SoFi

There are a variety of ways to borrow money when cash is needed. A few common places to start might be traditional banks or credit unions, or maybe a friend or family member who’s willing and able to consider lending.

If none of those options sound appealing, another option might be to borrow money online. Online lenders are becoming a more mainstream, acceptable alternative to traditional banks. What’s behind this increase in online lending, and what are some ways to borrow money online?

Why Have Online Lenders Grown in Popularity?

When lockdowns started in response to Covid-19 in 2020, people had to find different ways to do things they might have been accustomed to doing in person. Banking and other financial transactions were among those things. Brick-and-mortar banks limited access to branches or hours they were open, and retailers were hesitant to accept physical money. But transactions needed to keep happening, so consumers began moving online to complete them.

Familiarity, for Some Customers

A growing proportion of consumers is accustomed to using computers for many aspects of daily life, and making online financial transactions is no different. More people may be looking for things like:

•   Online applications.

•   Streamlined underwriting processes.

•   Automated funds transfers.

A Different Kind of Personal Service

Whereas in the past, personalization meant having a face-to-face relationship with a banker, personalization in today’s world can mean information that is relevant to an individual’s financial needs. This might look like things that can be more quickly accessed online, such as:

•   Personalized financial trends in a portfolio so they can make informed decisions about their financial goals.

•   Insights about their spending and saving so they can budget monthly income and expenses to meet their needs.

Time Saving

Customers may also want an experience that saves time. Automating tasks is a timesaver that can easily be done with online financial tools. In the case of online lending, the option to set up automatic bill payments and automate other tasks are likely to be considerations when a customer is choosing an online financial company.


💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders can release funds as quickly as the same day your loan is approved. SoFi personal loans offer same-day funding for qualified borrowers.

Where to Borrow Money Online

When looking for an online lender, you may want to consider the reputation of the lender, safety precautions the lender has in place, or types of loan products offered. In addition, each person should determine their individual comfort level of doing business with or without personal interaction.

Banks

A traditional bank may be a good option for someone who is more comfortable sharing private financial information at an in-person meeting or who doesn’t know how to borrow money online.

Applying for a loan through a traditional bank might include a visit to a brick-and-mortar branch of the bank along with online components, making this a hybrid approach. Since traditional banks have upkeep costs related to physical locations, their fees or interest rates might be higher than other lending options.

Recommended: How to Get Approved for a Personal Loan

Credit Unions

Similar to banks, credit unions generally have physical locations, but may also have online services. Financial services offered by credit unions are similar to banks and other financial institutions. There are usually specific requirements to be a member of a credit union, such as employment-related or residence in a particular region, or membership in a particular group. Credit unions may offer member benefits such as low fees, high savings rates, and low loan rates.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending is akin to matchmaking. A prospective borrower submits an application with an online marketplace, which matches the applicant with investors. Some online marketplaces for P2P lending are Prosper, Upstart, and Peerform. P2P lending may be a good place to look for an online loan for someone who isn’t able to qualify for a loan from a conventional lender, or if an alternative funding source is preferred.

Recommended: What Are Personal Loans Used For?

Online Lenders

The lack of brick-and-mortar branches might deter some customers but attract others. The deciding factor for some customers might be how well the process works for them, with less emphasis on having a face-to-face interaction.

Another factor in choosing online lending over in-person may be the speed of the process. Online loans and other financial transactions can sometimes be completed faster than going into the physical location of a traditional lender. This may be important for people looking to borrow money online instantly.

Options to Think Twice About

Along with favorable options for lending that are available, there are some that may not bring about the best financial outcomes.

Credit Cards

At its core, a credit card is a short-term loan — specifically, a line of credit. If the account balance is paid in full before each month’s due date, it’s a no-interest loan. Financial drawbacks arise, however, when that balance is not paid in full each month, carrying over a balance due.

Credit card interest rates tend to be high, and they accrue on any unpaid balance, compounding what is owed in the next billing cycle. The average credit card annual percentage rate (APR) is currently 24.45% for new credit card offers. Even for existing customers, the APR is high, at an average of 20.68% currently. It’s easy to see how this can lead to a cycle of debt. Paying off a loan over time is probably more efficiently done with other financial tools.

Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator

Predatory Lenders

When people look for fast cash, there is probably someone out there who is willing to lend it to them — at a cost. If it seems like there is no other choice available, some people may take on a loan that can be difficult to pay off. Repeat borrowing is common with these types of loans.

•   Payday loans are short-term loans, typically to be paid off in the borrower’s next payday. Interest rates are extremely high, often 400% or more.

•   Title loans or pawn loans use a borrower’s vehicle or other item of value as collateral. The APR on a title loan can be as much as 300%, and lenders often charge additional fees.

💡 Quick Tip: Just as there are no free lunches, there are no guaranteed loans. So beware lenders who advertise them. If they are legitimate, they need to know your creditworthiness before offering you a loan.

The Takeaway

Choosing a lender depends on different factors for different people. Traditional lenders, online lenders, alternative lenders — each can be a valid choice for different financial needs. With online lenders becoming more commonplace, with established reputations in the financial marketplace, looking at options among them might be a good choice.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL0623015

There are two basic types of credit: installment and revolving. An installment loan is a form of installment credit that is closed-ended and is repaid in fixed payments over a regular repayment schedule.

Some common types of installment loans are mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and personal loans. If you’re considering borrowing money, you may be wondering what an installment loan is and how it works. We’ll provide some insight that may help.

What Is an Installment Loan?

An installment loan is a lump sum of money borrowed and paid back over time. Each payment is referred to as an installment, hence the term installment loan.

In contrast, revolving credit like credit cards can be borrowed, repaid, and borrowed again up to the approved credit limit.

Installment loans can be secured with collateral or they can be unsecured. Some loans may have fees and penalties. The interest rate may fluctuate, depending on whether you choose a fixed or variable rate loan.

Recommended: 11 Types of Personal Loans & Their Differences

What Is an Example of an Installment Loan?

Installment loans can have multiple uses. These include auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, and student loans.

Auto Loans

Borrowers can take out auto loans for new and used vehicles. Monthly installments average around 72 months, but shorter loans may be available.

Loans with longer terms tend to have higher interest rates. It may seem like you’re paying less because the monthly payments may be lower, but you could end up paying more over the life of the loan.

Mortgages

Mortgages, or home loans, typically have terms ranging from 10 to 30 years with installments paid back monthly. Depending on your mortgage, you’ll either pay a fixed interest rate — it won’t change throughout your loan — or variable, which can fluctuate after a certain period of time.

Personal Loans

Personal loans are more flexible types of loans in that borrowers can use them for most purposes — examples include home repairs or debt consolidation. Many personal loans are unsecured, and interest rates will depend on your credit history and other factors.


💡 Quick Tip: A low-interest personal loan from SoFi can help you consolidate your debts, lower your monthly payments, and get you out of debt sooner.

Student Loans

Student loans help borrowers pay for their post-secondary education such as undergraduate and graduate tuition costs. They’re either federal or private, and terms and rates will depend on a variety of factors.

Some student loans have a grace period, a period after graduation during which you aren’t required to make payments. Depending on how the loan is structured, interest may not accrue. Not all student loans have a grace period, however, so it’s important to verify your repayment schedule before you finalize the loan.

Pros and Cons of Installment Loans

An installment loan may or may not be the best fit for your borrowing needs. Consider the advantages and disadvantages, so you understand what you’re agreeing to.

Pros of Installment Loans

Expense

Most installment loans allow borrowers to take out large amounts, helping them to cover large expenses. For instance, many borrowers can’t afford to buy a house with cash, so mortgages can provide a path to homeownership.

Regular Repayments

Installment loans tend to come with predictable payment schedules. If you take out a fixed-rate loan, your payment amount should be the same each month. Having that knowledge of when and how much you need to pay can make it easier to budget.

Plus, installment loans have a payment end date. As long as you keep making on-time payments, your loan will be paid off in a certain amount of time.

Taking a careful look at your budget to make sure you can afford the monthly payments is an important consideration.

Refinancing

You may be able to refinance your loan to a lower rate if you’ve improved your credit or if interest rates go down. Refinancing may shorten your loan repayment schedule or lower your monthly payments.

There are typically fees associated with refinancing a loan, which is another thing to consider when thinking about this option.

Cons of Installment Loans

Not Open-ended

Once you finalize the loan and receive the proceeds, you can’t borrow more money without taking out another loan. Revolving credit like credit cards allow borrowers to use funds continually — borrowing and repaying up to their credit limit.

Commitment

When you take out a loan, being committed to paying it down is essential. Since some installment loans can come with longer terms — think mortgages — it’s important to make sure your budget can handle the regular payment.

Charged Interest

Like other types of loans, you’ll need to pay interest on installment loans. The interest rate you’re approved for is dependent on factors such as your credit history, credit score, and others. Applicants who have a deep credit history and a credit score at the higher end of the range will most likely qualify for the most competitive rates. If you’re stuck with a higher rate because of your less-than-stellar credit, you could be making larger payments and paying more in interest.

Aside from interest, you may have to pay fees to take out an installment loan. There may also be prepayment penalties if you want to pay off your loan early.

Installment Loans and Credit Scores

How you use an installment loan can affect your credit score. If a lender reports your activity related to the loan, it could affect your score in two ways:

•   Applying for a loan: A lender may want to check your credit report when you apply for a loan, which may trigger a hard credit inquiry. Doing so could temporarily lower your credit score.

•   Paying back a loan: Lenders generally report your activity to the three major credit bureaus. If you make regular, on-time payments, this positive mark on your credit report could raise your credit score. The opposite can happen if you’re behind on or miss payments.

Getting an Installment Loan

Since taking out an installment loan is a big financial commitment, you may want to consider the following best practices:

•   Shopping around: Getting quotes from multiple lenders is a good way to compare personal loans to find one that offers the best rates and terms for your financial profile.

•   Pre-qualifying for loans: Getting pre-qualified allows you to see what rates and terms you may qualify for without it affecting your credit score.^*

•   Enhancing your borrowing profile: Check your credit report for any errors or discrepancies. Making corrections could have a positive effect on your credit score.

•   Adding a cosigner: If you can’t qualify for an installment loan on the merits of your own credit, you may consider asking someone you trust and who has good credit to be a cosigner.

💡 Quick Tip: In a climate where interest rates are rising, you’re likely better off with a fixed interest rate than a variable rate, even though the variable rate is initially lower. On the flip side, if rates are falling, you may be better off with a variable interest rate.

Alternatives to Installment Loans

Here are a few alternatives to consider:

•   Using a credit card: If you don’t need a large sum of money or don’t know how much you’ll need to borrow, a credit card can be a smart choice. Paying the entire balance by the due date means you won’t have to pay interest. Paying at least the minimum amount due each month will keep you from incurring a late fee, but you’ll still pay interest on any outstanding balance.

•   Borrowing from your next paycheck: Some apps let you receive an advance on your next paycheck, if you meet qualifications. You agree to pay the advance back when your next paycheck is deposited into your bank account.

•   Borrowing from friends or family: Asking to borrow money can be an uncomfortable conversation to have. However, it may be an option if you can’t qualify for or would rather not take out a bank loan. Having a written agreement outlining each party’s expectations and responsibilities is a good way to minimize miscommunication and hurt feelings.

Recommended: Family Loans: Guide to Borrowing & Lending Money to Family

The Takeaway

If you’re looking for a loan, an installment loan might fit your needs. Shopping around for an installment loan is a good way to find the best rates and terms for your unique financial situation and needs.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

FAQ

What is the meaning of installment loan?

An installment loan is a type of loan where borrowers take out a lump sum of money and pay it back in installments. Loan amounts can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and terms range from a few months to a few years.

What is an example of an installment loan?

Examples of installment loans include auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, and student loans.

Are installment loans bad for credit?

Making your scheduled monthly payments on time could improve your credit score. On the flip side, late or missed payments can hurt your credit score.

What is the difference between a personal loan and an installment loan?

Personal loans are types of installment loans. Other types include student loans, mortgages, and auto loans.

Photo credit: iStock/Ridofranz

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL0623020

If you are grappling with debt, you are not alone. The average American, for instance, is currently carrying $7,951 in credit card debt. But that doesn’t mean you have to live saddled with owing money and being charged high interest rates.

There are ways to make debt payoff happen faster. Read on for three strategies that can help you repay what you owe ASAP.

1. Figuring Out Your Budget

The first step to solving any debt problem is to establish a budget. A budget is essentially a summary that compares and tracks your income and expenses for a period of time, typically one month. A budget also allows you to plan how much you will spend and save each month.

You’ll want to first gather all of your bank and credit card statements for the last three or more months. You can then use them to figure out your monthly income (after taxes) and also list all of your monthly expenses. (You can do this using pen and paper, a spreadsheet or a budgeting app.)

You may want to group expenses into categories (such as insurance, groceries, eating out, insurance), and also divide them into essential vs. nonessential spending. From here, you can total your average monthly income and average monthly spending, see how they line up, and then consider making some shifts in your spending.

You might consider the 50/30/20 budget as a simple way to reorganize your finances. This budget allocates 50% of your income for essentials, like rent and bills, 30% toward nonessentials or “wants”, and 20% for savings and debt repayment.

If you need to free up more money to put towards debt repayment, you may want to look at your nonessential spending to find ways to cut back, such as ditching your cable bill, cooking more and getting take-out less often, and canceling your gym membership and working out at home.

Decreasing discretionary spending tends to be the easiest way to generate a monthly surplus. That surplus can then be used to pay off your debt faster.

If you find that you’ve been spending more than you earn by using credit cards, you may also want to make a plan to stop using those cards while you go after lowering your outstanding debt.


💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. SoFi personal loans come with no-fee options, and no surprises.

2. Choosing the Right Repayment Plan

Once your budget is set up, a great next step is to list all of your debt (with amounts owed) and in order of interest rate, and then come up with a manageable plan to pay them off.

Some options that can help you pay off debt faster include:

The Snowball Method

The snowball method is where you focus on paying off your debts in order from smallest balance owed to largest.

You can do this by paying the minimum on all your debt and then allocating any extra money you have to the debt with the smallest balance.

•   Once the smallest debt is paid off, you can take the money you were

•   putting toward that debt and funnel it toward your next smallest debt instead.

•   You then continue the process until all your debts are paid.

The key benefit of this method is that it allows you to experience a series of small successes at the beginning. This can give you more motivation to pay off the rest of your debt.

The Avalanche Method

Another effective debt elimination strategy is the avalanche method (also known as debt stacking). With this approach, you would pay off your accounts in order from the highest interest rate to the lowest.

•   You would make the minimum payment on all of your accounts, then put as much extra money as possible toward the account with the highest interest rate.

•   Once the debt with the highest interest is paid off, you can start paying as much as you can on the account with the next high interest rate.

•   You would continue the process until all your debts are paid.

Putting Extra Cash Toward Debt-Reduction

Once you have an emergency fund (that can cover three to six months of living expenses) in place, you may want to funnel any extra income you receive right into your repayment plan in order to pay off debts faster.

That extra might be a bonus you receive at work, a tax refund, any side hustle income, or cash earned from selling items you don’t need — all of this money could go directly toward your debt payoff.

Putting this money toward your debt, instead of saving it for a new car or spending it on a vacation, can help you pay off your debt quicker so you can eventually shift your financial focus to more fun goals.

Recommended: Understanding Purchase Interest Charges on a Credit Card

3. Looking Into Debt Consolidation

Another option you may want to consider is rolling multiple debts into one payment (ideally with a lower interest rate) through debt consolidation.

This can make your debt easier to manage (because you’ll only have one monthly bill) and less expensive overall. The less you have to pay in interest, the more money you can put towards reducing the underlying debt.

•   One way to consolidate debt is to get a 0% interest balance transfer credit card and then transfer all your debts onto this card. Typically, you will have six to 24 months of no interest during which time you can pay down your debt. Just read the fine print to be clear on what interest rate you may pay on new purchases and when the interest-free period ends.

•   Another option is to get an unsecured personal loan. In this case, you would use the money from the loan to pay off your debt, then pay back the loan in installments over a set term. Typically, these loans can offer a significantly lower interest rate than what credit cards charge, but shop around and carefully review your options before signing up.

The Takeaway

If you’re looking to pay off your debt faster, it’s a good idea to take a look at your spending and income, find some ways to reduce your non essential spending, and then funnel any money you free up towards your debt repayment plan.
By sticking with your budget and payoff plan, you may soon be taking the money that you were spending on interest and putting it into savings for the things you really want.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL1223024

Most of us have debt, whether that means a student loan, a car loan, a credit card balance, or a combination of these. Although there are plenty of good reasons to take on debt, such as affording your education, buying wheels to get to work, and charging clothes to wear on the job, face it: Debt has a way of piling up, and that interest can keep ticking northward.

To deal with debt, it’s wise to be proactive about paying it off. Luckily, there are plenty of great resources and techniques to help you create your debt payoff plan — but only you will know what’s best for your unique financial situation.

While none of this is meant to replace financial advice from a professional, here are a few tips to consider. They can offer solid advice on techniques to help crush your debt.

Customize Your Debt Payoff Plan Approach

The words “snowball” and “avalanche” might sound like an increasingly alarming day on the mountain, but they also apply to three popular debt payoff methods, one of which may be just right for you.

•   The snowball method entails paying off your debts in order from smallest to largest, regardless of their respective interest rates. By getting that smallest debt paid off quickly, you may well feel a surge of motivation to keep on going with your debt repayment plan.

But people using the debt snowball method, beware: Ignoring interest rates usually means paying more money in the long run.

•   If savings is your main priority, you’ll probably want to look at the avalanche method, which has you putting more money toward your higher-interest rate debt first. Not only does this avalanche method save you money, it can also help you get debt-free sooner.

💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. One question can save you many dollars.

Try a Debt Detox

People often compare getting fiscally fit with getting physically fit, and with good reason. Whether you’re trying to achieve financial goals or health and fitness goals, you’re more likely to succeed if you have a good plan in place, a fair amount of willpower, and a desire to change your habits.

You might try what’s known as a spending fast, and only buy necessities for a month or two (or longer) and see how much you can save. The funds you accrue can go towards your debt. Seeing that debt shrink can inspire you to keep going.

Or you might try a technique such as only using your debit card or cash, to help you avoid more high-interest credit card debt.

Amp up the Minimum

Another approach for a debt payoff plan is to pay more than the minimum payment each month. Whether you have student loans or credit card debt, paying more than the minimum can help accelerate your debt payoff journey.

It can be tempting to just stick with paying the minimum balance due rather than adding to it. But paying as much as you can each month (without stretching yourself too thin) can add up. In order to make this happen, however, you may have to make a few sacrifices.

Making coffee at home, cooking for yourself, or exercising outside instead of paying for a pricey gym membership are all small changes that can help save extra money each month to put toward your debt.

By increasing how much is allocated toward monthly payments, you could pay off your debt faster and therefore save on interest. And who wouldn’t want to be out of debt sooner?

Consider a Balance Transfer

Balance transfer credit cards sometimes offer low or 0% introductory annual percentage rate, or APR, periods for high-interest credit card debt transfers. Typically, you may enjoy 18 months of 0% interest, which can help keep you from accumulating even more debt via interest.

Reasons people apply for a balance transfer credit card include:

•   Having high-interest credit card debt

•   A desire to simplify payments on one card, rather than managing payments on multiple credit cards

•   Wanting to take advantage of a good promotional deal (for example, up to months of 0% interest).

But it is important to remember that this debt payoff strategy is optimal if you know you can pay off your entire debt by the time the low- or no-interest period ends. Otherwise, you will go back to accruing interest on your debt after the introductory period ends.

A credit card interest calculator can help you discover how much you are paying in interest alone on your credit card debt. This can help you evaluate how much you might save.

Recalibrate Your Rate

High-interest rate debt is not only expensive, it can also take forever to pay off. But just because your loan or credit card came with a rate that’s higher than you’d like doesn’t necessarily mean you’re stuck with it forever.

•   For one thing, if you have student loans, student loan refinancing is one option. When you refinance your student loans with a private lender, you are taking out a completely new loan with a new interest rate.

You can refinance both private and federal student loans with a private lender, but understand that if you refinance federal loans you will lose access to all federal benefits like deferment, income-driven repayment plans, and public service loan forgiveness programs. In addition, if you opt for a loan with an extended term, you may pay more interest over the life of the loan, so think carefully about whether it’s the right move for you.

If you have an improved financial profile from when you took out your original loan, however, you may be able to qualify for a lower interest rate. By obtaining a lower interest rate, you could save money over the life of the loan. Or you may be able to select a shorter term with higher payments but a quicker payoff — and save money on interest payments.

•   If you have high-interest credit cards, you can look into consolidating them with a low-interest rate unsecured personal loan. One plus of taking out a personal loan to consolidate your debt is that personal loans are typically installment loans, which means they have a fixed repayment period. That means you’ll know exactly when your loan will be paid off.

In contrast, credit card debt is “revolving debt,” which means you can continuously add to the debt even while paying it off. That’s not an option with a personal loan. By consolidating your credit card debt with a personal loan, you could also potentially qualify for a lower interest rate, which can make your debt easier to manage.

On the flip side, a personal loan may not be right for everyone. Some personal loans come with origination fees, late fees, or prepayment penalties, which could potentially drive up the cost of your loan. When shopping around for debt payoff solutions, you may want to consider any hidden fees that could come with a personal loan.

No matter what debt payoff plan you choose, the key is to take control of your debt rather than letting it control you. Ultimately, executing a successful debt payoff strategy might help you focus on the positive outcomes that happened as a result of your debt rather than the frustration of having to pay it back.

The Takeaway

Debt, especially when it’s the high-interest variety, can be hard to pay off. By trying such tactics as budgeting, reducing spending, and considering balance transfer credit cards and loan financing, you can likely get on a path to lowering and then eliminating your debt.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOPL1223022

Student loans are mounting for college and graduate students, with engineering majors being no exception. In fact, for the 2020-21 school year, 54% of bachelor’s degree holders left school with student loans—with a debt level of $29,100, on average. Nationally, Americans have $1.6 trillion in student debt combined. Given that engineering is the fourth most common major, many of those shouldering student debt are engineering students.

Since careers in engineering can come with salaries well into the six-figures, some students might consider taking on student loans in order to follow all the way through to a master’s degree in that area. But getting there isn’t cheap. The typical engineering grad school student can expect to spend upwards of $50,000 or more for their masters degree. And that doesn’t include possible balances carried over from their undergrad years. The average student debt for engineering undergrad students varies, but when you factor in graduate school and undergraduate debt, that could mean a substantial amount of student debt.

If you’re studying to be an engineer, you may assume there aren’t many loan assistance programs out there for you, and it’s true that there are no federal forgiveness programs specifically for engineers. But you do have options to save money on your loans, whether through public service loan forgiveness, income-driven repayment plans, state programs aimed at professionals in your field, or student loan refinancing. Here, you can learn about some of the opportunities that exist.

Federal Loan Repayment Options

It’s true that many engineering majors go on to lucrative careers. But that doesn’t mean you necessarily earn a high salary right away. And you may choose to apply your skills at a government agency or nonprofit, or work in a different field altogether, earning less than expected.

The federal government offers four different repayment plans that cap your monthly payments at a percentage of your income in order to make your student loans affordable. Once you make the minimum number of payments required, the balance on your loans is eligible to be forgiven. Which plans you’re eligible for will depend on the types of federal student loans you have and when you borrowed them:

•  The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan was created to replace REPAYE. Payments on SAVE are capped at 10% of your discretionary income (in July 2024, that threshold will be 5% for undergraduate loans). Certain borrowers will have their balances forgiven after 10 years, while others will need to make payments for up to 20-25 years before receiving forgiveness. Only Direct Loans are eligible, excluding Direct PLUS loans to parents.

•  The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plan also limits payments to 10% of your discretionary income. The balance can be forgiven after 20 years of payments. Again, only Direct Loans are eligible, except Direct PLUS loans to parents.

•  Under the Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR Plan), your payments are limited to 10% of your discretionary income if you borrowed on or after July 1, 2014, or 15% if you borrowed before that date. In the former case, the debt can be forgiven after 20 years; in the latter, it can be wiped away after 25 years. Direct Loans are eligible (except Direct PLUS loans to parents), as well as most loans under the earlier Federal Family Education Loan Program.

•  The Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR Plan) limits payments to 20% of discretionary income in most cases, and the rest can be forgiven after 25 years. Only Direct Loans are eligible, but this is the only program that also allows Direct PLUS loans to parents to qualify, as long as they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

If you aren’t sure which plan is best for you, ask your loan servicer for guidance. You can apply to enroll in an IDR program by filling out an Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request online or by asking your loan servicer for a paper form.

Taking advantage of programs that base your payment on your income can potentially make your monthly payment affordable in the long term if you don’t expect your salary to go up much.

Note: the amount forgiven under an income-driven repayment plan may be considered taxable income.


💡 Quick Tip: Ready to refinance your student loan? With SoFi’s no-fee loans, you could save thousands.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

There’s another way to take advantage of student loan forgiveness for engineers. If you work full-time for a government agency, non-profit, or certain other employers that serve the public interest, your federal loans might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Those organizations include the military, as well as public safety, emergency management, and public health groups.

Under this program, once you make 120 qualifying payments (the equivalent of 10 years), the balance on your loans can be eligible for forgiveness. Make sure to submit an Employment Certification form annually or when you switch jobs. Note that only Direct Loans qualify for the program.

If you have older loans, you may be able to make them eligible by consolidating them through a Direct Consolidation Loan. You need to be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan if you want to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

State Loan Assistance Programs for Engineers

Engineering is an in-demand profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 140,000 new engineering jobs will be created between 2016 and 2026. The fastest growing sub-specialties are civil, mechanical, and industrial engineering.

With this in mind, a couple of states have created programs that provide student loan assistance to people in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields as incentive for professionals to reside there and pursue jobs in these areas.

For example, the Rhode Island Wavemaker Fellowship provides funds to college graduates who are pursuing a STEM-related career or starting a business in Rhode Island. Qualifying individuals receive a refundable tax credit certificate worth the value of their annual student loan burden for up to four years. Fellows are also invited to participate in various personal and professional programs and events.

The New Jersey STEM Loan Redemption Program incentivizes professionals to build careers in certain high-growth STEM fields in New Jersey. Program participants receive up to $2,000 to cover eligible student loan expenses each year, for up to four years, up to a maximum of $8,000. Half of each payment is funded by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), and the balance is matched by an equal contribution from the participant’s current employer.

When looking for student loan relief, steer clear of any scams promising fast, easy solutions at a hefty cost. Many of these companies end up filling out paperwork you could’ve completed yourself for free, or providing no services. Focus on official programs administered by federal or state governments, or by legitimate foundations or employers.


💡 Quick Tip: When refinancing a student loan, you may shorten or extend the loan term. Shortening your loan term may result in higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid. A longer loan term typically results in lower monthly payments but more total interest paid.

Look to Your Employer

With employers looking to retain talent, some companies offer loan assistance for engineers. For example, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the professional services firm, pays $1,200 in student loans for associates and senior associates, for up to six years. Its employees include software engineers, data engineers, cloud security engineers, DevOps engineers, and more.

Abbott, a health technology company, assists with student loans in a slightly more indirect way. For full-time and part-time workers who qualify for the company’s 401(k) plan, and who are paying at least 2% of their salary toward student loans, the company will deposit its 5% match in the 401(k) plan even if the employee doesn’t contribute anything.

This way, it helps employees avoid the tradeoff between paying off loans and saving for retirement. Abbott hires for roles like engineering director, senior manufacturing process engineer, mechanical engineer, and more.

These are just a few examples of companies that offer loan repayment help to engineers. It’s worth keeping a lookout for this benefit throughout your job search.

The Benefits of Student Loan Refinancing

The above options may not be enough: Perhaps you don’t live in the right place or work for the right employer, or maybe you earn too much for an income based plan to make sense. If you don’t qualify for loan assistance, or even if you do have some benefits but not all of your loans are covered, refinancing your student loans can be a good way to potentially save money.

You can refinance federal loans or private loans with a variety of lenders and other financial institutions, often nabbing a lower interest rate or reduced monthly payment in the process. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.) And you may get a better rate if you have a good credit score, earn a decent income, and have a solid employment history. It takes just a couple of minutes to see if you pre-qualify online.

Engineer a Better Future

Student loans represent an investment in a solid career path, but they can be a burden even for people in thriving professions. If you’re an engineer, check out what options are available to reduce your student loans, whether that’s loan forgiveness, assistance from your state or employer, or student loan refinancing.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

SOSL0823015