Compare your student loan repayment options

Sign in to StudentAid.gov and use the official Repayment Calculator. It uses your loan types and current rules to show eligible plans, estimated payments, and estimated total costs. Eligibility can depend on when loans were first disbursed and on loan type, so do not choose based on an older article or a generic repayment chart.

Possibly. Income-driven repayment options use income and family-size information, but eligibility and plan availability vary by loan type and disbursement date. Use the official calculator and application to see your actual choices. A lower monthly payment can extend repayment or change forgiveness timing, so compare total cost and goals before enrolling.

Consolidation can simplify payments or be necessary for a specific program, but it is not automatically better. It can affect interest, repayment-plan eligibility, and progress toward forgiveness. Check each loan type in your StudentAid.gov account and compare the calculator results before applying; do not consolidate solely because a marketer says it will lower payments.

Act before the problem grows: sign in to StudentAid.gov, confirm the servicer and loan status, and contact the servicer about current options. Do not ignore notices or pay a third party to access programs you can review for free. Default and collection consequences depend on the loan and current federal rules.

PSLF is not automatic. It applies to eligible federal Direct Loans, qualifying employment, and qualifying payments under current program rules. Use Federal Student Aid’s PSLF Help Tool to check your path and submit required forms. Private student loans do not become eligible simply because you work for a public-service employer.

Be skeptical of companies that promise guaranteed forgiveness, demand an up-front fee, or ask for your Federal Student Aid login. Federal Student Aid provides the official calculator, applications, and program information at no charge. Compare any paid offer against those tools and contact your servicer if a claim or form is unclear.

Private refinancing can change the rate or payment, but it replaces federal loans with a private loan. That generally gives up federal repayment plans, deferment or forbearance options, and federal forgiveness or discharge protections. Compare the private offer with your current federal options and future income risk before making an irreversible change.