Student Loan Professor

What Student Loan Professor does

Student Loan Professor (legal entity: Doctors Without Quarters, LLC) is a privately held student loan advisory firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 2015 by Brandon Barfield and Jason DiLorenzo under the original name Doctors Without Quarters and rebranded to its present name in 2023 to serve all borrowers rather than only physicians. The firm provides one-time comprehensive Zoom-based loan consultations ($425 individual, $599 couple), a recurring annual service subscription ($300-$480/yr) that includes unlimited advisor access and hands-on PSLF/IDR/servicer support, a $350 private loan pre-borrowing consultation for students, free refinancing suitability analysis with lender-shopping support, and employer-paid bulk consultation packages for hospitals and other institutions.

The company's economic model blends one-time consultations at the top of the funnel with a subscription retention layer (annual service is gated behind an initial consultation) and an affiliate referral revenue stream from eight preferred-lender partners including Earnest, SoFi, Credible, Sallie Mae, KeyBank, Juno, Splash Financial, and ELFI. Distribution is delivered through three channels: (1) direct-to-consumer website booking with webinar lead generation and content marketing via a blog dating to 2015 plus TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, (2) institutional partnerships with 100+ medical schools, teaching hospitals, residency programs, and professional associations including Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Georgetown, AAMC, and EMRA, and (3) employer benefit programs. The underlying technology is non-proprietary - the firm is a services business operating on Zoom, a newsletter on its CMS, and Salesforce for campaign tracking. Differentiators cited include an explicit 'no sales agenda' positioning (the firm charges only for advice), a team with direct prior employment at FedLoan, MOHELA, Sallie Mae, AAMC, and Kaplan University, and 10,000+ individual borrowers counseled cumulatively with a 95%+ satisfaction rating.

Customer segments span graduate health professionals (the original primary persona), medical and graduate health schools, residency and fellowship programs, and not-for-profit and for-profit employers. Senior leadership comprises Brandon Barfield (Founder & Executive Director), Nicole Knight (Director of Education, formerly AAMC and Sallie Mae), Greg Rupp (Senior Consultant and Team Leader), three additional consultants (Farrell Chatwell, Charles Wilbers, Lisa Ciritella) with backgrounds at MOHELA and FedLoan, and an Operations Manager (Cynthia McGallagher). The company is privately financed with no disclosed institutional funding and is part of a disclosed affiliated entity network including Larson Financial Holdings and related Larson entities.

Name

Student Loan Professor

Legal name

Doctors Without Quarters, LLC

Website

https://studentloanprofessor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Student Loan Professor is a St. Louis-based, privately-held student loan advisory firm that provides Zoom consultations, annual subscriptions, and refinancing broker services for individual borrowers, plus institutional education and bulk consultation services for 100+ medical schools, hospitals, residency programs, and employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Loan Advisory Services

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Loan Advisory & Repayment Assistance (FSAEAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Loan Intermediation & Refinancing (FSAEAEAL), Student Loan Refinance & Consolidation (FSAKAIAH), Debt Advisory & Financing Advisory (FSAEAGAD)

Keywords

• Student loan advisory
• Loan repayment consulting
• PSLF forgiveness guidance
• Refinancing analysis
• Financial education seminars

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Comprehensive Student Loan Consultations: One-time paid consultation sessions for individuals ($425) and couples ($599) covering federal/private loan portfolio review, repayment strategy, forgiveness program analysis, refinancing assessment, consolidation, and written action plan. Each session lasts approximately one hour via Zoom.
2. Annual Service Subscription: Recurring annual subscription providing one comprehensive consultation per year, unlimited ongoing advisor access via email/phone/in-person, hands-on assistance with repayment forms, PSLF employer certification, servicer communication, and legislative updates. Billed quarterly at $75/quarter (individuals) or $120/quarter (couples). Only available to clients who have completed an initial consultation.
3. Private Loan Consultations: Pre-borrowing consultation for incoming and current students evaluating private loans. $350 for a 45-minute one-on-one Zoom session covering funding gap analysis, credit profile assessment, private loan marketplace navigation, and preferred lender access. Service includes pre-meeting preparation email and real-time offers from preferred lending partners.
4. Refinancing Suitability Analysis and Lender Referrals: Free refinancing suitability analysis for federal and/or private loan portfolios. Company serves as borrower advocate and broker in the private lending marketplace, shopping multiple lenders on behalf of clients. Lenders pay Student Loan Professor a referral/bonus fee (up to $500 cash bonus to borrower from lender) — no charge to the borrower for this service.
5. Employer-Paid Consultations: Bulk-purchased consultation packages for not-for-profit and for-profit employer institutions to provide student loan advocacy to employees. Offered with bulk discounts at quantities of 10, 25, or 100 consultations. Also includes Salary Boost and Refinancing Suitability at no cost, and employer-hosted student loan repayment seminars (on-site or remote).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Student Loan Professor provides paid one-on-one student loan advisory services to individual borrowers (primarily graduate healthcare professionals), offering comprehensive loan portfolio reviews, repayment strategy development, forgiveness program analysis, and refinancing suitability assessments delivered via Zoom consultations. The company also serves schools, residency programs, and employers with educational seminars and bulk consultation packages, monetizing refinancing referrals through lender affiliate arrangements while positioning itself as an independent, no-sales-agenda advocate.

Product overview

Student Loan Professor is a student loan advisory company offering a portfolio of services for borrowers, schools, residency programs, and employers. The core offerings include: Comprehensive Student Loan Consultation (one-time $425 individual / $599 couple Zoom sessions), Annual Service Offering ($300-$480 annual subscriptions with unlimited support), Loan Refinancing Analysis (free suitability analysis with potential $500 lender bonus), Private Loan Consultation ($350 for incoming/current students), and Financial Advice services. The company also provides specialized services for employers (PSLF maximization, employer-paid consultations), school partnerships (exit counseling, financial literacy), residency programs (educational talks), and webinars. A PracticeLink partnership enables job search resources for physicians. The company rebranded from Doctors Without Quarters (DWOQ) in 2023 to serve all borrowers more inclusively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Student Loan Consultation A one-time comprehensive consultation ($425 for individuals, $599 for couples) conducted via Zoom, covering federal and private loan portfolio review, repayment options, loan forgiveness analysis, refinancing assessment, consolidation evaluation, and a written step-by-step action plan. Designed for individual borrowers, particularly graduate healthcare professionals, seeking strategic guidance on student loan repayment and forgiveness.
• Annual Service Subscription Recurring annual subscription providing one comprehensive consultation per year, unlimited ongoing advisor access via email/phone/in-person, hands-on assistance with repayment forms, PSLF employer certification, servicer communication, and legislative updates. Billed quarterly at $75/quarter (individuals) or $120/quarter (couples). Available only after completing an initial consultation.
• Private Loan Consultation A 45-minute one-on-one Zoom consultation ($350) for incoming and current students and their families evaluating private loans before origination. Includes funding gap analysis, credit profile assessment, private loan marketplace navigation, and access to preferred lender offers.
• Loan Refinancing Analysis Free refinancing suitability analysis for federal and/or private loan portfolios. The company serves as borrower advocate and broker in the private lending marketplace, shopping multiple lenders (Earnest, SoFi, KeyBank, Splash Financial, ELFI, Juno) on behalf of clients. Lenders pay Student Loan Professor a referral/bonus fee; borrowers may receive up to $500 cash bonus from the lender.
• Financial Advice Service Financial advisory service for early career professionals, particularly resident physicians, providing answers to broader financial questions. Bridges clients to Larson Financial Group for comprehensive financial planning services including contract review, retirement planning, tax planning, debt management, investment strategy, asset protection, estate planning, and insurance.
• Employer Services B2B service offering for not-for-profit and for-profit employers including PSLF maximization, employer-paid consultations with bulk discounts at quantities of 10, 25, or 100 units, Salary Boost and Refinancing Suitability analysis at no cost, and on-site or remote student loan repayment seminars for employee benefit and recruitment/retention programs.
• School Partnership Services Educational services for medical, graduate health, and other programs including group exit counseling and loan repayment presentations, individual counseling outsourced from financial aid offices, and a Financial Literacy Program covering topics beyond student loans.
• Residency Program Services Student loan educational talks (30-60 minutes) delivered during didactics, grand rounds, orientation, and Housestaff meetings for medical residents, typically offered remotely at no cost or on-site with speaker fees and travel expenses.
• Webinars and Educational Seminars Educational webinar sessions and recorded content covering student loan updates and strategies, including topics such as Critical Student Loan Updates for Healthcare Professionals. Available live and on-demand, with Zoom registration required for live sessions.
• The Student Loan Pulse Quarterly Newsletter A quarterly newsletter publication designed for current students providing timely guidance on federal student loan changes, borrowing strategies, private loan options, and financial decisions before graduation. First edition released June 26, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients have reported individual savings of over $20,000 through strategic repayment and forgiveness planning.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Larson Financial GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Loan Professor has partnered with Larson Financial Group to provide holistic financial planning services for clients whose questions exceed SLP's advisory scope (SLP is not a registered investment advisory). Larson Financial Group specializes in financial planning for physicians and dentists, offering services including contract review, retirement planning, tax planning, debt management, investment strategy, asset protection, estate planning, and insurance. SLP's annual service includes one financial planning meeting with Larson Financial Group after the first year renewal. Larson Financial Holdings, LLC and related entities are listed as affiliates of Doctors Without Quarters, LLC in the privacy policy.
• PracticeLinkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent Loan Professor partners with PracticeLink, the most trusted physician job-search and career resource, to help clinicians find practice opportunities. SLP provides information about PracticeLink's job board, resource center, magazine, and Surviving & Thriving in Residency podcast on its 'Find the Right Practice for You' page. PracticeLink helps SLP reach physicians at career transition points when student loan decisions are most critical.
• DDXQ LearningminorOthersListed as a partner association on the Student Loan Professor partners page.
• EarnestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred refinancing lender partner. Student Loan Professor refers borrowers to Earnest for refinancing and earns a referral fee. Borrowers may receive up to $500 cash bonus from Earnest upon completing a refinance through SLP's referral.
• SoFicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred refinancing lender partner on Student Loan Professor's refinancing page. SLP refers borrowers to SoFi for refinancing; SoFi compensates SLP through affiliate arrangement.
• KeyBankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred refinancing lender partner. Listed on refinancing page via Credible.com platform and KeyBank's own doctor partnership page (doctors.key.com/partnerships/studentloanprofessor/).
• Juno (formerly)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred refinancing lender partner on refinancing page. SLP refers borrowers to Juno for refinancing.
• Splash FinancialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred refinancing lender partner. SLP participates in Splash Financial's partner program (splashfinancial.com/partner/studentloanprofessor) as an affiliate.
• ELFI (Education Finance of America)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred refinancing lender partner on Student Loan Professor's refinancing page. SLP refers borrowers to ELFI and participates in affiliate program.
• Earnest (Private Loans)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred lender for private student loans featured on private loan consultation page. Earnest logo displayed with others including Credible, ABE Student Loans, ELFI, Sallie Mae, EDLY, Juno, and SoFi.
• CrediblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred private loan marketplace partner. Listed on private loan consultations page alongside other lenders.
• Sallie MaecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred private loan lender partner. Listed alongside other lenders on private loan consultation page.
• Schools and Residency Programs (100+ formal partners)coreOthersStudent Loan Professor has formal partnerships with over 100 medical schools, teaching hospitals, residency programs, and professional associations. Partner schools include Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital, Georgetown University School of Medicine, and many others. Residency programs include Adventist Health, Banner Health, Kettering Health, and more. Associations include EMRA, AAMC, and others. These partnerships provide group education and individual counseling access to students and trainees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CommonBond: Student loan refinance and private student loan lender serving graduate professionals. Competes for refinancing volume in SLP's target demographic.
• Credible: Multi-lender loan marketplace that surfaces refinance and private student loan offers from Earnest, Sallie Mae, ELFI and others. Functions as both a referral partner and a self-service alternative to SLP's advisory.
• SoFi: Direct lender and student loan refinancing partner of SLP. Operates a broad consumer finance platform including student loan refi, personal loans, and wealth management. Competes with SLP's advisory product while also being a referral destination.
• Laurel Road (KeyBank): Bank-owned student loan refinancing and physician-focused lending platform; partners with SLP via KeyBank's doctor partnership page. Operates in the same healthcare-professional refinance segment.

Emerging players

• Savi: Student loan forgiveness and PSLF-focused tool/app for borrowers, particularly healthcare professionals. Adjacent self-service competitor to SLP's paid PSLF advisory, especially relevant during SAVE/IDR transitions.
• FitBUX: Digital student loan advisory platform with a heavy healthcare-professional focus, providing AI-driven repayment strategy. Competes with SLP in the medical/dental student loan advisory market at potentially lower price points.
• Earnest: Student loan refinancing and private student loan lender, preferred partner of SLP. Provides the lender side of SLP's refinancing flow and competes for the same borrower in the refinance marketplace.
• Splash Financial: Student loan refinancing marketplace that partners with SLP via affiliate program. Operates in the same refi-brokerage space and competes for borrowers shopping for refinance terms.
• Juno (formerly LeverEdge): Student loan refinancing and private loan marketplace; preferred partner of SLP. Competes for the same refinance and private loan borrower segment.

Direct peers

• Student Loan Planner: Independent student loan advisory firm offering paid consultations and subscriptions to high-balance borrowers, particularly professionals. Closest direct competitor to SLP in business model, target customer (graduate professionals), and advisor-led delivery via Zoom.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/studentloanprof
• Facebookfacebook.com/studentloanprofessor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/student-loan-professor
• Instagraminstagram.com/studentloanprofessor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Student Loan Professor