Guides ยท Finance

Student Loan Repayment Plan Basics

Choose and manage a repayment strategy

This guide walks through comparing repayment options, using autopay and extra payments, assessing refinance timing, and tracking eligibility for forgiveness programs.

List your loans

Gather balances, interest rates, servicers, and whether loans are federal or private.

Pick a repayment plan

Compare standard, income-driven, and graduated options; model monthly payments and total interest.

Automate and overpay smartly

Enable autopay discounts, and target extra payments to highest-rate loans first.

Consider refinance or forgiveness

Refinance if rates drop and protections are acceptable; track PSLF or IDR forgiveness rules if eligible.

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