[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-572205-105":53,"doc-detail-572205-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","uchicago-magazine-summer-2026-volume-118-number-4","UChicago Magazine - Summer 2026 - Volume 118, Number 4","","Summer 2026 issue of UChicago Magazine discusses the student loan savings gap revealed by research: eligible borrowers often do not refinance despite potential savings. It explains how refinancing can reduce total interest, lower monthly payments, shorten the path to debt-free status, and consolidate loans. The article addresses common misconceptions about difficulty, costs, and credit impact, and presents an example calculation plus eligibility and savings variability notes.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/uchicago-magazine-summer-2026-volume-118-number-4/572205/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/uchicago-magazine-summer-2026-volume-118-number-4/572205.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Fahsai","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-21","2026-10-13",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":47},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the student loan savings gap described in the issue?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"Research shows less than 1 in 10 eligible borrowers refinance their student loans, even though refinancing could save money.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What benefits does refinancing offer eligible borrowers?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Refinancing can replace an existing loan with a new one, often with a lower rate or terms that fit current circumstances, potentially reducing total interest, monthly payments, and time to become debt-free.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Why do many borrowers hesitate to refinance?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"The article says hesitations commonly come from misconceptions, such as beliefs that refinancing is complicated, costly, or negatively affects credit.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},572205,1792475340,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":47,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":141},549768702563,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/8000c4aa63b76e948b?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786536092046926083","SUMMER 2 0 2 6 , VOLUME 1 1 8 , NUMBER 4  \nADVERTISEMENT  \nResearch Shows Only 10% Of Eligible Borrowers Refinance Student Loans Despite Potential Savings  \nNew data reveals a persistent savings gap among eligible borrowers, and the reasons behind it  \nor millions of Americans  \nrryinentsgastudentre back loaA fnadmiebliatr, question has new urgency: how do you manage student loan debt without sacrificing everything else?  \nAfter years of disruption—the federal payment pause, legal battles over forgiveness, the end of the SAVE repayment plan—many borrowers settled into a prolonged“wait and see” mindset.  \nThe problem is that waiting has a price tag.  \nTHE STUDENT LOAN SAVINGS GAP  \nResearch shows less than 1 in 10 eligible¹ borrowers refinance² their student loans, even when doing so could mean saving³ money. That gap isn’t about financial discipline. It’s about clarity.  \nRefinancing replaces your existing loan with a new one, often at a lower rate, with terms that better  \nfit your current life. It can reduce total interest paid, lower monthly payments, shorten your timeline to becoming debt-free, or consolidate multiple loans into one.  \nThe math can be striking. A $100,000 loan at 7% interest, refinanced to 5% over 10 years, could save more than $12,000, and reduce monthly payments by roughly $100. That can mean breathing room: funds put toward retirement savings, a mortgage, or simply greater stability. Too many borrowers who would benefit simply haven’t made the move.  \nWHY MOST BORROWERS DON’TACT  \nCommon hesitations are often based on misconceptions. Many borrowers assume refinancing is complicated, costs money, or will ding their credit score. Earnest lets you check your rate in minutes with no credit impact and no com-  \n\n| Loan Amount\u003Cbr>Interest Rate | CURRENT\u003Cbr>LOAN\u003Cbr>$100,000\u003Cbr>7% | AFTER\u003Cbr>REFINANCING\u003Cbr>$100,000\u003Cbr>5% |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Monthly Payment $1,161 |  | $1,060 |\n| Total Cost Over 10 Years $139,270 |  | $127,165 |\n| Total Savings |  | $12,105 |\n| Monthly Payment Reduction |  | $101 |\n\n*Example above is for illustration only and may not reflect actual Earnest rates or terms. Eligibility and offers depend on your credit profile. Savings are not guaranteed and will vary.  \nmitment. But each month spent at a higher-than-necessary rate is money that can’t be recovered.  \nRefinancing isn’t right for everyone. Borrowers pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness or income-driven repayment plans should weigh whether staying in the federal system makes more sense. But for borrowers with stable income, solid credit, and no path to federal forgiveness, refinancing is one of the few direct levers available to lower the total cost of debt.  \nWHY BORROWERS CHOOSE EARNEST  \nEarnest helps you go from debt to wealth. Check your refinancing rate in minutes with no credit impact, no fees (not even late payment fees), and the ability to customize your exact monthly payment down to the dollar.  \nChecking your rate isn’t a  \ncommitment. It’s a starting point.  \nSee what you could save  \n[at earnest.com/uchicago](at earnest.com/uchicago)  \n1 This claim is based on analysis combining publicly available data and proprietary underwriting models. We applied our proprietary data and underwriting criteria to estimate the portion of borrowers who are credit-eligible and could achieve savings through refinancing. Actual savings and eligibility may vary based on individual circumstances, creditworthiness, and current loan terms. This analysis reflects market conditions as of 2025 and is subject to change.  \n2 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.  \n3 Choosing to refinance to a longer term may lower your monthly paym","cbCaiqkBe61XNqeX","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqkBe61XNqeX","pdf",19569889,95,"English","# Student Loan Savings Gap\n## Research Findings on Eligible Borrowers\n## How Refinancing Can Reduce Costs\n## Common Hesitations and Misconceptions\n## Earnest: Rate Checking and Payment Customization\n## Disclosures and Eligibility Notes","[{\"question\":\"What is the student loan savings gap described in the issue?\",\"answer\":\"Research shows less than 1 in 10 eligible borrowers refinance their student loans, even though refinancing could save money.\"},{\"question\":\"What benefits does refinancing offer eligible borrowers?\",\"answer\":\"Refinancing can replace an existing loan with a new one, often with a lower rate or terms that fit current circumstances, potentially reducing total interest, monthly payments, and time to become debt-free.\"},{\"question\":\"Why do many borrowers hesitate to refinance?\",\"answer\":\"The article says hesitations commonly come from misconceptions, such as beliefs that refinancing is complicated, costly, or negatively affects credit.\"}]","UChicago Magazine - Summer 2026 - Volume 118, Number 4 | PDF",1791926145,33]