Loan Payment Options
There are several ways you can approach paying off your federal student loans, including
the following:
- Standard Payment Plan allows you to make payments at a fixed amount with up to 10
years to repay the loan.
- Graduated Payment Plan starts at a low level after you graduate but increases every
two years based on the expectation that your income increases with work experience.
You have up to 10 years to repay the loan.
- Consolidation allows you to combine several student loans into one large loan so you
have only one monthly payment to make.
- Deferment is a period during which repayment of the principal and interest of your
loan is temporarily delayed.
- Extended Repayment Plan is available to borrowers with more than $30,000 in Direct
Loans. Payments may be fixed or graduated with up to 25 years to repay the loan.
- Forbearance is used to temporarily stop making payments or reduce your payments when
you don’t qualify for a deferment.
- Other payment plans based on your annual discretionary income and family size include
- Pay as You Earn Repayment
- Income-Based Repayment
- Income-Contingent Repayment
Calculate student loan payments and explore which repayment option is best for you
at using the Loan Simulator.