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Jobs that help pay off a portion of student loans are becoming more common and for a good reason. The average federal student loan borrower has over $37,000 in student loan debt, while borrowers with private student loans owe nearly $55,000, on average.

Companies that help to repay a portion of student loans are in the minority, so you may have to do some research to get student loan assistance as a benefit. To help you, here’s what to know about what’s available, companies that offer this perk, and what you can do to try and negotiate for it.

Types of Job-Based Student Loan Assistance Programs

There are two types of student loan assistance you may receive through an employer: repayment assistance programs where your employer is a participant and repayment assistance benefits your employer offers directly.

Repayment Assistance Programs

Depending on your career field, you may be eligible to receive student loan assistance through a federal or state program. There are several programs for those working in public service careers, like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Teacher Loan Forgiveness programs, which cancel existing balances for eligible borrowers who meet certain requirements.

That said, these programs typically require you to commit to working in a specific job or a certain area (such as medicine, law, or military service, for example) for a set number of years, which can be challenging if you don’t enjoy the job or want to pursue a different career path somewhere else.

But if you fulfill your service obligation, you may get as much as your full student loan balance is forgiven.

Recommended: A Guide to Military Student Loan Forgiveness

Repayment Assistance Benefits

At the start of 2022, about 7% of employers in the U.S. offered student loan repayment assistance as a benefit, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. The terms of repayment assistance benefits can vary by employer. For example, some may offer to match a portion of the employee’s payments and others may simply pay a set amount toward an employee’s loan balance each month.

The amount you receive from a repayment assistance benefit may be less than what you might get through a government repayment assistance program. But you may not need to commit to a service obligation to qualify, and you may be able to negotiate how much you’ll receive.


💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Types of Jobs That Offer Student Loan Forgiveness

In order to qualify for certain types of loan forgiveness, borrowers may need to meet certain employment requirements. Here are some of the jobs that could potentially allow someone to qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs.

1. Federal Agency Employee

The federal student loan repayment program exists for employees of the federal government, and allows a portion of their federal student loans to be paid off each year. The benefit permits for up to $10,000 in payments each calendar year, not to exceed a total of $60,000 for any one employee.

In order to qualify for this student loan repayment assistance, the employee is required to sign onto a minimum three-year contract with the agency. If they leave the agency early, they’ll need to repay any benefits received.

2. Public Service Worker

If you work full-time in the public service sector for a qualifying organization, such as the government or a non-profit, you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

To pursue PSLF, borrowers need to have Direct loans and be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan. (If you have other types of federal loans, such as Perkins loans, you’ll need to consolidate them into a Direct loan to qualify.) Forgiveness is awarded after making 120 qualifying payments and certifying all employers.

3. Medical Field

The Association of American Medical Colleges maintains a database with information on loan assistance programs for doctors by state.

Medical professionals who work in certain underserved areas may also qualify for loan forgiveness through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. In this program, medical professionals must commit to working for at least two years at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Refinancing medical school student loans may be another option to consider for medical professionals who are not pursuing any loan forgiveness programs. While refinancing would eliminate loans from any federal forgiveness programs, it could potentially allow borrowers to secure a more competitive interest rate.

4. Automotive Professionals

Professionals in the automotive industry may qualify for loan forgiveness through the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Loan Forgiveness Program. To be eligible, you must work for a SEMA member business and have at least $2,000 in outstanding debt, among other qualifications.

5. Lawyer

In addition to PSLF, there are other lawyer-specific programs that provide assistance to lawyers paying off student loan debt. These include the Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program or John R. Justice (JRJ) Program.

6. Teacher

Student loan forgiveness for teachers is available. Teachers who work in special education are considered highly qualified teachers or work in underserved areas may qualify for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. The amount of loan forgiveness available is dependent on the teacher’s area of specialty and can be either up to $17,500 or up to $5,000.

7. Peace Corps

Peace Corps volunteers may be eligible to defer their loans or pursue PSLF. Additionally, while on a qualifying repayment plan, payments could be as low as $0 per month while volunteering.

8. Veterinarian

Veterinarians who work in underserved areas may qualify for up to $25,000 in student loan repayment assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. Eligible veterinarians must agree to serve in a NIFA-designated veterinarian shortage situation for a period of three years to qualify.

15 Major Companies that Repay Student Loans

Hundreds of large and small employers offer jobs that pay off student loans, but it’s not always easy to find out which ones provide the benefit. To help you get started, here are 15 well-known companies that repay student loans.

1. Abbott Laboratories

The company’s Freedom 2 Save program functions a bit differently than other repayment assistance benefits in that it combines efforts to pay off student loan debt and save for retirement.

Full- and part-time employees who qualify for the company’s 401(k) plan and contribute at least 2% of their eligible pay toward student loan repayment will receive a 5% contribution to their 401(k) account. Employee contributions to their 401(k) contributions aren’t required to receive these funds.

2. Aetna

In addition to a tuition reimbursement program, healthcare company Aetna also matches student loan payments for eligible employees who meet certain requirements. For full-time employees, the program matches student loan payments up to $2,000 per year, with a lifetime maximum of up to $10,000 for qualifying loans. For part-time employees, the program matches up to $1,000 a year, with a lifetime maximum of $5,000.

3. Ally Financial

Financial services company Ally provides $100 per month toward student loan payments, with a lifetime maximum cap of $10,000. The company also reimburses tuition up to $10,000 per year to help employees keep educational debt to a minimum.

4. Chegg

Education company Chegg has paid out more than $1 million toward employee student loan debt through its Equity for Education benefit. For entry-level employees through manager level, those who have worked at the company for at least 2 years receive up to $5,000 annually. Employees at the director or vice-president level can receive up to $3,000 annually.

5. Estee Lauder

The beauty company provides employees with $100 per month in student loan assistance, up to a lifetime maximum of $10,000.

6. Fidelity

As an employee of the investment brokerage firm, you may be eligible to receive up to $15,000 toward your student loan payments.

7. Google

Google matches up to $2,500 in loan payments per employee each year.

8. Hulu

Streaming service Hulu pays up to $1,200 a year per employee to match their student loan payments.

9. Live Nation

Entertainment company Live Nation Live Nation matches employee contributions of up to $100 per month, or $1,200 a year. The lifetime maximum is $6,000 in benefits. Employees must be employed with the company for at least six months to qualify.

10. New York Life

New York Life’s student loan assistance program, Vault Pay, contributes $170 per month over five years toward student loans that are in good standing. In other words, employees can receive up to $10,200 while enrolled in the program.

11. Nvidia

If you’ve graduated within the last three years, Nvidia will match your student loan payments dollar for dollar up to $3500 per month. The lifetime cap is $30,000 in assistance. To be eligible, you must be a full-time or part-time U.S. employee working 20 hours or more per week.

12. Penguin Random House

New York Life’s student loan assistance program, Vault Pay, contributes $170 per month over five years toward student loans that are in good standing. In other words, employees can receive up to $10,200 while enrolled in the program.

13. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

As a participating associate or senior associate, you can receive $1,200 in student loan payments each year. The company estimates that this benefit can help to reduce student loan principal and interest by up to $10,000, and shorten loan payoff by up to three years.

14. SoFi

As an employee with SoFi, you’ll get $200 each month in student loan repayment assistance. The company also provides free financial classes.

15. Staples

Eligible employees for the Staples student loan assistance program include active, full-time U.S. associates with at least one outstanding loan obligation. Participants must also have obtained or are in the process of receiving a degree from an accredited institution. The company pays $100 per month toward loan principal for 36 months.

How Is Student Loan Assistance Taxed?

If you receive student loan assistance or cancellation, it’s important to understand the tax consequences. Depending on the situation, you could be responsible for a tax bill.

The IRS typically considers canceled debt to be taxable income. That includes most student loan debt forgiveness or discharge, except for PSLF. However, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 exempts borrowers who are working toward loan forgiveness from having their forgiven balances taxed if their loans were discharged between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025. This only applied to federal taxes, though, and some states may still require forgiven student loans to be taxed as income.

As for employer-sponsored assistance programs, a temporary pandemic-era provision allows employers to contribute up to $5,250 per year in tax-free funds toward qualified education costs for employees. Any contributions above that amount are considered taxable income for the employee. However, this special tax treatment expires December 31, 2025, after which any amount of employer payments or reimbursements for education expenses or student loan repayment will be taxed as income.

💡 Quick Tip: Refinancing could be a great choice for working graduates who have higher-interest graduate PLUS loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and/or private loans.

Negotiating a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

If you’re looking for a job, keep an eye out for companies that repay student loans as an employee benefit. If you can’t find one, you can still try to negotiate the benefit into your total compensation. Here are some ways to do it.

Doing Your Research

Resources such as Payscale and Glassdoor can help give you an idea of the salary and benefits that may be available from various companies. Look at what the company you’re interested in typically offers as well as what you might get with a similar position somewhere else.

If anything, this process can give you a better idea of what you’re worth. But it will also give you a benchmark that you can use to negotiate for student loan repayment benefits, along with other aspects of your compensation.

Making Your Interests Clear

Helping a potential employer understand why student loan repayment is important to you can help set the stage for the entire conversation.

In addition to salary, employers can consider several other factors to make up your total compensation. So knowing what’s most important to you can help them make a more attractive offer.

Asking for a Signing Bonus Instead of Monthly Payments

While a signing bonus isn’t specifically designed as a student loan repayment benefit, you can use it that way. In fact, making a lump sum payment toward your student loans could help you accelerate your student loan debt repayment timeline.

Recommended: How to Negotiate Your Signing Bonus

Asking for the Opportunity to Revisit the Request in the Future

If you can’t manage to persuade a potential employer to provide you with student loan assistance, that may not be the end of it. You could ask for the chance to talk about your compensation again in six months or a year.

During that time, you may be able to prove to your employer that it’s worth the investment on their part. Or you may have planted a seed for the employer to create a student loan repayment benefit for all employees.

Making Student Loan Repayment a Priority

Whether or not you can find jobs that pay off student loans, you can still make it a priority to eliminate your student debt as quickly as possible. A student loan repayment assistance benefit can help you achieve that goal, but it can’t do it on its own.

As such, it’s essential to consider other options to save money, such as refinancing your student loans. While refinancing can be a helpful option for some borrowers, it won’t make sense for everyone. If federal student loans are refinanced, they’ll lose eligibility for federal programs and benefits, such as PSLF or income-driven repayment plans.

If you qualify, you may be able to reduce your interest rate or your monthly payment. With a lower interest rate you could potentially save money over the life of your loan.

The Takeaway

Many companies offer student loan repayment assistance as a part of their employee benefits package. Some jobs might also offer the opportunity for the borrower to apply for student loan forgiveness. For example, there are programs available for medical professionals, teachers, and those that work in the government or non-profit sector.

Another opportunity for managing student loans is refinancing, which could allow qualifying borrowers to lower their interest rates — making the loan more affordable in the long run. If you’re interested in refinancing, consider the options available at SoFi.

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.

FAQ

What careers pay off student loans fastest?

High-paying jobs may help borrowers repay their student loans quickly. However, some jobs may allow borrowers to pursue a loan forgiveness program. While these programs may not expedite the repayment process, they could help make student loan repayment more manageable.

What companies pay off student loans?

Companies including SoFi, Fidelity, Penguin Random House, and Nvidia all offer student loan repayment assistance programs. Specific benefits vary by company.

What kind of jobs qualify for student loan forgiveness?

The type of job that qualifies for student loan forgiveness may vary depending on the program. Jobs in the government or non-profit sector may qualify a borrower for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Teachers may qualify for Teacher Student Loan Forgiveness programs. Some medical professionals may qualify for programs such as the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

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.

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.

Personal loans hold appeal with their capacity to wipe out debts in a single stroke. With student loan debt hovering at, it may appear at first glance that a personal debt is the answer to the problem.

However, using a personal loan to pay off student debt is widely seen as not the best idea. We will break down the process of taking out personal loans to pay off student loans and explain the serious drawbacks.

Can You Use a Personal Loan to Pay Off Student Loans?

While it may sound possible to use a personal loan to pay off your student loans, either federal or private, many lenders may not approve your application if they know you will be using the loan for this purpose.

A personal loan is a loan for which the borrower receives a one-time, lump sum amount of money and repays it, with interest, over a set amount of time in equal installments, typically monthly. Some common uses of personal loans are for debt management, home repairs and maintenance, vacation expenses, and wedding expenses.

Personal loan lenders dictate terms on the uses for the money. Many of these lenders prohibit the use of a personal loan for paying off student loan debt. And you are required to sign a loan agreement that says you will abide by the lender’s terms and forbidden uses.

If you use the money for a prohibited purpose and the lender learns this, you could be held responsible for paying back the full amount immediately. Also, knowingly providing false information on a loan application is considered fraud and is a crime.

For many people looking to replace their federal student loan with another type of repayment, student loan refinancing presents more attractive options than getting a personal loan. Using other loans to pay off student loans requires careful consideration.

Why Refinancing Your Student Loans Might Be a Better Plan

When it comes to either reducing your monthly payment on your loans or paying less in interest, you may want to consider refinancing your student loans with private student loans. (Note: You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.)

Refinancing your student loans means that you take out a new private student loan to pay off your existing student debt. When you do this, you might be able to save money if you qualify for a lower interest rate on your private student loan than on a personal loan. Interest rates vary but the average private student loan interest rate ranges from 4% to almost 15%. The national average on a personal loan was 11.48% in Q2 2023, according to the Federal Reserve.

You might also consider getting a longer-term private student loan with lower monthly payments. This will likely mean that you’ll pay more in interest over the life of your loan, but that could give your budget some breathing room. A student loan refinancing calculator can help show how much you may be able to save each month by refinancing your existing student loans.

While refinancing student loans may help students save money, refinancing federal student loans means forfeiting benefits that you might otherwise qualify for, such as deferment, forbearance, and income-driven repayment plans.

While private student loans don’t offer the same protections and benefits as federal student loans, some do offer deferment or forbearance in certain circumstances. Personal loans do not typically offer these benefits.

💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Pros of Using Personal Loans to Pay off Student Debt

Let’s say you have found a lender who doesn’t prohibit using a personal loan to pay off student debt and you want to go forward.

There are a few possible benefits in certain circumstances.

•  A potential reduction in the amount of interest that you’re paying if you manage to qualify for a lower rate on your personal loan than what you’re paying for the student loan.

•  You might qualify for a different loan term — or length — potentially reducing your monthly payments by spreading them out over a longer period of time.

•  It is difficult (though not impossible) to discharge a student loan in a bankruptcy. In some cases, it is easier to discharge a personal loan.

Cons of Using Personal Loans to Pay off Student Debt

There are some large drawbacks to consider. It doesn’t make much sense to trade in one loan for another with higher interest. The interest rate on a federal student loan is currently 5.5% for an undergraduate degree and 7% for a graduate degree. As stated above, the national average on a personal loan was 11.48% in Q2 2023, according to the Federal Reserve.

Here are other cons:

•  You’ll forfeit protections and benefits of federal student loans such as the six-month grace period after graduation and the ability to defer or forbear your loans.

•  If you have federal student loans, you also lose the opportunity to use income-driven repayment plans to repay your loans and to take part in any student loan forgiveness programs.

•  If you pursue a personal loan to pay for student loans even though the lender prohibits that use and it is discovered, the loan will be canceled if not yet disbursed, you may have to repay the full amount immediately, and you are open to criminal prosecution for fraud.

•  The lender will assess your creditworthiness, which typically includes checking your credit, during the approval process. A “hard check” usually deducts several points from your credit rating temporarily. Most federal student loans don’t require a hard credit check.

Starting to Repay Your Student Loan Debt

When you graduate from college, you don’t have to start repaying your federal student loans right away.

Some federal student loans have a student loan grace period of 6 months, but with some it can last as long as 9 months. Interest may accrue while your loans are in the grace period, so some people make interest-only payments so that the total loan balance does not increase.

If you’re unable to pay your federal student loans after the grace period ends, you may be able to defer your loans for a number of reasons including if you’re returning to school, are unemployed, or have recently been on active duty service in the military.

But what happens if you can’t afford your payments but don’t fit any of those criteria and don’t have any other help paying for school?

As your salary increases, you will likely be better financially able to pay your loans but, in the first few years after graduation your salary may not cover much more than basic expenses.

There are other ways you can lower your payments.

Recommended: Examining How Student Loan Deferment Works

Basing Student Loan Payments Off Your Monthly Income

After a three-year pause due to Covid-19 hardship, the Debt Ceiling Bill required federal student loan payments to resume, with interest accrual restarting on Sept. 1, 2023 and payments due starting in October.

If you’re struggling to cover your basic monthly living expenses, you might want to look into the “On-Ramp” created by President Joe Biden earlier this year. Running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, the plan specifies that financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies.

Another option is enrolling in an income-driven repayment program.

There are various repayment plans to choose from that allow you to limit your monthly payments to a percentage of your monthly discretionary income. That will often reduce your monthly payments to a more manageable level.

President Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan is replacing other IDR programs as the main offering of the Department of Education. Like other plans, it calculates your monthly payment amount based on your income and family size. The SAVE Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan available to nearly all student borrowers, says the DOE.

After 20 to 25 years of on-time student loan payments — or 10 years if you’re enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program — your loans may qualify to be forgiven under these repayment plans. If you’re interested in enrolling in one of these plans, contact your student loan servicer for information on how to do so.

Recommended: The SAVE Plan: What Student Loan Borrowers Need to Know About the New Repayment Plan

The Takeaway

When deciding whether to use a personal loan or student loan refinancing to pay off existing student debt, there are many options to choose from. A good way to begin is to consider your current budget (how much money do you have to allocate toward student loan payments), what your goal is (e.g., lowering your interest rate, lowering your monthly payment, paying off the debt as soon as possible), and other overall financial goals.

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 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.

SOSL0923024

After four (or more) years of classes, college students graduate into a new reality: employment and student loan payments. Navigating repayment may require planning and diligent budgeting, but with the right foundation, you can find a repayment plan that works for your personal needs.

As a general rule of thumb, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends limiting the total borrowed to no more than your expected starting annual salary when you leave school. But, when young students are selecting colleges and evaluating costs, it can be tough to understand or predict how much they’ll earn after graduating.

Here are some potential strategies for student loan repayment so you can determine what percentage of your income should go to paying student loans.

Calculate How Much Your Loan Costs Each Month

You’ll want to understand how much your loan costs each month. If you only have one student loan, this may be easy — the total would be your monthly loan payment.

If you have multiple loans with different lenders, you may have to do a bit more math to sum up the total amount you are spending on your loan payments monthly.

If, after calculating your monthly loan payments, you find you are spending a much higher percentage of your income on debt payments than you have outlined, you may want to adjust your budget, or see if you can adjust how much you are paying each month to your student loans.

Keep in mind that lengthening the loan term on your student loans may result in lower monthly payments, but may cost more in interest over the life of the loan.

💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Determining Your Student Loan Payment as a Percentage of Income

When it comes to repaying your student loans, your first goal might be to make, at the very least, the minimum monthly payment on each of your student loans. Failing to do so means your loan could become delinquent, and after 90 days of delinquency, your loan servicer can report the late or missed payments to the credit bureaus and your credit score may be affected.

If you don’t know what your monthly payments are, you can use our student loan calculator to get an estimate. It can give you a good idea of what you’ll pay each month.

To calculate the percentage of your income, divide your total monthly loan payment by your income. For example, if your monthly loan payment was $400 and your monthly income was $5,000, your loan payment would be 8% of your monthly income.

Consider the 50/30/20 Rule and Tweak it for Debt

The 50/30/20 budgeting rule outlines spending in the following categories:

•   50% of your income is budgeted toward needs

•   30% of your income is budgeted toward wants and discretionary expenses

•   20% of your income is allocated for savings and paying off debt

Using the general framework can help borrowers create a budget that makes sense for their lifestyle and needs, without being overly prescriptive. If you have a lot of student loan debt that you are focusing on repaying, you can adjust the percentage allocation so that you are funneling more money toward your debt.

Because on-time payments account for 35% of your FICO® score, setting up a budget that helps you make on-time payments each month is one of the best tips for building credit.

Income-Driven Repayment

If you have federal student loans and are struggling to make payments on the standard 10-year repayment plan, one alternative you could consider is income-driven repayment (IDR). On an income-driven repayment plan, your monthly payments are determined as a percentage of your income.

There are four options for income-driven repayment. Depending on the plan you enroll in, the repayment term is extended to 20-25 years and payments are capped at 10% to 20% of your income. More precisely, the payment amount is calculated as a percentage of your discretionary income — the income that is left after subtracting taxes and other mandatory living expenses.

The most recent addition to IDR options is the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program, which replaces the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) program. SAVE caps payments to 10% of discretionary income (that threshold will drop to 5% for undergraduates starting in July 2024) and shields more income from the payment calculation. Additionally, if your payments are too low to cover accrued interest charges, the government subsidizes the difference so that your balance doesn’t balloon over time.

While income-driven repayment plans might help make monthly payments more manageable, extending the length of the loan means you could end up paying more interest than you would on the standard repayment plan. The good news is that if you still have a balance at the end of the repayment term, your remaining debt is discharged (although it may be taxed).

Making Extra Payments Based on Your Monthly Income

If you want to accelerate your student loan repayment, consider paying an additional percentage of your income toward student loans. If you are using a 50/30/20 budget, but want to make monthly overpayments, you may instead choose to do a 50/25/25 budget, where you reduce your discretionary spending by 5% each month and apply those funds as an additional student loan payment instead.

Only you can determine where you want to focus your financial energy. An online student loan payoff calculator could help determine how much your overpayment could accelerate your loan payoff and save you in interest.

Recommended: 7 Tips to Lower Your Student Loan Payments

Additional Options for Accelerating Your Student Loan Repayment

If your budget is already lean and you don’t have the room to contribute extra income toward student loans every month, there are alternatives that could help you speed up your repayment plan.

Part-Time Job or Side Hustle

One idea is to pick up a part-time job or find a side hustle that allows you to bring in a little bit of extra cash. Then you could focus all of your side hustle income toward student loan repayment. It’s money you didn’t have before, so your budget won’t have to make any sacrifices.

Another option is to focus any unexpected or windfall money toward student loan repayment. When you receive a bonus at work or a birthday check from Aunt Edna, you could contribute that money to your student loans instead of spending it on a splurge expense for yourself.

Student Loan Refinancing

Finally, you can also improve your existing federal or private student loan situation. Student loan refinancing could help you secure a lower interest rate, which could mean spending less money over the life of the loan.

Recommended: Should You Refinance Your Student Loans?

As part of the refinancing process, you’ll be able to select a new repayment term. Shortening the repayment term could also mean you pay less in interest over the life of the loan. You also have the option to lengthen the loan term. If you do, you’ll spend more money in interest over that longer term, but it could mean a lower monthly payment if you need to free up some cash.

When you apply to refinance a student loan, lenders will review your credit history and employment history, among other factors. Refinancing student loans with bad credit, while possible, may be more challenging. Those with a low credit score or limited credit history may want to consider establishing credit before they apply for refinancing.

Another option for borrowers with a less-than-stellar credit score may be adding a cosigner to strengthen the application. A cosigner agrees to repay the loan if the primary borrower fails to do so. Refinancing without a cosigner may make sense for borrowers who have had time to establish credit. For more detailed information, visit SoFi’s student loan refinancing guide.

It is important to note that if you refinance your federal loans with a private lender, you will lose access to federal benefits such as loan forgiveness or income-driven repayment plans.

To find out how student loan refinancing could help improve your student loan repayment prospects, use SoFi’s student loan refinance calculator.

The Takeaway

There is no single answer for what percentage of your income should be allocated to paying off student loan debt. It’s important to make your monthly minimum payments to avoid delinquency or default. Beyond that, you may consider making overpayments to accelerate your student loan payoff.

When you refinance with SoFi, there are no origination fees or prepayment penalties and you’ll gain access community events. You can start the application online and find out what interest rate you pre-qualify for in just minutes.

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 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.

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 having trouble paying your student loans, you’re not alone. More than 43 million borrowers have federal student loan debt.

In fact, 20% of all American adults with undergraduate degrees have outstanding student debt and 24% of postgraduate degree holders report outstanding student loans, according to Educationdata.org. More than 7% of students use student loans from a private source, such as a bank or a credit union. The average federal student loan debt balance is $37,718, while the total average balance (including private loan debt) may be as high as $40,499.

If you’re among these borrowers, you may find it challenging to afford the payments on your loans—especially if you have other debt and financial obligations. Student loan debt is now the second-highest consumer debt category after mortgages.

If you are delinquent on your student loan for a certain period of time, your loan will go into what’s called default. One out of every ten Americans has defaulted on a student loan, and 5% of all student loan debt is currently in default. Another way to look at it is that roughly 4 million student loans enter default each year.

The consequences to student loan default can be serious–and if the student loan in question is private (rather than federal) there are particular factors to be aware of. We’ll look at what can happen if you don’t pay your private student loans, what your options are, and how best to avoid a default happening in the first place.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Private Student Loans?

Each private student loan lender will likely be a little different, but generally, missing a student loan payment can put your loan into delinquency, and may incur late fees and/or penalties.

In addition, depending on the loan, interest can accrue on those penalties and on the unpaid principal loan amount, which then can get added to how much you owe. If you miss too many consecutive payments, you may be at risk of defaulting on the loan.

Each private lender has their own terms that trigger student loan default. That typically means multiple missed payments. Even if you declare bankruptcy, it’s unlikely your student loan debt goes away. It’s important to check the terms of your private student loans, since they vary by lender.

Once a student loan goes into delinquency or default, it will likely affect your credit score. That can possibly affect your ability to take out loans in the future or achieve other financial goals, like buying a house.

In addition, once a private student loan goes into default, the lender can send it to collections.
If you can’t pay your private student loans, you could ultimately face a judgment that could result in a garnishment of your wages. (There are, however, some protections and rights you have when it comes to debt collection on student loans.)

Ideally, if your student loan payments are too high, you might consider other options before risking delinquency or default.

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

What If You Can’t Pay Your Federal Student Loans?

The penalties and provisions attached to federal student loans are quite different than those for private student loans. If you have both federal and private loans it’s important to consider them separately when coming up with a plan to grapple with default.

Federal loans often come with more protections and options for repayment plans. One option is to pursue an income-driven repayment plan (IDR), which allows for more manageable payments based on your income and family size. Generally, your payment amount under an income-driven repayment plan is a percentage of your discretionary income. The percentage is different depending on the plan.

One such IDR plan is the SAVE Plan, which President Joe Biden announced in June 2023. According to the White House, the SAVE plan “forgives remaining balances after a certain number of years. The SAVE plan will cut many borrowers’ monthly payments to zero, will save other borrowers around $1,000 per year, will prevent balances from growing because of unpaid interest, and will get more borrowers closer to forgiveness faster.” Borrowers can sign up today by visiting StudentAid.gov.

Federal student loan payments were paused in March 2020, but the Debt Ceiling bill mandated that payments resume in October 2023. The Department of Education is instituting the “Fresh Start” program for people whose federal student loans are in default.

As part of the Fresh Start program, eligible defaulted loans will get the following collections relief:

•  Tax refunds (and child tax credits) will not be withheld.

•  Wages will not be garnished.

•  Social Security payments (including disability benefits) will not be withheld.

•  No collection calls will be placed.

•  Billing statements will not be sent out (until the borrower gets out of default).

Even though federal student loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) are government-backed and originated by the U.S. Department of Education, they’re administered by a student loan servicer, which is a private company in charge of the loan. This does not make these loans “private” student loans.

It means you might be making your payments to a private loan company, but it’s still a federal student loan and it comes with federal student loan protections.

Options If You Can’t Pay Your Private Student Loans

If your private student loan repayment seems too high, however, the options are different. You can’t apply for an IDR or Fresh Start program. Every private loan lender sets its own terms and conditions. Getting private student loan help varies with each lender.

While there are fewer options if you can’t make your private student loan payments, there are still some things you can consider.

1. Talking to Your Lender

If your private student loan payments are too high, then it might be worth talking to your lender. You could start by getting a copy of your promissory note so that you know all the terms and conditions of your specific loan.

Each private lender sets out its own repayment and deferment options, so your loan may differ from your friends’ loans.

Lenders, however, want to get paid, and it’s not in their interest for you to default. Once you have the terms of your loan in hand, then you can try talking to your private lender about potential alternative student loan repayment plans to see if they’ll work with you on what you can afford or even if you might be able to put your loan payments on hold if you need to.

2. Exploring Deferment and Forbearance Options

In certain circumstances, deferment and forbearance are available to temporarily put payments for federal loans on hold. However, for private student loans, the forbearance and deferment options will be laid by your lender.

Private lenders may offer forbearance and/or deferment in certain circumstances, such as returning to grad school or entering active military duty. If you can’t pay your private student loans, then you may want to see if your lender offers these options.

It’s important to know, though, that in most cases, interest continues to accrue and compound during forbearance or deferment on private student loans. That means the interest on the amount you owe builds up and gets added to the loan principal (which then accrues its own interest), and could end up costing you more in the long run.

3. Making a Student Loan Repayment Budget

This may sound obvious, but it can be important to create a plan and budget for repaying your student loans. Cutting back on some expenses or looking for additional income to allocate towards student loan payments could pay off in the long run.

Because student loan interest accrues and compounds over time, every little bit paid off now can save more money later.

In addition, if a borrower makes as many payments as possible on time, it could save late fees or additional penalties.

There are a few principles for how to tackle student loan payment.

You could start with the loans that have the smallest balances and build momentum (Snowball Method), or start with the highest interest loans to save yourself the most money (Avalanche Method).

You can also benefit from prepaying more than the minimum monthly payment. If you allocate additional payment towards your loan principal, then you won’t accrue interest on that principal you paid down, and you could save yourself money.

4. Refinancing your Student Loans

If your private student loan payments are too high, one way to potentially lower your monthly payments could be to refinance your student loans by extending your term.

If you need lower monthly payments right away, extending your loan term is one way to accomplish this. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.)

Once you’re on more solid financial footing, refinancing could qualify you for a lower interest rate, which could save you money in the long run (since interest adds up and compounds over time).

5. Declaring Bankruptcy

It is possible to declare bankruptcy when the majority of your debt is made up of student loans. However, the legal bar for having your student debt discharged is high.

You may have your federal student loan discharged in bankruptcy only if you file a separate action, known as an “adversary proceeding,” requesting the bankruptcy court find that repayment would impose undue hardship on you and your dependents in the future.

Private student loans can also be discharged in bankruptcy. Note that private student loans are exempt from bankruptcy discharge (similar to taxes and child support) without a separate application. In that application, you would have to prove in court that you are unable to pay the loan and make a case that it will be extremely difficult to do so in the foreseeable future.

However, if you can make a case for it financially, the court may rule to discharge the loan. “Some private loans for educational purposes can be discharged in a normal bankruptcy proceeding, just like most other consumer debts,” according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

It’s important to take into consideration the serious impact a bankruptcy will have on your credit rating and ability to borrow money in the future.

Recommended: Bankruptcy and Student Loans, Explained

Lowering Your Student Loan Payments

If you’re struggling to make your payments and need private student loan help, then refinancing your private student loans with a longer-term loan could lower your monthly payments—which could free up money you may need for bills and other necessities. (You may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.)

If your credit score or financial outlook have improved since you first took out student loans, however, then you might be able to qualify for a new loan with better terms and a lower interest rate.

Consolidating federal loans with private loans, even at a new interest rate, however, does turn the federal loans into private loans. That means you would lose access to federal benefits, such as deferment, forbearance, or income-driven repayment plans.

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.

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As you’re exploring the job market and reading up on expected qualifications, you may be at a crossroads, wondering whether a master’s would be beneficial in increasing your salary potential. If you’re already actively job-hunting, you may wonder if a master’s could make you more competitive in the job market.

But there is another option that may make sense depending on what industry you’re in — a certificate program. Not as long (or as expensive) as a master’s program, a certificate can prove highly-specialized competency in certain areas. This could open doors to further professional opportunities.

But a certificate program, which typically requires the completion of three and five graduate-level courses, can still cost thousands of dollars. It may also require significant study time, which can be hard to balance if you’re also working full time. In a job market where companies are fighting for top talent, however, you may find that your company might pay for a certificate program, rather than you going out and paying for it yourself. Read on for more information on post-grad certificate programs so you can assess whether one fits with your financial goals.

What Is The Value Of A Post-Grad Certificate Program?

A post-grad certificate program is a program that provides specialization in a field. While the program may not take as long to complete as a master’s degree and may be less expensive, it can also be intense, requiring a significant amount of time set aside to study.

Post-grad certificate programs can be found in all fields, from medicine to economics to marketing. These programs may cost anywhere from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. People may complete these certificates because they may be quicker and less expensive than a degree, and may either boost income or boost your competitive value as a job candidate. Post-grad certificate courses may be done online, in-person, or a combination of both, and often, people balance managing a certificate program with working full time.

Because a post-grad certificate can be beneficial, you may find that employers may potentially be willing to subsidize the cost of training. It may be worth it to ask your manager or your HR department. It can also be beneficial to talk to people who have done the certificate program to hear about any pros and cons. It can also be helpful to understand the level of commitment required in the program, and how people have managed to set aside time to study to prepare for any testing.


💡 Quick Tip: SoFi offers low fixed- or variable-interest rates. So you can get a private student loan that fits your budget.

Graduate Certificate Versus Master’s Degree

If you’re right out of college, you may be wondering what the next step is, professionally. While that depends on your career goals, many post-grads find it helpful to explore the professional lay of the land by getting some work experience right after their bachelor’s degree. Also, if the labor market is tight when you get out of college, there can be advantages to looking for a job immediately after graduation, before you get any higher degrees or pursue certification. In some cases, employers may subsidize or help pay for higher education.

A certificate program tends to be in a niche area, so it may be good to explore your field and decide whether that certification is right for you. A master’s program may be more intense, but of course, can be a requirement if you want to pursue a job in a certain field, such as law.

Bottom line: No certificate or graduate degree can “guarantee” that you’ll make a certain amount of money or get a certain kind of job. Every career path is different. That’s why it can be helpful to speak to alums of certain programs or people who have received certain certifications, to hear their experience and advice.

Recommended: How to Pay for Grad School

Is a Graduate Certificate Equal to a Master’s Degree?

Is a graduate certificate equal to a master’s degree? That depends on how you define “equality.” The two are different paths that help you achieve certain goals. In general:

•   A certificate is less expensive than a graduate degree.

•   A certificate takes less time to complete than a graduate degree.

•   A certificate provides targeted knowledge and a specific skill set about a certain subject area. Generally, a certificate may be about 10 to 15 hours of coursework compared to the 30+ required for graduate programs. Requirements vary based on school and program.

•   A certificate generally requires a less comprehensive application process.

•   A graduate certificate may or may not be affiliated with an accredited degree program. In some cases, certificate coursework can count toward degree hours for a higher-ed degree.

•   Not all graduate certificate programs qualify for federal student loans. You may be able to use a private graduate student loan for a certificate program, or could also explore a personal loan to cover a certificate program.

Is a Graduate Certificate Worth It?

A graduate certificate can be worth it, especially if you’re passionate about the field. It can be helpful to get some “real world” knowledge under your belt and understand exactly how the certificate will benefit you and your career goals.

Because a graduate certificate can be a lot of work, it’s also important to make sure you carve out time to be able to do coursework, study, and complete the certificate exam. Asking any questions prior to applying for the certificate program, or asking to speak to people who have completed the program, can be helpful.

Because graduate certificates can be expensive, and may not be covered by federal aid, you may be wondering how to pay for it. Some financing options include:

•   Subsidization through your current employer

•   Saving up to pay for the program

•   Applying for scholarships or financial aid through the certifying organization

•   Exploring other scholarship programs that may be available for you (such as graduate scholarships for military veterans)

•   Considering federal or private student loans for a certification program

Some certification programs may be eligible for federal student aid, including federal student loans and work-study. If this is the case, students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what types of aid they qualify for.

Private student loans may be another option for students to consider. These loans don’t always offer the same borrower protections (such as deferment or forbearance options) that come with federal loans. But some private lenders do offer student loans for graduate certificate programs.

Recommended: FAFSA 101: How to Complete the FAFSA

Estimating the Value of a Certificate Program

You may wonder how much a certificate will increase your market value as an employee. And of course, that answer depends on your field and the certificate program you are pursuing. To estimate the value of a certificate program, it can be helpful to:

•   Read review sites and salary ranges on employers you’re interested in.

•   Talk to people who have done the certificate program.

•   Talk about your career trajectory with your current manager or HR department.

•   Speak with the career development office at your alma mater for their perspectives on potential certificate programs.

But in addition to financial value, there’s also the educational value. Is this a topic you find interesting and feel you can lean into? Does the material inspire you and excite you? Because you’ll be spending a significant amount of time working on the material, it can be important to have some motivation to do so.

Costs Associated with a Certificate Program

It can also be important to carve out associated costs with the degree program. In addition to the certificate program itself, you also may need to pay:

•   Application fee

•   Exam fee

•   Certification fee, which may be several hundred dollars and may be required that you renew your certification annually

•   Fee for any materials, including text books

Making sure you know exactly what is required of you financially before you enroll can be helpful in planning how you’ll cover the degree.

Recommended: How to Pay for a Grad Certificate Program

How to Decide on a Certificate or Post-Grad Studies

So how do you know which path to take? The answer depends on, you guessed it, your individual goals. But answering these questions may help you decide:

•   What do I want out of my studies?

•   What do I want my work-life balance to look like as I study?

•   What do I hope to gain out of my degree/certificate? What would be the best/worst-case scenario?

•   What are my short-term professional goals?

•   What are my long-term professional goals?

•   What do I like about my work right now? Is there anything I want to dive into more deeply?

•   What is the lack of a degree holding me back from?

•   How will I pay for it? Am I already juggling student loans from undergrad and how comfortable would I feel adding to my debt?

These can be some big questions, and it can be helpful to get perspective by speaking with a mentor, career coach, or someone from your school’s career development office.

You could also consider a certificate program that could go toward credits for a master’s degree. This can be helpful in allowing you to lean into the material and have a head start if you do decide you’d like to pursue a full master’s degree.


💡 Quick Tip: It’s a good idea to understand the pros and cons of private student loans and federal student loans before committing to them.

The Takeaway

A certificate isn’t taking the easy road — the courses can be intense, and it can be challenging to balance coursework with career obligations. But a certificate can potentially set you up on the path to success and can help you further define your career goals.

Because certificates can be expensive, consider having a discussion with your employer and see if they would be amenable to paying for part or all of your certificate, or discuss the path in which to do so. A certificate can be a way to further your education without stopping your career, and it can be a good in-between step for you to decide whether or not to pursue a master’s degree in your chosen field.

Depending on the certificate program, students may potentially qualify for federal aid, including federal student loans. If that aid isn’t enough, however, some students may look into private student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Photo credit: iStock/PeopleImages

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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.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

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.

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