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Unpaid student loans can put a heavy yoke on personal finances. For millions of Americans, outstanding student debt means years and years of ongoing payments (averaging hundreds of dollars per month).

It can be hard to balance paying back what’s owed on student loans while meeting immediate expenses (like, paying rent) or pursuing long-term financial goals (like, saving up for a mortgage down payment).

But, the impact of student loan debt on the economy goes deeper than dinging individuals’ wallets, affecting entire job sectors.

Student loans now account for almost 40% of outstanding consumer debt in the U.S., outpacing the amounts owed on motor vehicle loans, for example, by more than $355 billion.

For a wide-angle view of student loan debt and the economy, it’s useful to know just how much money is owed by borrowers across the U.S. on educational debt. In 2023, the cumulative total of student loan debt in the U.S. surpassed $1.7 trillion, according to data from the Federal Reserve.

Understanding How Many Americans Have Student Loans

This educational debt load affects tens of millions of Americans. More than 43 million borrowers have federal student loan debt, with the average balance per individual being $37,338. To obtain a bachelor’s degree, the average student borrower takes out more than $31,000 in student loans.

For those with master’s degrees, student loan debt is even higher. The average master’s degree holder’s student loan debt is $83,651, which is 141% higher than the average student debt balance.

Given these massive numbers, it becomes clearer how the U.S. college student loan debt crisis and the economy are enmeshed in a tangled tango.

Reviewing Effects of Student Loan Debt on the Economy

If the total amount of student loan debt held by Americans sounds staggering, it’s because it is. That total — $1.757 trillion — is more than the GDP of countries such as Australia, Spain, and Mexico.

And, it’s more than double that of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. It even outpaces the global box office totals of the 20-highest grossing films in history — a list that includes blockbusters like, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar, and Titanic — by more than 50 times!

With these numbers in mind, let’s dive deeper into the drag that this massive amount of educational debt continues to have on the U.S. economy.

Does Student Loan Debt Hamper Spending?

For the average individual paying off a student loan, typical payments amount to $200 to $299 each month. For many — especially those embarking on a career and earning an entry-level salary — this ongoing financial obligation can put a deleterious dent in funds they could otherwise spend elsewhere.

Student loan repayments can place a very real squeeze on the money that individuals have available each month for buying, investing, saving, or starting a business.

More money spent paying back student loans, in practice, means less money in pocket or saved. Consumer-driven economies grow when people (aka consumers) spend their hard-earned money. So, millions of people redirecting income towards loan payments can significantly slow or stifle economic growth. If someone is struggling to pay off their student loans, they’ll have less money to spend on purchases that help fuel the economy, businesses, and the workforce. The more young people there are who struggle to pay off loans, the greater this economic dampening effect that occurs.

During periods that require economic resilience, such as in a recession, reduced spending can be especially nefarious.

Consumer spending can help to stimulate a floundering economy, mitigating or reversing sudden downturns in specific sectors.

When that spending doesn’t happen during a downturn, it can take longer for the economy as a whole to bounce back.

For those with student debt, it can also be harder to weather a financial crisis, compounding the pain of higher unemployment and lower spending.

How Do Student Loans Affect the Housing Market?

With less money to spend, it’s no surprise that people with student loans have fewer funds for big ticket items, such as buying a home or saving for retirement.

And, since home ownership is a major driver of wealth accumulation, delaying when one buys a home can impact an individual’s net worth for decades to come.

How Do Student Loans Stifle Entrepreneurship?

Small businesses contribute to the economy in major ways. In fact, they’re responsible for 1.5 million jobs annually and generate 44% of economic activity in the U.S.

Future business owners may not be able to turn toward traditional means of financing, such as small business loans, when saddled with student loan debt. It can be harder to get approved for financing when your debt-to-income ratio is high due to loans.

And, when an individual with student debt does become an entrepreneur, they’re at risk of falling behind on student loan payments if their incoming income decreases.

Paying Off Student Loans Can Benefit Individuals and the Economy

When examining student loan debt and the economy, it may be helpful for borrowers to research additional ways to pay off existing student loans — both for their own financial well-being and the future growth of the U.S. economy on a whole.

Here are some strategies that could help those with outstanding student debt to pay down their educational loans faster.

Paying More than the Minimum Due

Student loans are generally subject to interest. Interest is a percentage charged by the lender on what’s been borrowed. Practically speaking, student loan interest accrues over time. So, borrowers who are unable to pay off their loan balances quickly typically end up spending more in interest over the entire life of the loan.

In most cases, the longer student loan debt goes unpaid, the more the borrower will owe, as unpaid interest gets added to the base dollar amount that had been borrowed from the lender. This is called compounding, and most student loans compound their interest daily. This can get confusing quickly, so here’s a student loan calculator so you can see exactly how much you’re spending on interest over the life of the loan.

Many lenders allow borrowers the option to submit a “minimum payment.” In the short term, paying a lower amount per month can free up some income or cash. But, paying the minimum does little or nothing to tackle the outstanding loan balance — typically, the borrower is just paying the accruing interest.

Paying more than the minimum can help reduce the length of time it will take to pay off an existing student loan — shrinking the principal balance as well as the amount of interest paid (aka total money spent) during the life of the loan.

While increasing monthly payments may not be manageable for every individual, paying a little extra when the opportunity presents itself can still help borrowers to eliminate student debt faster.

If nothing else, borrowers may want to apply a share of occasional windfalls, such as a work bonus or tax refund, towards outstanding student debt.

Applying for Loan Forgiveness

Under some circumstances, the government will even forgive federal student loans, essentially canceling out the remaining debt. Some teachers and public servants are among the groups that may be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness programs.

It’s worth noting that this Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is not available to all workers (including some in the public sector) and applies only to federal, not privately held, student loans.

Refinancing Student Loans

Refinancing a student loan with a private lender may result in lower interest rates and/or the ability to pay off what’s owed in a shorter amount of time for well-qualified borrowers.

Student loan refinancing replaces an outstanding educational debt (e.g., a student loan or loans) with a new loan. As such, the new loan can have different terms and interest rates.

For some student loan holders, refinancing allows them to reduce their monthly payments or the total interest paid over the life of the loan.

It’s worth remembering, though, that refinancing federal student loans with a private lender means that the borrower will forfeit federal benefits, such as access to income-driven repayment plans or public service forgiveness programs.

Paying Off Student Loans Faster

Student loans have the potential to keep taking a big bite out of the economy. But, unpaid educational debts undoubtedly hurt the borrower even more, creating accruing interest and loan balances that can take years and years to pay off.

Refinancing educational debt with SoFi could potentially save borrowers money. SoFi’s loan refinancing comes with no application fee, a quick and easy online application, and competitive rates.

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.

If advice for paying off student loans were as simple as “Just keep paying those monthly payments,” over 43 million borrowers would have no concerns about wiping away more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt.

But of course, many do stress about it and wonder how they can pay off their college loans. It’s best to first figure out exactly what you owe and what your interest rates are. From there, you can come up with a game plan to get your student loan debt under control.

Tips to Pay off College Loans

1. Set a Budget

Rather than feeling helpless, it’s better to remember that the path to paying off college loans is, at its core, about making a budget and sticking with it.

It’s best to resist the urge to momentarily feel better through retail therapy. If you do happen to slip up with spending or are caught unprepared for a bill, though, realize that living within your means is a challenge for many adults and learning from your mistakes is better than fixating on them.

The important thing is to create a budget you can actually follow. Give yourself enough flexibility that you’ll be able to stick to your goals and spend your money on what you really want to spend it on.

Recommended: Budgeting and Spending App to Get Your Finances Under Control

2. Pay More than the Minimum

There’s more to paying off college loans than paying the lowest amount required every month. A big reason to pay more than the minimum each month is that student loan repayment is structured around amortization, which is where a portion of your fixed monthly payment goes to the costs associated with interest and another portion goes to reducing your loan balance.

With amortization loans, you typically pay more in interest than principal at the beginning and the ratio gradually reverses as you keep paying your loan. Paying more than the minimum monthly payment means you can accelerate the reduction of the total amount you owe rather than covering the interest.

One plan of attack is to consider signing up for automatic payments. You can customize the payment amount to be withdrawn on its own, and there can be a discount for doing so. If you have a Direct Loan, you can get an interest rate reduction for participating in automatic debits. (As a side note, many federal and private student loan servicers offer a discount for enrolling in autopay, so it can’t hurt to ask and get that discount, if it’s available to you.)

One final tip: Try to get in touch with your lender before you make additional payments so you can verify that your extra cash is going toward paying down the loan principal.

3. Refinance Your Student Loans

If it ever reaches a point where making real progress on repaying your loans feels nearly impossible, and income-driven repayment and forgiveness options either don’t apply or aren’t the right fit, then refinancing with a private lender might be a good option.

When you refinance federal and/or private student loans, you’re given a new — ideally, better — interest rate on a single new private loan. A lower rate translates to total interest savings over the life of the loan. Further, you may be able to lower your monthly payments with a longer term or pay your loan off faster (with higher monthly payments) if you decide to shorten your repayment term.

Recommended: Student Loan Refinancing Calculator

Don’t forget: Refinancing federal student loans with a private lender means you’re no longer eligible for federal repayment programs, forbearance, loan forgiveness programs, and other protections and benefits extended to federal student loan borrowers.

4. Apply for Forbearance or Deferment

If you’re struggling with your loan payments, it might be time to grit down, pick up the phone, and call the loan servicer. Quite a few banks and lenders have forbearance and deferment programs, although they are mostly dependent on the customer reaching out and asking for help.

Federal student loans also offer student loan forbearance and deferment options. Forbearance can allow for decreased or delayed payments for a specific period of time, often up to 12 months.

Some lenders may offer to reduce the interest rate being charged on the debt, but there are no federal guidelines for terms for forbearance agreements across all industries (with the exception of federal student loans).

On the surface, this sounds positive, but be forewarned that these options can significantly affect credit history and credit scores. The effects on credit depend on the type of loan and the lender, and whether forbearance or other payment or rate adjustments are available or chosen.

Here’s to Stability

You’ve paid down whatever you’ve managed so far on your college loans, so what are your plans now? Are you happy with your current interest rates? Do you like your lender and/or servicer?

As you get more established with a financial track record and the start of a career, know that refinancing or consolidating can help either pay things down more quickly or help secure terms that fit where you are in life right now — and where you’d like to be in the near future.

If you’re thinking about refinancing, consider SoFi. SoFi offers a fast, easy online application, competitive rates, and no origination fees.

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.

If you’re like many Americans, you’ll need to take out a home mortgage to buy a house. A home of your own will likely be one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, and the terms and interest rates you end up paying can have big financial consequences.

That’s why it’s important to do what you can to find the best mortgage rates, from having a healthy credit score to comparing lenders to hitting the negotiating table to find the best deal.

Putting Your Financial House in Order

Before you start shopping for a mortgage, take a look at your credit score. A low credit score may be a signal to lenders that lending to you is risky. Those with a lower credit score may find it difficult to get a mortgage — running into limited options — or may be offered loans with higher interest rates.

Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the easier it will be to get a mortgage. You may be offered better rates, and you may have an easier time negotiating with different types of mortgage lenders. In general, you’ll need a credit score of 580 to qualify for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan with a low down payment. A conventional loan will typically require a credit score of at least 620, but requirements may vary by lender.

Thankfully, an individual’s credit score isn’t set in stone. Those interested in maintaining a good credit score have a few options. First up is requesting your credit report from the three major credit reporting bureaus: TransUnion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Review each report for errors and contact the appropriate credit bureau if you spot anything that’s incorrect. Credit reports can be ordered from each of the three credit bureaus annually, for free.

Other strategies for building a credit score include paying down credit cards to lower your credit utilization ratio, and making on-time payments for bills and other loans.

Considering a Bigger Down Payment

As a general rule of thumb, lenders may require borrowers to make a 20% down payment when they buy a home. However, many lenders require much smaller down payments, some as low as 3%. And if you qualify for a VA loan, you may not need a down payment at all.

If a borrower makes a down payment smaller than 20%, their lender may require them to purchase private mortgage insurance that will protect the lender in case the borrower fails to make mortgage payments. A larger down payment could potentially help borrowers avoid paying PMI.

As you’re shopping for mortgages, carefully consider how much money you can afford to put down, as a larger down payment can also have an impact on your interest rate.

Typically, a larger down payment translates into a lower interest rate, because taking on a larger stake in a property signals to lenders that you are less risky to loan money to.

Understanding Fixed-Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages

When shopping for a mortgage, you will typically be offered one of two main financing options: fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. The difference between the two lies in how you are charged interest, and depending on your situation, each has its own benefits.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage has an interest rate that stays the same throughout the life of the loan, even if there are big shifts in the overall economy. Borrowers might choose these loans for their stability, predictability, and to potentially lock in a low interest rate. Fixed-rate mortgages shield borrowers from rising interest rates that can make borrowing more expensive.

That said, fixed-rate mortgages may carry slightly higher interest rates than the introductory rates offered by adjustable-rate mortgages. Also, if interest rates drop during the lifetime of the loan, borrowers are not able to take advantage of lower rates that would potentially make borrowing cheaper for them.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

Interest rates for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM) can change over time. Typically ARMs have a low initial interest rate. (One popular ARM is the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage, which is fixed for the first five years.

However, as the Federal Reserve raises and lowers interest rates, interest rates may fluctuate. That said, there may be caps on how high the interest rate on a given loan can go.

ARMs don’t provide the same stability that their fixed-rate cousins do, but lower introductory interest rates may translate to savings for borrowers.

Once you have a sense of whether a fixed- versus adjustable-rate mortgage is for you, you can narrow your field and start looking at lenders.

Comparing Lenders

When choosing a lender, start your search online, taking a look at a variety of lenders, including brick-and-mortar banks, credit unions, and online banks. The rates you see on lenders’ websites are typically estimates, but this step can help you get the lay of the land and familiarize yourself with what’s out there.

As you shop for mortgage lenders, consider contacting them directly to get a quote. At this point, the lender will generally have you fill out a loan application and will pull your credit information. Many lenders will do a soft credit pull, which won’t impact a potential borrower’s credit score, to provide an initial quote.

Borrowers can also work with a mortgage broker who can help identify lenders and walk them through any transactions. Be aware that mortgage brokers charge a fee for their services.

Recommended: The Mortgage Loan Process in 11 Steps

Taking Additional Costs into Account

When choosing a home mortgage loan, interest rates aren’t the only cost to factor in. Be sure to ask about points and other fees.

Points are fees that you pay to a lender or a broker that are frequently linked to a loan’s interest rate. For the most part, the lower the interest rate, the more points you’ll pay.

The idea of points may feel a little bit abstract, so when talking to a lender, ask them to quote the points as a dollar amount so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll have to pay.

If you plan to live in a house for the long term, say 10 years or more, you may consider paying more points upfront to keep the cost of interest down over the life of the loan.

Home loans may come with a slew of other fees, including loan origination fees, broker fees, and closing costs. You’ll pay some fees at the beginning of the loan process, such as application and appraisal fees, while closing costs come at the end. Lenders and brokers may be able to give you a fee estimate.

When talking with a lender, ask what each fee includes, since there may be more than one item lumped into one fee. And be sure to ask your lender or broker to explain any fee that you don’t understand.

💡 Recommended: How Much House Can I Afford?

Negotiating

Once you’ve gathered a number of loan options, you can choose the best deal among them. There may also be room to negotiate further. When you send in an application, lenders will send you a loan estimate with details about the cost of the mortgage.

At this point, the loan estimate is not an offer, and borrowers have time to negotiate for better terms. Negotiating points may include asking if interest rates can be reduced and if there are other fees that can be lowered or waived.

A strong credit score or the ability to make a bigger down payment could be leverage. It may also help to let the lender know if you do other business with them.

For example, a bank may waive certain fees if you are already a customer of theirs. Also let lenders know if you have other options that offer better rates. Lenders may try to match or beat competitors’ rates to attract you as a customer.

If you negotiate terms that you are happy with, request that they are set down in writing. Lenders may charge a fee for locking in rates, but it may be worth it to eliminate uncertainty as you settle on the right deal.

As you prepare to buy a home, it’s critical to shop around for lenders that offer the best deals, examine the fine print, and then put matters into your own hands, negotiating the details to settle on the deal that’s right for you.

Visit SoFi Home Loans to learn about home loans with competitive rates and as little as 3% down for qualified buyers. SoFi Mortgage Loan officers can guide you through the mortgage process and specialists are standing by to answer your questions.

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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 .

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