Guide
Student LoansYouTubeNiche GuideUSAHow to Create Student Loan Content on YouTube (US Guide 2026)
With $1.7 trillion in outstanding student loan debt across 43 million US borrowers, student loan content has an enormous and highly motivated audience. Borrowers are desperate for clear guidance on repayment plans, forgiveness programs, and refinancing options. The niche offers strong AdSense RPMs ($12-$25) and lucrative refinancing affiliate payouts ($200-$500+ per funded refinance).
Last updated: February 26, 2026
Step-by-Step Guide
Master the student loan landscape
Study every federal repayment plan, forgiveness program, and refinancing option thoroughly. Your value comes from deep knowledge that simplifies complexity for borrowers.
Create foundational explainer content
Build videos explaining each repayment plan, each forgiveness program, and the refinancing decision framework. These become your evergreen traffic drivers.
Apply for refinancing affiliate programs
Apply to SoFi, Earnest, Splash Financial, and Credible affiliate programs. Most require a website or established channel with relevant content.
Set up a rapid response system for policy changes
Follow the Department of Education, studentaid.gov, and major student loan reporters on Twitter. When policy changes are announced, publish explainer videos within 24-48 hours.
Build trust through balanced recommendations
Always present forgiveness options alongside refinancing. Viewers who trust your objectivity will return for every financial decision, not just student loans.
Why student loan content has massive demand
The market:
- 43 million Americans hold federal student loans
- Average borrower owes approximately $37,000
- Monthly searches for student loan topics exceed 2 million
- Constant policy changes (SAVE plan, forgiveness programs) create ongoing content opportunities
Revenue streams:
- AdSense RPM: $12-$25 (financial advertisers targeting borrowers)
- Refinancing affiliate programs: $200-$500+ per funded refinance (SoFi, Earnest, Splash Financial)
- Sponsorships: Fintech companies targeting the 25-40 demographic pay well
- Digital products: Student loan payoff planners, financial planning templates
Content demand spikes:
- New administration policy announcements on student loans
- Changes to income-driven repayment plans
- Forgiveness program updates
- Federal student loan interest rate announcements (every July)
- Tax season (student loan interest deduction, reporting forgiven debt as income)
Content strategy and key topics
Core content pillars:
1. Repayment plan comparisons: Standard, Graduated, Extended, SAVE, PAYE, IBR, ICR — each plan explained with real numbers
2. Forgiveness programs: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), income-driven repayment forgiveness (20-25 years), Teacher Loan Forgiveness, state-specific programs
3. Refinancing guidance: When refinancing makes sense, when it does not (losing federal protections), private vs federal loans
4. Payoff strategies: Avalanche vs snowball method, extra payment strategies, side hustle income for accelerated payoff
5. Policy updates: Every new announcement, court ruling, or regulatory change affecting borrowers
High-performing content formats:
- Calculator walkthroughs showing exact monthly payments under each plan
- 'Should you refinance?' decision trees with specific scenarios
- Policy change explainers (published within 24 hours of announcements)
- Personal payoff journey stories
- Q&A responding to viewer-submitted loan situations (framed as general education, not advice)
Important compliance notes:
- You are not a financial advisor unless licensed — frame content as education
- Refinancing federal loans with a private lender eliminates federal protections (forgiveness, income-driven plans, deferment) — ALWAYS disclose this
- Student loan regulations change frequently — verify information before publishing
- Disclose all affiliate relationships with refinancing companies
Monetization through refinancing affiliates
How refinancing affiliates work:
When a viewer refinances their student loans through your affiliate link, you earn $200-$500+. Major refinancing affiliate programs:
- SoFi: $200-$300 per funded refinance
- Earnest: $200-$400 per funded refinance
- Splash Financial: $150-$300 per funded refinance
- Credible (comparison marketplace): $50-$100 per rate check
Ethical considerations:
Refinancing is NOT always in the borrower's best interest. Creators who recommend refinancing indiscriminately for the affiliate payout will lose audience trust. Always clearly explain:
- Refinancing federal loans means losing forgiveness eligibility
- Refinancing only makes sense if you will NOT qualify for forgiveness and can get a lower rate
- Private loan borrowers have more to gain from refinancing than federal borrowers
- Variable rates can increase over time
Building a sustainable channel:
- Mix affiliate-driven content (refinancing reviews) with non-affiliate content (forgiveness guides, repayment strategies)
- Be the honest voice borrowers trust — do not push refinancing on people who would benefit more from forgiveness programs
- Create content for both federal and private loan borrowers
- Build an email list segmented by loan type for targeted content and affiliate offers
Disclaimer: This is general information about student loans and starting a YouTube channel. It is not financial advice. Student loan regulations change frequently. Consult a student loan counselor or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.
Pro Tips
- Student loan policy changes drive massive search spikes — being among the first to publish a clear explainer video captures disproportionate traffic
- Use the federal Student Loan Simulator (studentaid.gov) in screen-share videos to show real repayment calculations under different plans
- Never recommend refinancing federal loans without clearly explaining the loss of federal protections — this is the most important ethical line in this niche
- Create comparison tables and decision frameworks that viewers can screenshot and reference — this drives sharing and saves
- Tax implications of student loan forgiveness are a major content opportunity — forgiven debt may be taxable income depending on the program and year