considering—especially as interest rates rise and federal protections evolve.

Meet Earnest for employers & affiliates

Earnest for employers & affiliates is a new channel dedicated to helping brokers, benefits professionals, and HR teams offer meaningful student loan support through a refinancing benefit that’s:

• Free to implement
• Simple to activate
• Backed by our award-winning customer service

Our mission is twofold:

• Help borrowers understand when refinancing could be a good fit
• Support borrowers in making smart, informed decisions—whatever their path

Let’s connect

Curious about launching a free student loan refinancing benefit for your company or clients? We’re here to help.

Explore our Employer page to learn more about how we support your workforce

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About the Author

Jason Dilorenzo

Jason joined Earnest’s Employer team in 2025 after spending 15 years as an advocate and advisor to graduate schools, employers and national partners on the topic of student loan best practices, legislation, and evolving benefits landscape. He’s spoken at many of the nation’s top universities. In his spare time, you’ll likely find him out on the local pickleball courts, appropriately trying to master the “Erne” shot.

Disclaimer

This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

1 Please note that you will lose benefits associated with your underlying federal loans, such as federal Income-driven Repayment Plans, Economic Hardship Deferment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or other deferment and forbearance options, if you refinance into a private loan. If you file for bankruptcy, you may still be required to pay back this loan.