Student Loan Repayment Options

Paying off student loans can be intimidating, but luckily there are several options to make the process easier and fit within your budget. Even if you’ve already chosen a repayment plan, you can change it anytime you need to! Just keep in mind, the options below mostly apply to Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL).

Having proper student loan repayment options is crucial for debt management.

Student Loan Repayment Options

There are a number of student loan repayment options to help you pay off student loans in a timely manner that will also work with your budget. Repayment plans can be changed at any time.

Standard Repayment:

• Eligibility: Direct, Stafford, and PLUS loans.
• What’s it about? You pay a fixed amount, minimum $50, every month for up to 10 years.
• Why choose this? It’s simple, and you pay less interest over time.

Graduated Repayment:

• Eligibility: Direct, Stafford, and PLUS loans.
• What’s it about? Your payments start lower and increase every two years.
• Why choose this? It’s suitable if you’re starting with a lower income but expect it to rise. You’ll end up paying more in the long run.

Extended Repayment:

• Eligibility: Direct, Stafford, and PLUS loans. You must owe more than $30,000.
• What’s it about? Payments can be fixed or graduated, and you have up to 25 years to pay.
• Why choose this? Monthly payments are lower, but you’ll pay more in interest over time.

Income-Based Repayment (IBR):

• Eligibility: Most Direct, Stafford, and PLUS loans, excluding those made to parents.
• What’s it about? Payments are based on your income and must be 15% of your discretionary income. You have 25 years to pay, and remaining balance might be forgiven after that.
• Why choose this? It’s beneficial if you’re struggling financially. Monthly payments are smaller but expect to pay more over time. You may have to pay tax on the forgiven amount.

Income-Contingent Repayment:

• Eligibility: Direct subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS made to students, and consolidation loans.
• What’s it about? Payments are calculated yearly and depend on income, family size, and total loan amount. The balance might be forgiven after 25 years of qualified payments.
• Why choose this? It adapts to your financial situation. You might need to pay tax on any forgiven amount.

Income-Sensitive Repayment:

• Eligibility: Stafford loans, FFEL PLUS, and FFEL consolidation loans.
• What’s it about? Monthly payments over 10 years are based on your annual income and may vary.
• Why choose this? Payments adjust with your income, but you might pay more over time.

Bottom Line…

Navigating through student loan repayments doesn’t have to be complicated. Choosing the right plan depends on your financial situation and personal preferences. Whether you’re looking for smaller monthly payments, paying less over time, or having the potential to get your loans forgiven, there is likely a suitable option available for you. Be proactive, consider your circumstances, and pick the right plan to ease your journey to becoming debt-free!