How student loans affect your debt-to-income ratio

Student loan debt can affect your ability to qualify for personal loans, car loans, and even a mortgage. That's because lenders weigh student loans and debt-to-income ratio for approval decisions. The debt-to-income ratio (or DTI) is a measure of how much of your income goes toward debt repayment each month. To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, you'd simply divide your monthly debt payments by your monthly gross income. 

In other words, it's how much of your money is paying for the previous spending instead of being used for your current spending, said Ashley Norwood, regional manager northeast, AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability. For example, if your monthly gross income is $5,000 and $1,000 of that goes toward debt each month, your DTI ratio would be 20 percent. An ideal debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage, personal loans, or other loans is typically 36 percent or less. Anything more suggests to lenders that you might be overextended financially. 

Keep in mind that the debt-to-income ratio only measures debt repayment. Other monthly expenses, such as utilities, insurance, food, and transportation, aren't factored into the equation. Here's what you need to know about how your student loans affect your debt-to-income ratio — what's acceptable and how to lower it.

How do student loans affect your debt-to-income ratio?

Student loan debt can have a direct effect on your debt-to-income ratio, in that the higher your monthly payments the more your ratio can increase. 

Say you took out $100,000 in loans to pay for your undergraduate and graduate degrees, for instance. Your monthly payments on those loans total $1,500 while you're currently making a starting salary of $50,000. Assuming a gross monthly income of $4,166, your debt-to-income ratio would be 36 percent. 

In that scenario, you'd be right on the edge of what's acceptable for a mortgage. If your income were to drop even slightly, that could bump your DTI ratio up a few points, potentially making it more difficult to qualify for a home loan, personal loans or refinance loan. Adding to your debt can also be problematic.

"If a new debt will push you over that 36 percent threshold, it’s probably smart to hold off on any more debt until you can lower or eliminate some of those payments," said Norwood. 

If you want to take advantage of low interest rates, consider refinancing your student loans — especially if you have private student loans. Online marketplace Credible can help you compare rates and lenders easily.

Keep in mind also that your spouse's debt-to-income ratio can also come into play when applying for a mortgage or any other loan if you're co-borrowers. Even if you don't have much debt, your combined DTI ratio could still put a loan out of reach if your spouse is carrying a large amount of student loan debt. If you're considering applying for a mortgage and want to see what rates you qualify for now with your current debt-to-income ratio, visit Credible today.

HOW DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO AFFECTS STUDENT LOAN REFINANCING

What is an acceptable debt-to-income ratio?

Pinpointing an acceptable debt-to-income ratio typically depends on what type of loan you're applying for. 

If you're applying for a mortgage loan, for example, the sweet spot is a DTI ratio between 28 percent and 36 percent, though it's possible to get a qualified mortgage with a debt-to-income ratio as high as 43 percent. For car loans and personal loans, you may be able to qualify with a ratio in the 40 percent range. 

The acceptable limit can also be higher for refinancing student loans. For example, you may qualify for refinancing even when as much as 50 percent of your income goes toward repaying student loan debt. 

Generally, however, anything over 40 percent is a sign that debt is eating up a sizable chunk of your income. On the other hand, anything below 20 percent sends the signal that you've got your debt well under control. 

If you have private student loans, Credible can reveal what refinance rates you qualify for. You can compare student loan refinancing rates from up to 10 lenders without affecting your credit. Plus, it's 100% free!

WHY YOU'LL LIKELY SAVE MONEY IF YOU REFINANCE STUDENT LOANS NOW

How to lower your debt-to-income ratio

If your student loans and debt-to-income ratio are an obstacle to getting a mortgage or any other type of loan, there are a few things you can do to improve it. That includes:

• Considering an income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans.
• Eliminating smaller debts, such as credit cards or personal loans. 
• Increasing your gross monthly income by taking on more hours at work, angling for a raise, getting a part-time job or starting a side hustle. 

"It’s actually a simple solution, but sometimes the solution is easier said than done," said Norwood. The more creatively you can think about ways to eliminate debt or increase income, the greater the odds of successfully lowering your debt-to-income ratio.

If you need more information on your debt-to-income ratio, personal finance or private student loan refinance loans, contact your loan provider or reach out to Credible for guidance.

SHOULD I REFINANCE MY STUDENT LOANS?