College Ave vs Earnest
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top student loans picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
College Ave
Ranked #5 of 15 in this directory
Student-focused private loans with customizable repayment terms
Earnest
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
Student loan refinancing with precision pricing and flexible payments
Our pick: Earnest. Our editors rank Earnest higher overall in Student Loans — but College Ave can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| College Ave | Earnest | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Private | Refinancing |
| Editorial rank | #5 of 15 | #3 of 15 |
Strengths
College Ave
- ✓Highly customizable loan terms and payment options
- ✓Fast application with quick credit decisions
- ✓Multiple in-school repayment options available
- ✓Competitive rates for borrowers with good credit or co-signers
- ✓Parent loans available for families wanting to borrow directly
Earnest
- ✓Precision pricing looks beyond credit score for personalized rates
- ✓Choose your exact monthly payment amount and loan term
- ✓Skip one payment per year without penalty
- ✓Ability to switch between fixed and variable rates
- ✓No origination fees or prepayment penalties
Watch out for
College Ave
- !Private loans lack federal protections and forgiveness options
- !Co-signer required for most student borrowers
- !Variable rates can increase substantially over time
- !Not available for international students without a US co-signer
Earnest
- !Requires strong credit and income for the best rates
- !No co-signer option available on refinancing loans
- !Refinancing federal loans means losing income-driven repayment and forgiveness
- !Not available in all states
Best use cases
College Ave
- →Student wanting highly customizable private loan terms and payment options
- →Parent looking to borrow directly for their child's education costs
- →Borrower needing a quick credit decision for upcoming tuition deadlines
Earnest
- →High-earning professional wanting to aggressively pay down student debt
- →Borrower wanting the flexibility to customize their exact monthly payment
- →Recent graduate with strong income seeking the lowest refinancing rate
About each tool
College Ave
College Ave Student Loans was founded by former Sallie Mae executives and focuses exclusively on private student loans and refinancing. The company offers highly customizable loan terms with 5, 8, 10, and 15-year repayment options and multiple in-school payment choices. College Ave is known for a fast, simple application process and quick credit decisions.
Earnest
Earnest offers student loan refinancing with a unique precision pricing model that considers your full financial profile — not just your credit score — to determine your exact rate. Borrowers can choose their exact monthly payment and loan term, skip one payment per year, and switch between fixed and variable rates. Earnest is owned by Navient and has refinanced billions in student loans. The platform is especially popular among high-earning professionals looking to reduce their interest costs on existing student debt.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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