Repaying Student Loans 101
Review important concepts, tips, and recommendations for repaying your student loans.
Who's this for?
Borrowers new to repayment or those who want a refresher
How long does it take to read?
10 minutes or less
Top Tips
Review your student loan balance on your Dashboard.
Choose a repayment plan based on your income. Loan Simulator can help you decide which plan is right for you.
Visit your loan servicer’s website if you need help. Loan servicers are an important resource.
Pay your student loans online through your loan servicer’s website. Tip: Set up auto pay to ensure on-time payments.
Review the various loan forgiveness options.
1. Understand What You Owe

You can find your personal loan details through your loan servicer account and your StudentAid.gov account.
.png)
You can find your monthly payment amount by logging in to your loan servicer’s website.
Don’t worry—the interest rate is fixed for most loans.
If you see a term that you’re unfamiliar with, check out our financial aid dictionary.
2. Repayment Plans

You can pick from repayment plans that base your monthly payment on your income or plans that give you a fixed monthly payment.
Repayment plans based on your income are a smart choice to lower your payment. The lower your income—or the larger your family size—the less you'll pay per month.
If you don’t pick a repayment plan, your loan servicer will place you on the Standard Repayment Plan (a 10-year fixed repayment plan). This plan may result in a higher monthly payment for you.
For more videos, check out our student loan repayment video playlist.
3. Make a Payment

You make your payments to your loan servicer.
Missing a payment has consequences, including becoming delinquent (late) and eventually defaulting on your debt.
If you can afford to make your payments, you should enroll in auto pay (also known as auto debit) so you don’t miss payments. Auto pay means that your servicer will automatically deduct your monthly payment from your bank account. You also will earn a discount through a lower interest rate.
4. If You Can’t Afford Your Payments

You always have options if you can't pay. Don't wait to contact your loan servicer to discuss options.
An IDR plan could lower your payment. If your income drops (for example, if you become unemployed), your payment could be as low as $0 per month.
You can request a temporary pause of payments (deferment or forbearance).
5. Learn About Loan Forgiveness Options

There are several loan forgiveness options, but most programs have strict eligibility requirements. Student loans can be forgiven under programs such as the following:
Public Service Loan Forgiveness for people who work for eligible government and nonprofit employers
Teacher Loan Forgiveness for people who work in eligible teaching jobs
Income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness for people who repay their loans on an eligible IDR plan
Total and permanent disability discharge for people with a disability that severely limits their ability to work
Learn about other loan forgiveness and discharge options.
6. Your Loan Servicer, Explained

We pay loan servicers to provide federal student loan support on behalf of the government at no cost to you.
If you have issues managing your loans or making payments, your loan servicer can help you.
The U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid still manages your student loan records and oversees the work done by loan servicers.
7. Get Support

When it comes to your student loans, you have options. Reach out for support if you need help making your payment or understanding your options.
Email or chat with your loan servicer. Your loan servicer can help you with payments, repayment plans, and loan forgiveness programs. You can also call your servicer, but we recommend this option last.
Chat with Aidan®, our virtual assistant, by selecting the owl icon in the lower right-hand corner of pages on this website. Aidan will provide quick answers to commonly asked questions. If you’re logged in, Aidan can pull up information about your loan(s).
Call, email, or chat with the Federal Student Aid Information Center. Representatives can help you with your StudentAid.gov account.
Find other personal finance resources from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.