Estimate your monthly student loan payment and see total interest costs over the life of your loan
The average borrower leaves school with about $37,000 in student loans. Total outstanding student loan debt in the US is over $1.7 trillion spread across 45 million borrowers. That makes it the second-largest consumer debt category after mortgages — and bigger than credit card debt and auto loan debt combined.
Federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, PLUS) come with income-driven repayment plans, deferment and forbearance options, and potential forgiveness through PSLF. Private student loans are issued by banks or credit unions and don't offer those protections. Federal loans also have fixed interest rates set by Congress, while private loans can have variable rates that go up over time. When you have both, pay the private loans first — they're riskier.
PSLF cancels your remaining federal student loan balance after you make 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) while working full-time for a government or non-profit employer. Teachers, nurses, public defenders, and other public service workers qualify. You have to be on an income-driven repayment plan and make all 120 payments on time. It's not automatic — you have to certify your employment annually.
Maybe. Refinancing can lower your interest rate if you have good credit and a steady income. But you give up federal loan protections when you refinance federal loans into a private loan — you lose access to income-driven repayment, deferment, forbearance, and PSLF eligibility. If you work in public service or might need payment flexibility, don't refinance federal loans. If you have high private loan rates or stable income and don't need federal protections, refinancing can save thousands.
Federal loans offer deferment and forbearance — temporary pauses on payments, though interest may still accrue. You can also switch to an income-driven repayment plan that caps your payment at 10-20% of your discretionary income. Private loans typically don't offer these options, so contact your servicer immediately if you're struggling. Defaulting on student loans (9+ months late) is serious — wages can be garnished, tax refunds taken, and credit ruined for years.
Absolutely, especially with high-interest private loans. On a $37,000 loan at 6.5%, paying an extra $100 a month saves you about $6,500 in interest and cuts the payoff time by almost 2 years. Just make sure your lender applies the extra to principal — some servicers apply it to future payments by default. You may need to specify "apply to principal" each time, either online or by phone.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only. Federal student loan programs, interest rates, and forgiveness rules change frequently. Not professional financial advice. Contact your loan servicer or studentaid.gov for official information.