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KelpDAO Bridge Exploit Analysis : North Korean Hackers Steal $292 Million Via Off-Chain Attack

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Chainalysis noted that on April 18, 2026, cybercriminals believed to be tied to North Korea’s Lazarus Group executed one of the largest DeFi heists of the year, siphoning approximately $292 million (116,500 rsETH) from KelpDAO’s LayerZero-powered bridge. Unlike typical smart-contract vulnerabilities, this breach targeted off-chain infrastructure, exposing critical weaknesses in cross-chain verification systems.

Chainalysis indicated that the incident underscores how even audited protocols remain vulnerable when single points of failure exist in supporting networks.

The attack centered on KelpDAO’s use of LayerZero’s bridging adapter for transferring rsETH across chains.

The setup relied on Decentralized Verifier Networks (DVNs) to confirm transactions from the source chain, Unichain.

In a risky configuration common for new deployments, KelpDAO employed a single verifier—the LayerZero Labs DVN—creating a 1-of-1 dependency. Attackers exploited this by compromising two internal RPC nodes operated by LayerZero.

They gained access to the DVN’s node list, injected malicious software on isolated clusters, and simultaneously launched a DDoS assault on an external RPC node.

This forced the system to rely exclusively on the tainted internal nodes.

The compromised nodes deliberately reported fabricated block data, falsely indicating that rsETH had been burned on Unichain. No such burn ever occurred.

With the forged message validated by the sole DVN, the Ethereum-side contract released the full 116,500 rsETH to attacker-controlled addresses.

Every on-chain step—message relay, signature verification, and fund transfer—appeared legitimate, evading conventional monitoring tools that scan only individual transactions.

KelpDAO’s team quickly identified the anomaly and activated emergency pauses across Ethereum and its Layer 2 deployments.

They blacklisted the attacker’s addresses and collaborated with security firm SEAL-911, successfully thwarting a follow-up attempt that could have drained an additional $95 million (40,000 rsETH).

On April 20, the Arbitrum Security Council, working with law enforcement, froze more than 30,766 ETH of the stolen proceeds on downstream addresses, preventing immediate laundering while preserving chain integrity for other users.

Chainalysis analysts emphasize that the exploit succeeded because bridges depend on an essential cross-chain invariant: assets released on the destination chain must precisely match those burned or locked on the source.

Here, the phantom release created unbacked rsETH, threatening liquidity pools and collateral systems that rely on the token. Traditional audits and transaction monitors missed the breach entirely, as the manipulation occurred entirely off-chain.

The event highlights urgent lessons for DeFi infrastructure. Single-verifier setups and over-reliance on any one party’s RPC infrastructure represent unacceptable risks in high-value bridges.

Industry professionals recommend multi-DVN configurations and real-time invariant monitoring tools capable of cross-referencing burns and releases across chains.

Such systems could trigger rapid pauses before funds are swapped or bridged further.

While the swift response limited total losses, the attack serves as a reminder and concerning wake-up call that proper governance, coordinated freezes, and advanced detection layers are now essential to safeguarding decentralized finance against state-sponsored threats. Chainalysis concluded that as investigations continue, the case may reveal additional tactics used by the TraderTraitor subgroup of the infamous Lazarus Group.



How To Start Crypto Trading? Step by Step Course for Beginners

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How To Start Crypto Trading? Step by Step Course for Beginners



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Top 10 Markets For Rookie Investors to Invest In This Year

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First-time homebuyers and small investors look for many of the same attributes when considering where to buy real estate: affordability, safety, stability, employment, accessibility, limited competition, and prosperity. That’s why Zillow’s 2026 Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers also serves as a handy cheat sheet for investors.

Kara Ng, a senior economist at Zillow, told CNBC Make It that one thing the top buyer markets have in common is that they are all located in the Midwest or the Sunbelt. In other words, stay away from pricey coastal markets if you’re looking for a good investment.

Having a property that at least pays for itself—given current interest rates—and that increases in equity moderately, should be the goal of any investor who plans to buy using a loan.

Avoiding a financial disaster should the property be vacant for a month or two also ties into the affordability aspect of Zillow’s top picks, where all the selections fall below the 30% of monthly housing costs recommended for financial well-being.

The Zillow Top 10

That said, Zillow’s top 10 list does raise a few eyebrows. Here is the full list, along with the reasons investors should consider these metros.

1. Jacksonville, Florida: Median home price: $282,895 

The Florida city was ranked No. 1 by Zillow, primarily due to affordability and, of course, the lure of the Florida lifestyle and bustling port. Florida’s most populous city is never short of potential renters, which is why 21% of single-family homes in the city are owned by corporations.

2. Birmingham, Alabama: Median home price: $135,870

This has been an investor hot spot for a while. A city where around 50% of the population are renters, affordability, and a younger, employed demographic make this a good place to invest.

3. San Antonio, Texas: Median home price: $249,810

Affordability and the relative financial health of the renter population mean this is a place where you are more likely to receive your rent on time. 

4. Atlanta, Georgia: Median home price: $385,599

“Hotlanta” is rarely out of the news for sports, entertainment, and more. It has a generally financially well-to-do population, affordable housing, and many employment opportunities, which offer high gross yields for investors in the right neighborhoods.

5. Houston, Texas: Median home price: $264,336

Although the population skews slightly older, it’s generally affordable, with multiple employment opportunities and booming suburbs. The scale of the city and its economic diversity work in Houston’s favor.

6. St. Louis, Missouri: Median home price: $181,928

Over half the Zillow listings here are within reach for first-time homebuyers, which also means that rent is affordable and cash-flowing opportunities exist.

7. Detroit, Michigan: Median home price: $75,358

Detroit is very much a neighborhood-by-neighborhood, block-by-block city for investors, despite its well-documented demand. Find the right property, though, and it will most likely be affordable, with a large renter pool. Meticulous tenant screening is essential.

8. Raleigh, North Carolina: Median home price: $433,996

Breaking even is the goal in super-hot North Carolina, which is relatively affordable given its high-paying tech and education-driven economy and appreciating prices. It’s a good long-term investment.

9. Baltimore, Maryland: Median home price: $188,101

Baltimore might be a surprising inclusion for some, but don’t let its gritty reputation fool you. Not all of Baltimore is like an episode of The Wire. The home of novelist Anne Tyler and filmmaker John Waters, among many others, Baltimore has an artistic and academic reputation, with several neighborhoods worth investing in, where affordability gives it a clear advantage over other East Coast cities.

10. Louisville, Kentucky: Median home price: $261,482

Median-income renters have plenty of choice here, allowing small investors to cash flow a single-family home. For investors willing to put in some work, it’s possible to unearth some real gems here, such as this one.

What All The Cities Have in Common

Rents in these areas are unlikely to trouble tenants while allowing investors to break even, if not cash flow, even with current interest rates.

Employment and younger demographics all augur well for buy-and-hold investors looking to commit long-term, reaping benefits through appreciation, rent growth, and eventual mortgage paydown.

The Contrast to Other Markets

While it is possible to find more affordable real estate markets, the combination of affordability, a large tenant pool, incomes, and employment makes these Zillow markets vibrant urban ecosystems that buck the trend of inaffordability and negative cash flow that has befallen many pricier markets, where sales are down, complicated by high rates and global geopolitical tensions.

“There is little in the near-term backdrop to suggest a quick rebound in sales,” Daniel Vielhaber, an economist at Nationwide, told Reuters after March’s national sales numbers showed a nine-month low. “We continue to look for sluggish sales this year, particularly in the first half, before a gradual pickup as mortgage rates decline in the second half and into 2027.” 

Consequently, the National Association of Realtors lowered its estimate of home sales growth to 4%. “Lower consumer confidence and softer job growth continue to hold back buyers,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said. Plus, “inventory remains a major constraint on the market. The inventory-to-sales ratio, or supply-to-demand ratio, is below historical norms.”

Final Thoughts

While the metros on Zillow’s list aren’t immune to economic and global headwinds, many of these cities have avoided the worst of the predictions due to their inventory, affordability, and lack of cost-burdened tenants.

Recent surveys suggest that the focus will remain on affordable, somewhat insulated markets in which to live and invest. A recent Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research found that Americans—both working and retired—were deeply concerned about their ability to sustain themselves, which plays into the affordability of Zillow’s selections.

“Retirement confidence has clearly softened this year, and the data show why,” said Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at EBRI, in a press release, “Americans are contending with a mix of immediate financial pressures and long-term uncertainty. Many workers are struggling with debt, inflation, and rising housing and healthcare costs, while retirees are increasingly worried about the future of Social Security and Medicare. Together, those pressures are making it harder for people to feel secure about their retirement.”

America’s bid for energy supremacy is being forged in war

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Additional work by Jana Tauschinski

Oil and gas tanker location and destination data are from Kpler. The map shows the latest position for vessels with an active AIS signal on April 19–20, filtered by minimum capacity thresholds: crude tankers of at least 50,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT); oil product tankers of at least 55,000 DWT; oil/chemical tankers of at least 40,000 DWT; LNG carriers of at least 150,000 cubic metres; and LPG carriers of at least 50,000 cubic metres. Net fossil fuel import data by country are based on Ember analysis of the IEA World Energy Balances 2023.

Rate cuts seen as more likely next move for Bank of Canada: TD

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Rate cuts seen as more likely next move for Bank of Canada: TD




Resilient growth and contained inflation pressures suggest the Bank of Canada is more likely to ease than tighten if it moves, according to a TD economist.

Businesses spending $4 million to cross the Panama Canal as ‘it’s safer’ than the Strait of Hormuz

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Businesses spending $4 million to cross the Panama Canal as ‘it’s safer’ than the Strait of Hormuz



Businesses have doled out as much as $4 million for last-minute plans to move boats through the Panama Canal in recent weeks, the Panama Canal Authority says, as Iran war’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz generates a seismic shift in global trade flows.

While passage through the canal usually comes at a flat rate via reservations, companies without bookings can pay more to cross through an auction that awards slots to the highest bidder. The alternative would be waiting for days off the coast of Panama City.

The demand for slots skyrocketed and the auction prices ballooned in recent weeks as a standoff between the Iran and the United States over access to the strait kept traffic bottlenecked. Commercial vessels increasingly have traveled through the Panama Canal carrying shipments that were rerouted or purchased from different countries to avoid the waterway off Iran’s coast.

“With all the bombings, the missiles, the drones … companies are saying it’s safer and less expensive to cross through the Panama Canal,” said Rodrigo Noriega, a lawyer and analyst in Panama City. “All of this is affecting global supply chains.”

Meanwhile, Panama’s government is “maximizing what it can earn from the Panama Canal,” Noriega said.

The average price to cross through the canal ranges between $300,000 and $400,000 depending on the vessel. Previously, to get an earlier crossing, businesses would pay an additional $250,000 to $300,000. In recent weeks, the average additional cost has jumped to around $425,000.

Normally, about 6% of global trade passes through the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in Central America, according to Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University. The canal has recovered from several years of drought, he added.

Goods like car parts, grain and consumer electronics being shipped from China to Europe or vice versa, or from China to the U.S. East Coast, pass through the canal.

Some oil passes moves through the Panama Canal, but it isn’t a viable large-scale alternative to the Strait of Hormuz because of its size. The largest ships that carry oil, known as ultra-large container vessels, are too big for the canal.

Ricaurte Vásquez, the canal’s administrator, said one company that he would not name paid an extra $4 million when its fuel vessel had to change its destination because of ongoing geopolitical tensions.

“It was a ship carrying fuel to Europe, and they redirected it to Singapore, and it needed to get there because Singapore is running out of fuel,” he said.

Other oil companies paid an excess of $3 million in addition to the crossing fee to accelerate their passage in the face of soaring oil prices.

The extra fees are becoming so high not because ships are piling up at the canal, but rather because of last-minute shifts and greater urgency for vessels to pass through in the wake of broader trade chaos, Vásquez said. He emphasized that these costs were temporarily being shouldered by companies based on their level of urgency.

“They decide how high to go on the price,” Vásquez said.

At the same time as Panama’s government is earning more money from the newly brisk business in the canal, its shipping industry is being confronted by the geopolitical struggle in the same way as those of other countries.

Panama’s foreign ministry on Wednesday accused Iran of illegally seizing a Panama-flagged vessel from the Italian company, MSC Francesca, in the Strait of Hormuz. Panama, which has one of the world’s largest ship registries, said the ship was “forcibly taken” by Iran. It wasn’t immediately clear if the boat remained in Iranian custody.

“This represents a serious attack on maritime security and constitutes unnecessary escalation at a time when the international community is advocating for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or coercion of any kind,” it said.

Noriega, the analyst, said that the amount companies are paying to cross the Panama Canal may continue to go up if the conflict stretches on, as oil prices are already skyrocketing. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil briefly jumped above $107 this week, soaring from around $66 a barrel a year ago.

Nobody expected the war to have quite so much effect on global trade, Noriega said.

___

Mae Anderson in New York contributed reporting.

Rakuten Big Give Week, Earn 15% Cash Back at Many Stores May 4-11

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Rakuten Big Give Week, Earn 15% Cash Back at Many Stores May 4-11


Rakuten Big Give Week

Rakuten is advertising a “Big Give Week” promotion which will run for eight days. Running May 4-11, the promotion includes hundreds of stores that will offer 15% cash back and some probably even higher than that.

The following brands are showing as part of the promotion:

  • Adidas
  • Bluemercury
  • Bombas
  • Columbia Sportswear
  • Dermastore
  • DSW
  • Expedia
  • FARM Rio
  • Intimissimi
  • Kate Spade Outlet
  • KitchenAid
  • LEGO
  • Lenovo
  • LG
  • Office Depot
  • PetSmart
  • Puma
  • Ray-Ban
  • Sandro
  • SoFi
  • Sonos
  • Ulta
  • Verizon
  • Viator

and more.

If you don’t have a Rakuten account yet, you can sign up now to earn a $50 bonus. Depending on the account you choose, you can earn that as cash back, or 5,000 Amex or Bilt points.

Intro to Farm business management and records

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Intro to Farm business management and records



Introduction to farm business management and keeping records. Some good questions to answer are (1) what are the three sections of a business set of records? (2) What is the listing of accounts that are used to manage business records?

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Why AMD Stock Surged Today

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Why AMD Stock Surged Today


Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +13.85%) popped on Friday, following positive analyst commentary.

Image source: Getty Images.

Like its rival, AMD stands to profit from the rise of AI agents

D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria upgraded AMD’s stock to buy from neutral and lifted his price forecast to $375 per share.

Luria pointed to Intel‘s blowout earnings report released after the market close on Thursday as a reason to be bullish on AMD’s shares. The semiconductor titan’s robust sales of data center chips provided clear evidence of the growing need for high-speed central processing units (CPUs) to power AI agents.

“We view Intel’s results as a precursor for a huge step-up for AMD’s CPU franchise and believe the structural shift toward agentic AI workloads is creating unprecedented demand for server CPUs,” Luria said.

Advanced Micro Devices Stock Quote

Today’s Change

(13.85%) $42.28

Current Price

$347.61

Moreover, with demand likely to outpace supply, AMD can raise prices for its high-performance CPUs, according to Luria. That should help to boost the chip designer’s margins and earnings power.

More details are due out soon

Investors can expect to hear more about AMD’s AI-driven sales and profits from its upcoming first-quarter financial report on May 5. The company will also hold a conference call that same day beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET, during which management will likely discuss the chipmaker’s impressive AI-fueled growth prospects.

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices and Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best MBA Student Loans To Pay For Business School

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Best MBA Student Loans To Pay For Business School


Key Points

  • MBA students can access both Direct Federal Loans and Private loans to pay for school.
  • Starting in 2026, Direct Federal loans will have a lower limit of $20,500 annually for MBA students.
  • Private loans will be a more common option for MBA students looking to supplement their federal student loans.

The best MBA student loans are federal loans, followed by private. But student loans aren’t the only way (or best way) to pay for business school.

The truth is: getting an MBA is expensive. The Masters of Business Administration degree could be a way to bolster your business skills – but it does come at a price. And is it worth it?

According to a recent Investopedia article, the average cost of tuition alone for a 2 year MBA program is $80,000. And that’s just tuition alone.

When you factor in the other expenses like books, room and board, and more, you could start seeing the price climb to between $100,000 and $200,000. And for a full time program, the opportunity cost of lost wages could be huge.

Whether you’re looking at a part-time MBA program or a full-time MBA program, you’re likely going to need student loans as one part of your financial aid pie. Here’s what you need to know about paying for your MBA program, including the best student loan options to pay for your MBA.

Let’s break it down.

>> Skip to the Best MBA Student Loans

How To Pay For Your MBA (Order Of Operations)

There is a smart order of operations to pay for your MBA program – and it doesn’t start with student loans. Before you ever embark on an MBA program, you need to strongly consider the ROI (Return On Investment) of your MBA program.

The goal of an advanced degree, like an MBA, is to help you move your career (and salary) forward. Beyond your current job, an MBA also enables you to build a stronger network that might allow you to get a better job after graduation.

However, you need to align your MBA with your skills and job experience. An MBA loses a lot of it’s value within 1-2 years after graduation. As such, you need to combine your MBA with your skills to maximize it’s value. If you’re over-educated and under-experienced, you won’t see a great ROI. 

When it comes to calculating the ROI, it’s all about how much you’re going to spend, and how much debt you’re going to take on. Follow this list from best to worst to get an idea of how to pay for your MBA program.

  1. Employer Tuition Assistance Programs
  2. Your Own Savings
  3. Scholarships and Grants
  4. Direct PLUS Student Loans
  5. Private Student Loans

Of course, there are variations on a theme – especially when it comes to paying for an MBA. For example, your employer might cover all the costs of tuition, and you just need to pay for the remaining items. This could lead you to change your order of operations, since Direct PLUS loans might be off the table.

It’s always important to analyze what you need for your own situation.

Employer Tuition Assistance Programs

One of the awesome things about an MBA program is that many employers also different tuition assistance programs to help pay for all (or some) of the cost of getting your MBA. These programs might go under the name Tuition Reimbursement Program or Tuition Assistance Program.

For example, in my situation, my employer offered to reimburse me $5,250 per year until my MBA was paid off. This was win-win. It allowed me to get an MBA almost free, and my employer received some assurance that I would stick around – if I left, I didn’t get any of the accrued money that was owed to me.

As such, I had to take out student loans up front to pay for my MBA, but my employer reimbursed me annually until the student loans were paid off. 

There are also student loan repayment programs that some employers are starting to offer. These can be a great asset if you already have student loans.

Your Own Savings

After looking into employer assistance programs, you can potentially consider using your own savings. This is especially true for individuals who are going back to school mid-career. You might have enough in savings to make a strong dent in the cost of your MBA program.

A few rules to keep in mind when using your own savings to pay for an MBA:

  • Never use retirement plan money (i.e. don’t pull or take a loan from your 401k, IRA, etc.)
  • Ensure that you have an emergency fund of at least 6 months

If you follow those rules, it’s safe to use the other money to pay for school. This could significantly reduce or eliminate the amount of student loans you would potentially need to borrow.

Scholarships And Grants

Going back to school for an MBA, you might to even have considered scholarships and grants as something MBA candidates “do”. But there is definitely free money available to graduate students like MBA candidates, and you should take advantage.

Check out this list of MBA scholarships available.

Also, don’t dismiss grants either. There are a lot of different grants that you might qualify for if you put some time and research into it. Check out our guide on using grants to pay for college.

Direct Graduate Student Loans

If you’ve exhausted all the options to pay for your MBA, it’s time to look at Direct Grad Student Loans. Direct Grad loans are the best student loans to take out for your MBA. The reason is simple: Grad Loans allow for income-driven repayment plans, student loan forgiveness, and hardship options like deferment and forbearance.

These loans can be take out to cover the maximum cost of attendance (according to your schools’ financial aid office), minus any other financial aid received. For most MBA candidates taking out student loans, Direct Grad Loans can make up the difference of what’s needed to pay for college. 

Note: Starting in 2026, there will be new caps on Direct loans for graduate school of $20,500 per year, and $100,000 lifetime limit. Given that an MBA is a two year program, keep in mind you’ll likely face more issues with the annual limits versus the lifetime limit.

Direct Grad Loans have some of the highest interest rates for Federal loans, so it’s important to consider that when borrowing. If you have excellent credit, you might want to consider other options now or later.

Private Student Loans

Some MBA candidates cannot solely rely on Federal loans to pay for the cost of getting an MBA.

Either they exhaust Federal loan limits due to their school’s cost, they need more funds to cover living expenses while attending school, or they need more time to complete their education (which increases cost). 

Others may find more value in taking on private loans given their excellent credit and ability to repay. In this case, private student loans may be a cheaper alternative due to low interest rates and excellent borrower programs.

We recommend borrowers shop and compare their private student loan options. It’s essential to get at least 2-3 quotes from lenders and see your options first. Platforms like Credible and Splash make comparison easy, but they don’t have all the lenders available.

Here are two other great private MBA student loan options:

Earnest

Earnest has traditionally been known for student loan refinancing, but they now offer fairly flexible private student loans for business school as well.

They offer top notch rates and terms, and one of the most generous grace periods after graduation – at 9 months. They also don’t charge fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment.

The flexible terms continue with the option to skip a payment once every 12 months. And you can even put your loans in forbearance during an unpaid parental leave.

Check our out full Earnest student loans review here.

Get a quote at Earnest here >>

Earnest Student Loans Details

Product Name

Earnest Student Loan

Min Loan Amount

$1,000

Max Loan Amount

Cost of Attendance

Variable APR

4.99% – 15.97% APR

Fixed APR

2.84% – 14.30% APR

Loan Terms

5, 7, 10, 12, or 15 Years

Promotions

None
Earnest Logo

GET A QUOTE

Sallie Mae MBA Student Loans

Sallie Mae is probably one of the most well-known lenders on this list. They are the nation’s largest private student loan lender by loan volume. As a result, they also offer some of the most competitive private MBA student loans out there.

You can take out Sallie Mae student loans starting at just $1,000 (which is one of the lowest) and can borrow up to the total cost of education². Sallie Mae has a variety of repayment plans to select from, they offer 48 months of deferment during your internship⁴, and 12-months of interest-only payments after your grace period⁵.

Read our full Sallie Mae review here.

Sallie Mae MBA Student Loans Details

Product Name

Sallie Mae MBA Student Loan

Min Loan Amount

$1,000

Max Loan Amount

Up to 100% of the school-certified expenses²

Variable APR

3.75% -13.38% APR¹

Fixed APR

2.89% – 14.99% APR¹

Loan Terms

10 to 15 Years

Promotions

None
Sallie Mae

GET A QUOTE

Ascent MBA Student Loans

Ascent Student Loans is a solid choice as a private lender – as they great graduate student loans for business school. They also offer a solid loan amount range from $2,001 – $400,000*, competitive rates, and easy repayment terms.

They offer loans starting at just $2,001* minimum, and they offer 48 month loan deferment while in school, and a grade period to postpone full principal and interest payments up to 36-months after graduation, up to 9-months after leaving the program, or otherwise dropping to less-than-half-time enrollment.

Read our full Ascent Student Loans review here.

Ascent MBA Student Loans Details

Product Name

Ascent MBA Student Loan

Min Loan Amount

$2,001

Max Loan Amount

$400,000

Variable APR

4.13% – 15.34% APR

Fixed APR

3.24% – 15.86% APR

Loan Terms

5, 7, 10, 12 15, or 20 years

Promotions

None
Best MBA Loan: Ascent Student Loans

GET A QUOTE

International MBA Student Loans

International students cannot get federal student loans and must rely on private student loans. International students make up anywhere from 18% to 20% of the MBA population in the United States.

There are two main options for international student MBA loans. Prodigy allows international students to borrow up to $220,000. They also don’t require a US cosigner, and have various repayment options. Check out Prodigy here >>

Another option is MPower. They have a lower lifetime limit of $100,000, but also may be a good choice for international business school students.

Refinancing Student Loans After Graduation

If you’re finding this article after you’ve already taken out loans for your MBA, you might consider student loan refinancing for your MBA loan.

If you have private loans or high-interest Federal Loans (like the Direct PLUS Loans mentioned above), refinancing might allow you to lower your payment or save on interest on your MBA student loans. Through refinancing, you take out a new student loan from a private lender and use it pay off your other loans. With the new student loan, you may qualify for a lower interest rate, better repayment term, or lower monthly payment.

If you have Federal student loans, refinancing will cost you the ability to apply for an income-driven repayment plan or forbearance. That’s why, for many borrowers, we don’t think you should refinance your Federal student loan for a private student loan.

However, in some cases, MBA candidates are the exception to the rule. After getting your MBA, you might have the potential to see your salary rise by a significant amount of money. For many, this means they would benefit more from getting a student loan with a low interest rate, versus keeping a Federal student loan.

For example, Direct PLUS Graduate loans currently have an interest rate of 8.048%. But you can refinance with Credible and potentially save a lot in interest!

See if Credible makes sense to refinance. You can shop loans in 2 minutes. As a bonus to College Investor readers, you’ll get up to a $1,000 gift card when you refinance with Credible. See terms. Check out Credible today.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that getting an MBA can be expensive, but for many, it’s worth it. The trick is to ensure that you’re figuring out how much it’s worth – almost like Step 0 of your MBA education. 

Remember, you can ensure that an MBA is valuable by paying as little as possible out of pocket. Start checking with your employer, and looking to maximize student loan tuition assistance programs. Only borrow in student loans what you absolutely have to.

Remember, what’s the end goal of your MBA degree? Don’t just go get an MBA “just ’cause'”. Have a clear path to getting a return, and be mindful of how you spend and pay for it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Loans For Your MBA

Which MBA student loan is best?

The best MBA student loan is going to be a federal Direct Graduate Loan. After that, it’s important that borrowers shop around for private loans and get multiple quotes.

Should students take out student loans for an MBA?

Only if necessary. The should exhaust other options first, especially programs like employer tuition reimbursement. 

What to look for in an MBA student loan?

Borrowers should look at federal student loans first. After that, they can look at private MBA student loans. For these looks, borrowers should look at the interest rate, loan term, and repayment terms to find what works best for them.

How long are MBA loans?

Federal Direct loans can be extended to 25 years of repayment. Private MBA loans range from 5 to 20 years.

Disclosures

Ascent Student Loans

*Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations, terms and conditions may apply for Ascent’s Terms and Conditions please visit AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. 

Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed are effective as of 4/1/2026 and reflect an Automatic Payment Discount (ACH). The ACH discount consists of 0.25% on credit-based college student loans submitted prior to 6/1/2025, a 0.5% discount for on credit-based college student loans submitted on or after 6/1/2025 and a 1.00% discount on outcomes-based loans when you enroll in automatic payments. Loans subject to individual approval, restrictions, and conditions apply. Loan features and information advertised are intended for college student loans and are subject to change at any time.

The final amount approved depends on the borrower’s credit history, verifiable cost of attendance as certified by an eligible school and is subject to credit approval and verification of application information. Lowest interest rates require full principal and interest (Immediate) payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins. Variable rates may increase after consummation.1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. For details on Ascent borrower benefits, visit AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits. Ascent applicants and borrowers that agree to the AscentUP Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, as well as students associated with an Ascent parent loan application, have access to the AscentUP platform.

The following examples for a $10,000 loan show a 48-month in-school period plus 9 months of grace prior to a full repayment term for 60-months (variable rate), with examples of (i) Interest Only payments, (ii) $25 Minimum payments, (iii) Deferred repayment, and (iv) Immediate Repayment options.
* Interest Only Repayment: 5.68% APR, with 57 payments of $47.33 while in-school/grace, 60 payments of $191.86 during the repayment term, and a total cost of $14,210.36.
* $25 Minimum Payment: 6.34% APR, with 57 payments of $25.00 while in-school/grace, 60 payments of $230.84 during the repayment term, and a total cost of $15,275.51.
* Deferred Repayment: 6.53% APR, with no payment while in-school/grace, 60 payments of $266.69 during the repayment term, and a total cost of $15,974.38.
* Immediate Repayment: 3.68% APR, with 60 payments of $182.73, and a total cost of $10,963.90.
 The following examples for a $10,000 loan show a 48-month in-school period plus 9 months of grace prior to a full repayment term for 180-months (highest variable rate), with examples of (i) Interest Only payments, (ii) $25 Minimum payments, (iii) Deferred repayment, and (iv) Immediate Repayment options.
* Interest Only Repayment: 15.34% APR, with 57 payments of $127.75 while in-school/grace, 180 payments of $142.26 during the repayment term, and a total cost of $32,891.85.
* $25 Minimum Payment: 13.90% APR, with 57 payments of $25.00 while in-school/grace, 180 payments of $229.01 during the repayment term, and a total cost of $42,647.76.
* Deferred Repayment: 14.31% APR, with no payment while in-school/grace, 180 payments of $271.14 during the repayment term, and a total cost of $45,162.88.
* Immediate Repayment: 15.09% APR, with 180 payments of $140.56, and a total cost of $25,301.47.

Earnest

Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107.

Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 340, Oakland 94612. NMLS #1204917, with support from Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) (NMLS# 1442770) One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your financial profile. Fixed annual percentage rates (APR) range from 3.09% to 16.74% (2.84% – 16.49% with Auto Pay discount). Variable annual percentage rates (APR) range from 5.24% to 17.10% (4.99% – 16.85% with Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent plus a margin and will change on the 1st of each month. The rate will not increase more than once a month, but there is no limit on the amount that the rate could increase at one time. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and requires selection of our shortest term offered, full principal and interest payment while in school, and enrollment in our 0.25% Auto Pay discount from a checking or savings account. Enrolling in Auto Pay is not required as a condition for approval. Interest rates are subject to change.

© 2026 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.

Sallie Mae

¹Rates displayed are for medical school student loans:

Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount: Additional information regarding the auto debit discount: Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. *These rates will be effective 3/02/2026.

Terms:

Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years.

² For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website may be subjected to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time.

⁴ To apply for this deferment, customers and an official from the internship, clerkship, fellowship, or residency program must complete and submit a deferment form  to us for consideration. If approved, deferment periods are issued in up to 12-month increments. Customers can apply for and receive a maximum of four 12-month deferment periods. Interest is charged during the deferment period and Unpaid Interest may be added to the Current Principal at the end of each deferment period, which will increase the Total Loan Cost.

⁵ GRP allows interest-only payments for the initial 12-month period of repayment when the loan would normally begin requiring full principal and interest payments or during the 12-month period after GRP request is granted, whichever is later. At the time of GRP request, the loan must be current. The borrower may request GRP only during the six billing periods immediately preceding and the twelve billing periods immediately after the loan would normally begin requiring full principal and interest payments. GRP does not extend the loan term. If approved for GRP, the Current Amount Due that is required to be paid each month after the GRP ends will be higher than it otherwise would have been without GRP, and the total loan cost will increase.

Editor: Colin Graves

Reviewed by: Ashley Barnett

The post Best MBA Student Loans To Pay For Business School appeared first on The College Investor.

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