College Ave: 2025 Student Loan Refinance Company Review

College Ave is a private student loan lender that offers refinancing for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, including medical, dental, and pharmacy programs. Founded in 2014, the company is known for fast approvals, flexible repayment options, and competitive rates. Borrowers can choose fixed or variable rate loans with no origination or prepayment fees. While College Ave serves borrowers nationwide, it doesn’t provide physician-specific discounts or training-related programs. Physicians and dentists interested in refinancing can check their rates with LeverageRx to see if they qualify for better terms through physician-focused lenders.
 

What Is College Ave?

College Ave is a Wilmington, Delaware-based lender focused exclusively on education loans. The company was founded by former Sallie Mae executives Joe DePaulo and Tim Staley with the goal of simplifying the student loan process through technology and flexibility.

Since 2019, College Ave has expanded its loan capacity through partnerships with major investors such as Guggenheim Investments. Today, it manages more than $2 billion in committed loan purchasing power and serves borrowers across the country.

Although College Ave offers solid customer service and streamlined lending, it does not specialize in physician lending. Doctors and dentists with large medical school balances may find better long-term value by checking their refinance rates with LeverageRx.
 

Student Loan Refinancing Basics

College Ave allows borrowers to refinance both federal and private loans into one fixed or variable rate loan. Loan amounts start at $5,000 and go up to $300,000 for borrowers with a professional doctorate such as MD, DO, DDS, DMD, or PharmD.
Borrowers can select repayment terms from five to twenty years, and choose among several payment structures:

• Full principal and interest: Make full payments immediately.
• Interest-only payments: Pay interest for up to two years before switching to full payments.
• Flat payments: Pay $25 per month while in school.
• Deferred payments: Delay payments until after graduation, with accrued interest added to the total balance.

These options make College Ave attractive for borrowers still in training, though deferring or paying interest-only can increase the total cost over time.

How the Application Process Works

College Ave’s online application takes just a few minutes. Borrowers can view estimated rates through a soft credit check, meaning their credit score isn’t affected. After pre-approval, a full application and hard credit inquiry are required to finalize the loan.

Applicants need to provide their Social Security number, annual income, and desired refinance amount.
 

Pros and Cons of Refinancing with College Ave

Pros

• Available in all 50 states
• Flexible repayment options for students, residents, and fellows
• No application, origination, or prepayment fees
• 0.25 % interest rate discount for automatic payments
• Fixed and variable rate choices
• Cosigner option to help secure better rates
• Loan discharge in the event of death or disability

Cons

• No cosigner release option
• Interest accrues during deferment or interest-only repayment
• No resident or physician-specific discounts
• Limited customer service hours

Who College Ave Is Best For

College Ave can work well for borrowers with strong credit who want fast approval, flexible terms, and a fully online process. However, physicians and dentists with higher loan balances or training discounts available elsewhere may find better value with lenders focused specifically on medical professionals.
 

Key Takeaways

College Ave offers fast applications, flexible repayment structures, and competitive rates with nationwide availability. For physicians, it’s a straightforward option, but not one designed specifically for medical professionals. If you’re exploring refinancing, take a minute to check your rates with LeverageRx to see if a physician-focused lender can offer stronger long-term savings.